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    Franchise opportunities compared

    IHOP vs The Original Pancake House

    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.

    IHOP2026 FDDThe Original Pancake House2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    IHOP

    $380,550 – $4,823,457

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Original Pancake House

    $482,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    IHOP

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 19

    The Original Pancake House

    $60,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Royalty · Item 6

    IHOP

    4.5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    The Original Pancake House

    $2,500 See Item 11) Transfer Fee 1/ — 2500

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • IHOP discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only IHOP has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    IHOP

    $380,550 – $4,823,457
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Original Pancake House

    $482,500
    p sum At signing of Option Agreement Us Estimated initial investment for first Restaurant — 482500
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    IHOP

    $15,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 19

    The Original Pancake House

    $60,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
    Royalty (Item 6)

    IHOP

    4.5%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    The Original Pancake House

    $2,500 See Item 11) Transfer Fee 1/ — 2500
    Royalty fee We do not currently charge an advertising fee.
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    IHOP

    3.5%
    National Advertising Fee rate — 3.5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    The Original Pancake House

    $2,500
    Royalty fee We do not currently charge an advertising fee. — See Item 11) Transfer Fee 1/ — 2500
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    IHOP

    5,142
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57

    The Original Pancake House

    151
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 38
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    IHOP

    +3,459
    Calculated: 1,683 at end of 2022 → 5,142 at end of 2025

    The Original Pancake House

    +4
    Calculated: 147 at end of 2023 → 151 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    IHOP

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Original Pancake House

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

    IHOP

    1960
    From a verified franchisor listing

    The Original Pancake House

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

    IHOP

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Original Pancake House

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    IHOP
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchised IHOP Restaurants in the Northeast U.S. Census Bureau reg…
    $2,176,716
    other Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchised IHOP Restaurants in the Midwest U.S. Census Bureau region
    $1,551,817
    other Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchised IHOP Restaurants using the freestanding prototype, 2024…
    $1,970,976
    other Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 67
    +36 more groups in the full report
    The Original Pancake House

    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.

    IHOP vs The Original Pancake House: common questions

    Which costs less to open, IHOP or The Original Pancake House?
    IHOP: $380,550 – $4,823,457 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The Original Pancake House: $482,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for IHOP. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do IHOP and The Original Pancake House royalties compare?
    IHOP: 4.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21); The Original Pancake House: $2,500 See Item 11) Transfer Fee 1/ — 2500 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, IHOP or The Original Pancake House?
    IHOP: 5,142 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57); The Original Pancake House: 151 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 38). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do IHOP and The Original Pancake House disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    IHOP has reviewed Item 19 figures for 39 location groups; The Original Pancake House 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

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    Full IHOP report

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

    Full The Original Pancake House report

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

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