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    Hickory River Smokehouse vs Little Caesars

    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.

    Hickory River Smokehouse2026 FDDLittle Caesars2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Little Caesars

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Royalty · Item 6

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    Little Caesars

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • 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)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200
    Restaurant — Total initial investment: $376,500 to $1,769,200
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Little Caesars

    $20,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%
    Royalty Fee — 5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    Little Caesars

    6%
    Weekly royalty greater of 6% of Gross Sales or $300
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

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

    Little Caesars

    7%
    Advertising fee up to 7% of Gross Sales — 7%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34

    Little Caesars

    4,374
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    −1
    Calculated: 6 at end of 2023 → 5 at end of 2025

    Little Caesars

    +3,799
    Calculated: 575 at end of 2023 → 4,374 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Little Caesars

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

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

    1962
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

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

    Not 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.

    Hickory River Smokehouse vs Little Caesars: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Hickory River Smokehouse or Little Caesars?
    Hickory River Smokehouse: $315,000 – $1,084,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Little Caesars: $376,500 – $1,769,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29). 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 Hickory River Smokehouse and Little Caesars royalties compare?
    Hickory River Smokehouse: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8); Little Caesars: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Hickory River Smokehouse or Little Caesars?
    Hickory River Smokehouse: 5 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34); Little Caesars: 4,374 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Hickory River Smokehouse and Little Caesars disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Little Caesars makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. 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 Hickory River Smokehouse report

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

    Full Little Caesars report

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

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