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    Franchise opportunities compared

    IHOP International House of Pancakes vs Shuckin Shack

    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.

    IIIHOP International House of Pancakes2026 FDDShuckin Shack2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    $436,482 – $1,090,645

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Shuckin Shack

    $500,000 – $1,500,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    Not available

    Shuckin Shack

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    4.5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19

    Shuckin Shack

    3.5% · Percentage of Gross Sales; 3.5% first calendar year, 4.5% second calendar year, 5.5% third and subsequent calendar years

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • IHOP International House of Pancakes discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (IHOP International House of Pancakes: 16, Shuckin Shack: 2). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    $436,482 – $1,090,645
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Shuckin Shack

    $500,000 – $1,500,000
    Total Estimate
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Shuckin Shack

    $15,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Royalty (Item 6)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    4.5%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19

    Shuckin Shack

    3.5% · Percentage of Gross Sales; 3.5% first calendar year, 4.5% second calendar year, 5.5% third and subsequent calendar years
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    3.5%
    le and ultimate decision. The National Advertising Fees for the Levels are: Level 1: — 3.5% — 3.5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    Shuckin Shack

    1.5% of percentage of gross sales; currently 1.5%, up to 2.5%
    Brand Development Fund
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    6,772
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55

    Shuckin Shack

    18
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 61
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    −40
    Calculated: 6,812 at end of 2023 → 6,772 at end of 2025

    Shuckin Shack

    +0
    Calculated: 18 at end of 2023 → 18 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Shuckin Shack

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

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Shuckin Shack

    2014
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    IHOP International House of Pancakes

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Shuckin Shack

    2014
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    IIIHOP International House of Pancakes
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional Northeast
    $1,314,151
    other Northeast 2025 AnnualizedAvgGrossSales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional West
    $1,247,192
    other West 2025 AnnualizedAvgGrossSales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional South
    $5,946,313
    other South 2024 High
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54
    +13 more groups in the full report
    Shuckin Shack
    Franchised (14 locations) — revenue
    $1,360,886
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 57
    Franchised (16 locations) — revenue
    $1,400,416
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 57

    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.

    IHOP International House of Pancakes vs Shuckin Shack: common questions

    Which costs less to open, IHOP International House of Pancakes or Shuckin Shack?
    IHOP International House of Pancakes: $436,482 – $1,090,645 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Shuckin Shack: $500,000 – $1,500,000 (2026 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 IHOP International House of Pancakes. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do IHOP International House of Pancakes and Shuckin Shack royalties compare?
    IHOP International House of Pancakes: 4.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19); Shuckin Shack: 3.5% · Percentage of Gross Sales; 3.5% first calendar year, 4.5% second calendar year, 5.5% third and subsequent calendar years (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, IHOP International House of Pancakes or Shuckin Shack?
    IHOP International House of Pancakes: 6,772 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55); Shuckin Shack: 18 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 61). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do IHOP International House of Pancakes and Shuckin Shack disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    IHOP International House of Pancakes has reviewed Item 19 figures for 16 location groups; Shuckin Shack has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    Full IHOP International House of Pancakes report

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

    Full Shuckin Shack report

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

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