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Outback Steakhouse®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2025
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What Is Outback Steakhouse?

Outback Steakhouse is a casual steakhouse concept focused on steaks, bold flavors and Australian-themed decor, with a menu of grilled steaks, chops, chicken, seafood, pasta, salads, specialty appetizers (including the Bloomin’ Onion), desserts and full bar service. The FDD references delivery-focused operations — including Outback Steakhouse Delivery Kitchens and virtual kitchens operating from Outback restaurants for delivery — and expressly notes full bar service (alcoholic beverage sales) as a component of restaurant operations.

Outback Steakhouse Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor provides exceptional operator preparation—a Training and Support score of 100, 554 initial training hours, and a 688-unit system—while the estimated startup cost range of $8.6M to $16.8M represents a major financial barrier that far exceeds industry peers and may limit investor access.

Pros

A Training and Support score of 100 combined with 554 initial training hours is well above industry norms, signaling the franchisor makes a significant investment in preparing new operators.
With 688 outlets—well above typical for Food & Beverage—you benefit from scale: stronger brand recognition, tested operating procedures, and supplier leverage.
Zero franchisee-initiated judgments, zero settlements, zero terminations and zero non-renewals are well below typical for the sector, indicating unusually stable franchisee relations and few litigious disputes.

Cons

Item 7 estimated startup range of $8.6M (min) to $16.8M (max) is well above industry peers, meaning your upfront capital and likely financing needs will be significantly higher than typical.
562 company-owned units is far above what's normal for this sector and may indicate the franchisor prioritizes corporate expansion over franchising, which can limit territory growth and future resale value.
One government agency penalty/order is above typical for Food & Beverage and signals a regulatory issue you should investigate further.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

87/100
NORMAL

Facts: In 2015 the franchisor entered a consent order with Washington’s regulator over two 2004–2006 franchise sales made without state registration; it agreed to cease violations and pay $2,000 without admitting liability. Advice: Review the franchisor’s state registration history and disclosure timing, verify current registrations, and assess remedies for disclosure lapses.

Territory Protection

49/100
NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. Franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units, use alternate trademarks and venues, and sell via e-commerce and retail; franchisee may relocate, and protection is contingent on meeting performance quotas that preserve market-density and site-specific rights.

Training & Support

100
Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 554-hour deep-dive training curriculum designed to prepare four designated personnel for launch and ongoing restaurant operations. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses, and certain on-site services incur additional fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Open an Outback Steakhouse Franchise?

Opening an Outback Steakhouse franchise requires a total initial investment of $8,606,000 to $16,838,000, according to the 2025 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

$8,606,000
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$16,838,000
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000
Real Estate$2,060,000
Equipment & Assets$1,437,000
Reserves$77,000
Training$53,000
Other$4,939,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000
Real Estate$3,837,000
Equipment & Assets$1,948,000
Reserves$153,000
Training$125,000
Other$10,735,000

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.

Outback Steakhouse Franchise Earnings: Not Disclosed

Outback Steakhouse did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 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

How much does it cost to open an Outback Steakhouse franchise?

The total initial investment for an Outback Steakhouse franchise ranges from $8,606,000 to $16,838,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the Outback Steakhouse initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Outback Steakhouse is $40,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

Does Outback Steakhouse disclose franchise revenue data?

Outback Steakhouse did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.

Does Outback Steakhouse have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Outback Steakhouse received a legal risk score of 87 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. Facts: In 2015 the franchisor entered a consent order with Washington’s regulator over two 2004–2006 franchise sales made without state registration; it agreed to cease violations and pay $2,000 without admitting liability.

Does Outback Steakhouse offer exclusive franchise territories?

Outback Steakhouse received a territory protection score of 49 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does Outback Steakhouse provide to new franchisees?

Outback Steakhouse received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides a comprehensive 554-hour deep-dive training curriculum designed to prepare four designated personnel for launch and ongoing restaurant operations.

How many Outback Steakhouse franchise locations are there?

Outback Steakhouse had 688 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is Outback Steakhouse?

Outback Steakhouse is a casual steakhouse concept focused on steaks, bold flavors and Australian-themed decor, with a menu of grilled steaks, chops, chicken, seafood, pasta, salads, specialty appetizers (including the Bloomin’ Onion), desserts and full bar service.

Report generated on March 30, 2026 at 03:14 PM

This report is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice.

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