Franchise opportunities compared
The Counter 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.
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- The Counter and The Original Pancake House disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only The Counter has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
| Disclosure |  The Counter |  The Original Pancake House |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $712,133 – $1,988,750 2026 FDD · Item 7 | $482,500 – $542,500 2026 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | Not available No single standard fee identified | $60,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 6% Weekly royalty rate 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 37 | $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) | 1% Current advertising fee — 1% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 37 | $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) | Not available No reviewed outlet counts | 151 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 38 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | Not available Only one year reported | +4 Calculated: 147 at end of 2023 → 151 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Existing franchised outlets meeting Item 19 criteria 6 stores other Number of stores measured · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 103 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All existing The Counter franchised stores located in the United States that di… $2,311,053 other gross sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 103 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All franchised outlets in Item 19 50 percent other Percentage meeting/exceeding average gross sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 103 +1 more groups in the full report | 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.
The Counter vs The Original Pancake House: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Counter or The Original Pancake House?
- The Counter: $712,133 – $1,988,750 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The Original Pancake House: $482,500 – $542,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Original Pancake House. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Counter and The Original Pancake House royalties compare?
- The Counter: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 37); 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.
- Do The Counter and The Original Pancake House disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Counter has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 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.