Matchbox^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

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What Is Matchbox?

Matchbox is a chef-driven casual dining franchise featuring wood-fired pizzas, mini burgers, fresh salads and other chef-inspired entrées prepared from high-quality ingredients. Restaurants operate primarily as dine-in establishments and, with the franchisor’s written permission, may offer delivery, take-away and catering services (catering being a potential additional revenue stream). Matchbox locations are typically free-standing units or end units in shopping centers and generally require about 4,500 to 5,500 square feet.

Matchbox Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor offers unusually strong onboarding and field support-training scored 100 (top quarter)-which shortens ramp-up and reduces day-to-day uncertainty, but startup costs are materially higher than peers, estimated at $1,100,000–$2,306,000 (top 10%), with a $60,000 fee and $50,000 reserves.

Pros

Training and support scored 100, well above typical for ALL (top quarter), which means you get unusually strong onboarding and ongoing field support that shortens ramp-up and reduces day-to-day operating uncertainty.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero government penalties, zero franchisor-initiated enforcement and zero cases alleging fraud, all well below typical for Food & Beverage (bottom 5%), indicating a clean legal record that reduces the risk of unexpected legal or regulatory headaches.

Zero outlet terminations, zero non-renewals and zero signed-but-not-open units, all well below typical for Food & Beverage (bottom 5%), suggesting strong operator retention and no backlog of openings-this makes near-term system stability and support needs more predictable.

Cons

Estimated startup costs range from $1,100,000 to $2,306,000, well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 10%), so you should expect materially higher capital requirements and likely larger financing than most peers.

The initial franchise fee is $60,000, well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 5/10%), which raises the cash you must have at signing compared with most concepts.

Minimum reserves required are $50,000, well above typical for Food & Beverage (top quarter), indicating higher ongoing monthly operating costs and that more cash will need to be held in reserve rather than deployed for growth.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

Matchbox reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

43/100

NORMAL

Matchbox grants a site-specific protected territory-typically up to a 0.25-mile urban radius or up to 2 miles suburban-around the Approved Location, with exact boundaries agreed before signing. The franchisor retains rights to develop additional units and sell via e-commerce/alternative distribution channels and territory rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

Matchbox delivers a comprehensive 172-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four individuals for launch, combining classroom instruction, hands-on operational training, and managerial development. The program includes on-site launch support focused on operational readiness; on-site services incur additional fees, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Matchbox Franchise?

Opening a Matchbox franchise requires a total initial investment of $1,100,000 to $2,306,000, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$1,100,000

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$2,306,000

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$60,000

Real Estate$822,500

Equipment & Assets$37,500

Reserves$50,000

Training$1,000

Other$129,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$60,000

Real Estate$1,697,500

Equipment & Assets$77,500

Reserves$100,000

Training$10,000

Other$361,000

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

Matchbox Franchise Earnings: Not Disclosed

Matchbox did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information, which can make it harder for prospective owners to evaluate expected revenue before investing.

This franchise company did not publish these results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Matchbox a good franchise to own?

Whether Matchbox is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Matchbox operates 13 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. The franchisor does not disclose financial performance data. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Matchbox franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Matchbox franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $1,100,000 to $2,306,000. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Matchbox franchise?

Break-even timelines for Matchbox franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Matchbox a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Matchbox operates 1 franchised locations and 12 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Does Matchbox disclose franchise revenue data?

Matchbox did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2024 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.

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