Franchise opportunities compared
Benihana National Corp vs Black Bear Diner
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Benihana National Corp
$616,000 – $6,250,000
2024 FDD · Item 7Black Bear Diner
$1,546,200 – $2,349,000
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Benihana National Corp
$40,000
2024 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 17Black Bear Diner
$55,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13Royalty · Item 6
Benihana National Corp
5%
2024 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18Black Bear Diner
4.5%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14Before you compare
- Benihana National Corp figures come from its 2024 FDD and Black Bear Diner figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- Benihana National Corp discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Black Bear Diner has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Benihana National CorpBenihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
System scale & health
Benihana National CorpBenihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Benihana National Corp
Black Bear Diner
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Benihana National CorpNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Benihana National Corp vs Black Bear Diner: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Benihana National Corp or Black Bear Diner?
- Benihana National Corp: $616,000 – $6,250,000 (2024 FDD · Item 7); Black Bear Diner: $1,546,200 – $2,349,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Benihana National Corp. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Benihana National Corp and Black Bear Diner royalties compare?
- Benihana National Corp: 5% (2024 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18); Black Bear Diner: 4.5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Do Benihana National Corp and Black Bear Diner disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Benihana National Corp makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Black Bear Diner has reviewed Item 19 figures for 27 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching

Full Benihana National Corp report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Black Bear Diner report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure


