Dickey's Barbecue Pit Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise in a snapshot

Number of franchises

475

Investment required

$182,000 - $466,000

Revenue (AUV)

$257,000

Dickey's Barbecue Pit: Mastering the Art of Authentic Texas Barbecue Since 1941

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is a well-established franchise in the fast-casual restaurant industry, known for its authentic, slow-smoked Texas barbecue. Founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey in Dallas, Texas, the business has grown from a single-family-operated restaurant into the world's largest barbecue franchise.

The company began franchising in 1994. The headquarters remain in Dallas, Texas, staying true to its roots while expanding nationwide.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit differentiates itself through its commitment to quality and tradition, smoking all meats on-site in each location, just as they did when the first restaurant opened.

The menu includes a variety of smoked meats like beef brisket, pulled pork, and St. Louis-style ribs, complemented by an array of homestyle sides.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Dickey's Barbecue offers 3 types of franchises:

Restaurant Type	Initial Investment Range
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit delivery-carryout restaurant	$189,066 to $272,562
Non-Traditional Restaurant	$181,816 to $237,252
Traditional Restaurant	$336,066 to $465,562

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We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Traditional Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Restaurant franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Traditional Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Restaurant

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Lease Deposits	$0 - $10,000
Training	$1,750 - $3,550
ServSafe Training	$0 - $185
BU Enrollment Fee	$30
Opening Inventory and Services	$7,000
Insurance	$0 - $8,000
Restaurant Opening Fee	$8,000
Professional Fees	$1,500 - $2,000
Closing and Finance Costs	$0 - $15,000
Smokestack Sales Reporting System Software Fee	$200
Spark Online Ordering Fee	$596
Spark POS SaaS Fee	$572
Technology Support Fee	$1,328 - $3,139
Chowly Fees	$90
Epson Printer	$500
Cloud Computing	$0
Additional Funds – 3 Months	$7,000 - $15,000
SUB-TOTAL (Other Start-Up Expenses)	$28,566 - $73,862
TOTAL (Before Rent Abatement)	$360,066 - $525,562
Rent Abatement (6 months)	($24,000 - $60,000)
TOTAL (After Rent Abatement)	$336,066 - $465,562

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Franchise Disclosure Document

Training

Dickey's Barbecue Pit offers a robust training program designed to help franchisees succeed in running their restaurants.

Initial Training: Dickey's Barbecue Pit begins its training program with a comprehensive initial training phase. This includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience, covering essential topics like food preparation, operational procedures, customer service, and management skills. Franchisees are trained in the signature techniques of slow-smoking meats, ensuring they can maintain the brand's high standards and deliver a consistent product across all locations.
Ongoing Support: After the initial training, franchisees receive ongoing support through field visits, webinars, and access to an online resource center. This continuous education helps franchisees stay up-to-date on new products, promotional strategies, and best practices, allowing them to adapt to changing market conditions and maintain operational excellence.
Marketing Support: In addition to operational training, Dickey's provides extensive marketing support. Franchisees are guided on local marketing efforts and have access to national marketing campaigns, which helps them attract and retain customers. This comprehensive support system is designed to ensure that franchisees have the tools and knowledge necessary to run a successful and profitable Dickey's Barbecue Pit restaurant.

Territory Protection

Dickey's Barbecue Pit offers territory protection to its franchisees, ensuring that each franchisee has exclusive rights to operate within a defined geographic area. This protection is designed to prevent other Dickey's franchises from opening within a certain radius, thereby safeguarding the market potential and customer base for each location.

The specific size and boundaries of the protected territory are typically outlined in the franchise agreement, based on factors such as population density and market demand.

This territorial protection allows franchisees to build their business with confidence, knowing they will not face direct competition from other Dickey's franchises in their designated area.