FREE Franchise Guide!
Franchise 500 2023
2023 Franchise 500 Rank
N/R Not ranked last year
See the Full List
Initial investment
$326K - $1.2M
Units as of 2021
194 arrow down 33% over 3 years

Company Overview

Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker took his wife Ida's recipe for hot dogs and started selling them from a stand in Coney Island in 1916. The Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest that started that same year continues to be held every July 4th to this day. Al Capone, Jimmy Durante and Cary Grant were regular customers, and FDR had Nathan's Famous hot dogs served to the king and queen of England in 1939. Nathan's Famous became a public company in 1970, and began franchising in 1988. In addition to hot dogs, the menu offers hamburgers, chicken, cheesesteaks and fries.

About Nathan's Famous

Industry Food
Related Categories Hot Dogs, Miscellaneous Quick-Service Restaurants
Founded 1916
Leadership Eric Gatoff, CEO
Corporate Address 1 Jericho Plaza, #203
Jericho, NY 11753
Social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1988 (2023-1988 years)
# of employees at HQ 238
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchisees throughout the US.

This company is offering new franchisees worldwide.

# of Units 194 (as of 2021)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Nathan's Famous franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$30,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$326,050 - $1,170,360
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$500,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5.5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
2%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
20 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
Take Our Free Franchise Quiz!

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 39-67 hours
Classroom Training 48-51 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 14
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
Take our quick quiz to find your ideal franchise

Interested in ownership opportunities like Nathan's Famous? Request a free consultation with a Franchise Advisor now.

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Nathan's Famous landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Nathan's Famous ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.

Related Franchises

Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Nathan's Famous.

uBreakiFix

description
Electronics repairs

Edible

description
Sculpted fruit bouquets, chocolate covered fruit, smoothies, fruit salads, baked goods

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

description
Asian-American/Hawaiian food

Captain D's

description
Seafood

Related Franchise Content

Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.

Business News

Subway Struggles to Attract Multi-Unit Franchisees in the U.S., Announces Major Expansion in Another Country

Subway has been attempting to sign new franchisees to multi-unit deals to improve its ownership model. However, the franchisees it's looking for aren't taking the bait.

Marketing

How to Effectively Utilize Video in Your Franchise Brand's Marketing Strategy

Knowing where to focus your effort will help you in many ways.

Business News

What Makes Scenthound a Top New & Emerging Franchise

Focusing on out what dogs and their owners actually need helped Scenthound CEO Tim Vogelcreate a successful franchise system.

Franchise

How to Harness the Power and Money of a Crowd Through Crowdfunding

You don't have to be rich, succumb to ever-growing interest rates, run the risk of your bank collapsing or use your house as collateral to build a franchise. All you have to do is find the right crowd.

Business News

Woman Ties the Knot at White Castle Almost 30 Years After the Chain Gave Her Free Food as a Homeless Teen

Jamie West was just 12 years old when she ran away from the foster care system.

Franchise

Franchise Ownership Made Easy: Best Practices for Managing and Growing Your Business

Using these tips, you can maximize the benefits of franchise ownership and take your business to the next level.

See more franchise content
Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022