Perkins^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2026

All product and company names mentioned are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of these names does not imply any affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by them.

What Is Perkins?

Perkins is a full-service restaurant and bakery that offers a broad menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. Perkins restaurants are operated for on-premises dining, personal carry-out, off-site catering and delivery; revenue sources described in the FDD include sales of menu and bakery products, catering, delivery, and optional virtual product offerings. Franchises may be developed as traditional brick-and-mortar units or as non-traditional Units located in or within Host Facilities - examples in the FDD include convenience stores, airports and other travel-related facilities, hospitals, stadiums, hotels, and standalone Griddle & Go locations.

Perkins Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise's biggest strength is its industry-leading Training and Support Score of 100, indicating top-quarter onboarding and ongoing support that shortens the learning curve; its primary risk is 82 company-owned units-well above typical (top 10%)-which may signal the franchisor prioritizes corporate growth over building a partner-owned franchise base.

Pros

A Training and Support Score of 100 is well above typical (top quarter), indicating industry-leading onboarding and ongoing support that will shorten your learning curve and reduce early operating mistakes.

At $15,000, the initial franchise fee is well below what's common in Food & Beverage (bottom 10%), leaving you with more cash on hand for build-out and opening costs.

The initial fees are refundable (an uncommon benefit - only about 13.8% of Food & Beverage franchises do this), which reduces your downside if an opening falls through.

Cons

There are 82 company-owned units, well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 10%), which may indicate the franchisor prioritizes corporate expansion over growing a partner-owned franchise base and deserves further scrutiny.

Sixty signed-but-not-open outlets is well above typical (top 10%), suggesting the franchisor might be selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is facing delays in site approvals and build-outs.

Three outlet non-renewals is unusually high for a Food & Beverage system (top 10%), suggesting some operators have chosen to exit rather than renew their agreements.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

79/100

NORMAL

Perkins faced multiple employment-related actions (PAGA and wage-hour claims) originally against predecessor PMC-some matters (e.g., Norwalt, Ramirez) were resolved via settlement by the PMC Estate without admission of liability, while others remain unresolved. Due diligence: review franchise agreement indemnities, required HR policies and training (Item 11), wage-hour compliance procedures, and any bankruptcy-related settlement disclosures.

Territory Protection

43/100

NORMAL

Perkins grants site-specific, protected (non-exclusive) territories-typically about 0.5 mile urban, 2 miles suburban, up to 3 miles-providing limited protection within the designated area based on market density. These rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas and compliance; Perkins retains rights to develop units nearby and to sell via e-commerce and alternative channels.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

Perkins provides a comprehensive 200-hour training curriculum designed to prepare one staff member for launch through operational and launch-focused instruction. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; travel and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the franchisee, and additional on-site support is available for an extra fee.

Unit Growth Analysis

Perkins has shrunk by 22 units since 2022 to 257 locations, showing net contraction rather than expansion. This reads as a Silent Exodus: with 82 company-owned restaurants (about 32% of the system) and an overall decline, the franchisor appears to be retrenching rather than growing, so a new owner should expect limited territory upside, tougher financing and greater operational risk instead of a growth play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perkins a good franchise to own?

Whether Perkins is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2026 FDD: Perkins operates 257 locations, received a legal risk score of 79/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

What is the failure rate of Perkins franchises?

In the 2026 FDD, Perkins reported 1 terminated franchises and 3 non-renewals out of 257 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

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

Break-even timelines for Perkins franchises are not disclosed in the 2026 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 Perkins a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2026 FDD, Perkins operates 175 franchised locations and 82 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

Interested in Perkins?

Get more information and connect with the franchise directly.