Ruth’s Chris Steak House Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise in a snapshot

Number of franchises

Investment required

$2,477,000 - $6,380,000

Revenue (AUV)

Last 3 years unit growth

-2%

Initial franchise fee

$100,000

Operating Profit

n.a.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Defining Luxury in Fine Dining Steakhouse Franchising

Ruth’s Chris Steak House has established itself as a premier destination for upscale dining, best known for its expertly prepared USDA Prime steaks delivered to the table sizzling. The brand was born in 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana, when founder Ruth Fertel opened the first location. Since then, it has expanded into an international name, with more than 100 restaurants throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Today, the company is headquartered in Winter Park, Florida. Franchising took off for Ruth’s Chris in 1977, when a devoted customer launched the first franchised location in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This pivotal moment sparked a period of rapid growth, transforming the brand into a dominant force in the fine dining space.

One of the key elements that distinguishes Ruth’s Chris from other steakhouses is its signature cooking technique. Steaks are broiled at a searing 1800 degrees using specialized equipment, which locks in flavor and ensures they arrive at the table piping hot. Coupled with a commitment to attentive service, this method has helped cement Ruth’s Chris Steak House as a leader in the world of high-end dining.

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.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Franchise Fee (nonrefundable)	$100,000
Site Location Feasibility and Marketing Study	$5,000 to $10,000
Real Estate and Improvements	$1,000,000 to $3,500,000
Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures	$750,000 to $970,000
Signage	$25,000 to $85,000
Pre-Opening Marketing and Public Relations	$30,000 to $70,000
Pre-Opening & Training Inventory (Food & Beverages)	$90,000 to $200,000
Initial Inventory (Food & Beverages)	$120,000 to $350,000
Point of Sale Computer Hardware and Software and Office Material	$25,000 to $150,000
Management Training Expenses	$57,000 to $120,000
New Store Opening Assistance Training Expense	$80,000 to $150,000
Alcoholic Beverages License and other Business Permits	$10,000 to $180,000
Insurance deposits and Premiums (for first year)	$30,000 to $45,000
Utility Deposits	$5,000 to $100,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$150,000 to $350,000
TOTALS	$2,477,000 to $6,380,000

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Franchise Disclosure Document

Training

Ruth's Chris Steak House provides comprehensive training programs to ensure consistency and excellence across its franchised locations. These programs include:

Management Training Program: A seven-week program designed to equip managers with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate a Ruth's Chris Steak House effectively. This training is informative and offers valuable learning experiences for those pursuing management careers in the restaurant industry.
Culinary Training: Chefs, cooks, and kitchen staff undergo rigorous training to master the restaurant's proprietary cooking methods, including the use of a patented 1,800-degree broiler to prepare steaks. This ensures that each steak is cooked to perfection and served sizzling hot, maintaining the high standards set by the brand.
Hospitality Training: Front-of-house team members receive extensive training to deliver memorable dining experiences that consistently exceed guest expectations. This includes instruction in high-caliber hospitality practices and top-quality service standards.
Wine Training Program: Ruth's Chris Steak House offers an on-premise wine training program modeled after the Court of Master Sommeliers curriculum. This program enhances the staff's knowledge of wines, enabling them to provide expert recommendations and pairings to guests.
Leadership Development Program: Aimed at fostering internal growth, this program provides clear pathways for team members to advance within the company. Through thorough training, coaching, and leadership development initiatives, employees are prepared for roles with increased responsibility. Notably, more than 42% of the management team has been promoted from within, reflecting the program's success.

Territory Protection

Ruth’s Chris Steak House does offer limited territory protection to its franchisees. According to the franchise disclosure, the franchisor generally grants a protected area defined by specific geographic boundaries, such as a radius around the franchise location or a designated region.

Within this protected area, the franchisor agrees not to open or license another traditional Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

However, this protection is not absolute and may come with exceptions. For instance, the franchisor reserves the right to operate or license non-traditional locations—such as those in airports, hotels, or stadiums—even within a franchisee's protected territory.

Additionally, the franchisor may sell products through alternative channels, including online or retail, which may serve customers inside the protected territory.