DFO
Key figures
| Initial franchise fee | $30,000 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $1,618,375 – $3,056,875 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 4.5% of gross sales |
| Headquarters state | SC |
| Legal name (Item 1) | DFO, LLC |
| FDD issuance date | 2025-04-30 |
| Franchised units (Item 20) | 1212 (Item 20, p.79) |
| Brand website | https://www.dennys.com |
About DFO
TERRITORY (Item 12): this franchisor grants an exclusive territory as described in its FDD. 1 DFO, LLC FDD April 30, 2025, as amended on November 3, 2025 #263576v1 None of Denny’s, our parents or affiliates have offered franchises in any other lines of business, nor do they engage in any other
Due diligence dossier
Every figure below is as disclosed in this brand's own FDD, with its FDD citation. FranchiseKI adds no analysis and estimates nothing.
Unit history (Item 20)
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2023 | 22 | 1 | 23 |
Source: Item 20, p.89 of the brand's FDD.
Risk & history facts
| Litigation matters disclosed (Item 3) | 0 (Item 3, p.15 of the FDD) |
| Bankruptcy (Item 4) | Bankruptcy disclosed — read Item 4 of the FDD carefully (Item 4, p.16 of the FDD) |
Ownership & operations
Training: Training must be scheduled at least 45 days prior to the opening date of your res- taurant. (Item 11, p.44 of the FDD)
Company facts
| Headquarters | SC |
| Company-owned units | 61 (Item 20, p.89 of the FDD) |
Questions to ask the franchisor
Generated from what this brand's FDD data does not disclose — ask DFO directly:
- What liquid capital does the franchisor require of a new franchisee? It is not disclosed in the FDD data we hold for this brand.
- What minimum net worth does the franchisor require? It is not disclosed in the FDD data we hold for this brand.
- How exactly is the territory defined and protected (Item 12)? Ask for the territory map and the reserved-rights carve-outs in writing.
Territory — what the FDD says (Item 12)
Under this brand's Item 12 rule, the franchisor grants an exclusive territory: while your agreement runs, the franchisor may not place another franchisee — or operate a competing company unit — inside your territory's boundaries (subject to the carve-outs in the FDD). Areas inside an existing franchisee's territory are therefore not available to a new buyer.
The FDD's own words (Item 12): “this franchisor grants an exclusive territory as described in its FDD. 1 DFO, LLC FDD April 30, 2025, as amended on November 3, 2025 #263576v1 None of Denny’s, our parents or affiliates have offered franchises in any other lines of business, nor do they engage in any other”
Next steps with DFO
Put DFO on a shortlist. Compare it side by side with two other brands. Check it against your budget in the PerfectFit Quiz. Or talk it through with a vetted consultant. That conversation is free to buyers; call (385) 475-5319. Only the franchisor can confirm current terms. Only the franchisor can confirm territory availability.