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    Franchise opportunities compared

    HHC vs Hickory River Smokehouse

    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.

    HHC2025 FDDHickory River Smokehouse2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    HHC

    $670,950 – $1,760,000

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    HHC

    $50,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Royalty · Item 6

    HHC

    6%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    Before you compare

    • HHC figures come from its 2025 FDD and Hickory River Smokehouse figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Hickory River Smokehouse discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    HHC

    $670,950 – $1,760,000
    Unit franchise initial investment range
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    HHC

    $50,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8
    Royalty (Item 6)

    HHC

    6%
    Royalty fee
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%
    Royalty Fee — 5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    HHC

    2%
    Brand fund fee — 2%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    3%
    National Marketing Fee — 3% — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    HHC

    23
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    HHC

    +19
    Calculated: 4 at end of 2022 → 23 at end of 2024

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    −1
    Calculated: 6 at end of 2023 → 5 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    HHC

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    HHC

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    HHC

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    HHC

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Hickory River Smokehouse
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    $1,536,579
    other Revenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 33

    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.

    HHC vs Hickory River Smokehouse: common questions

    Which costs less to open, HHC or Hickory River Smokehouse?
    HHC: $670,950 – $1,760,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20); Hickory River Smokehouse: $315,000 – $1,084,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Hickory River Smokehouse. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do HHC and Hickory River Smokehouse royalties compare?
    HHC: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12); Hickory River Smokehouse: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, HHC or Hickory River Smokehouse?
    HHC: 23 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62); Hickory River Smokehouse: 5 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do HHC and Hickory River Smokehouse disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    HHC makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full HHC report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Hickory River Smokehouse report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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