Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service
Restaurants & Food Service business blueprints
Compare startup budgets, owner SDE margins, labor and occupancy ratios, SBA valuation multiples and franchise alternatives across 11 business models in restaurants & food service.
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| Business model | Track | Startup cost range | Typical annual revenue |
SDE (Seller’s Discretionary Earnings) Margin
Total pre-tax cash flow available to a full-time owner-operator as a % of annual revenue: Net Profit + Owner’s Salary/Draws + Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization (EBITDA) + verified one-time owner add-backs. |
Breakeven |
Resale Valuation Multiple
Typical market purchase price of an established operating business expressed as a multiple of annual Owner SDE (e.g., 2.5× SDE on $200,000 cash flow = $500,000 valuation). |
Franchise path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Casual RestaurantRestaurants & Food Service · Casual dining and breakfast | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $350,000–$1,500,000 | $900,000–$2,800,000 | 8%–15% | 12–24 months | 2.0x–3.2x SDE | 4 FDD brands |
| Fast-Casual RestaurantRestaurants & Food Service · Burgers | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $250,000–$950,000 | $750,000–$2,100,000 | 12%–18% | 9–18 months | 2.4x–3.5x SDE | 11 FDD brands |
| Pizzeria & Carryout KitchenRestaurants & Food Service · Pizza | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $150,000–$600,000 | $500,000–$1,400,000 | 14%–22% | 8–15 months | 2.2x–3.3x SDE | 6 FDD brands |
| Sandwich, Deli & Bakery CaféRestaurants & Food Service · Sandwiches and bakery cafés | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $160,000–$650,000 | $450,000–$1,350,000 | 12%–19% | 9–16 months | 2.2x–3.2x SDE | 9 FDD brands |
| Coffee Shop & Espresso BarRestaurants & Food Service · Coffee and beverages | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $120,000–$550,000 | $380,000–$1,100,000 | 15%–24% | 8–15 months | 2.4x–3.6x SDE | 5 FDD brands |
| Ice Cream, Smoothie & Dessert ShopRestaurants & Food Service · Desserts and snacks | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $140,000–$520,000 | $350,000–$950,000 | 14%–22% | 9–18 months | 2.1x–3.2x SDE | 9 FDD brands |
| Chicken, Wings & Drive-Thru QSRRestaurants & Food Service · Chicken and wings | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $275,000–$1,200,000 | $800,000–$2,400,000 | 12%–19% | 10–18 months | 2.5x–3.6x SDE | 6 FDD brands |
| Food Truck & Mobile KitchenRestaurants & Food Service · Mexican and Asian food | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $65,000–$220,000 | $220,000–$650,000 | 18%–30% | 6–12 months | 1.8x–2.6x SDE | 11 FDD brands |
| Catering & Ghost KitchenRestaurants & Food Service · Sandwiches and bakery cafés | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $90,000–$350,000 | $350,000–$1,500,000 | 15%–25% | 6–14 months | 2.0x–3.2x SDE | 13 FDD brands |
| Breakfast, Brunch & Pancake DinerRestaurants & Food Service · Casual dining and breakfast | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $270,000–$780,000 | $850,000–$2,400,000 | 12%–20% | 9–18 months | 2.4x–3.6x SDE | 4 FDD brands |
| Taqueria, Mexican & Asian Fast-Casual KitchenRestaurants & Food Service · Mexican and Asian food | Brick-and-Mortar & Local Service | $220,000–$600,000 | $750,000–$2,200,000 | 14%–22% | 8–16 months | 2.4x–3.6x SDE | 4 FDD brands |
Explore each restaurants & food service model in depth
Full-Service Casual Restaurant
Startup: $350,000–$1,500,000 · Revenue: $900,000–$2,800,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Fast-Casual Restaurant
Startup: $250,000–$950,000 · Revenue: $750,000–$2,100,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Pizzeria & Carryout Kitchen
Startup: $150,000–$600,000 · Revenue: $500,000–$1,400,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Sandwich, Deli & Bakery Café
Startup: $160,000–$650,000 · Revenue: $450,000–$1,350,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Coffee Shop & Espresso Bar
Startup: $120,000–$550,000 · Revenue: $380,000–$1,100,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Ice Cream, Smoothie & Dessert Shop
Startup: $140,000–$520,000 · Revenue: $350,000–$950,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Chicken, Wings & Drive-Thru QSR
Startup: $275,000–$1,200,000 · Revenue: $800,000–$2,400,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Food Truck & Mobile Kitchen
Startup: $65,000–$220,000 · Revenue: $220,000–$650,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Catering & Ghost Kitchen
Startup: $90,000–$350,000 · Revenue: $350,000–$1,500,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Breakfast, Brunch & Pancake Diner
Startup: $270,000–$780,000 · Revenue: $850,000–$2,400,000
View CapEx & unit economics →Taqueria, Mexican & Asian Fast-Casual Kitchen
Startup: $220,000–$600,000 · Revenue: $750,000–$2,200,000
View CapEx & unit economics →