About Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Franchise
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill is a quick service restaurant franchise specializing in freshly grilled Philly style cheesesteaks, loaded fries, and hand squeezed lemonade.
The brand is known for preparing meals on a flat top grill right in front of customers, creating an experience centered on freshness and quality.
Steak Escape has been a familiar name in food courts and shopping centers for decades, operating under Escape Enterprises, Inc.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$240K
Average Investment
$528K
Maximum Investment
$817K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Mall: Currently 0.5% of Gross Sales but subject to increase up to 2%. Non-Mall: Currently 1.5% but subject to increase up to 3%. | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $239,500 – $816,500 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $240K–$817K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (Mall: Currently 0.5% of Gross Sales but subject to increase up to 2%. Non-Mall: Currently 1.5% but subject to increase up to 3%.) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Initial Training Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Initial Inventory of Food, Paper Products and Misc. Supplies | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Space Lease (Security Deposit and First Three Months’ Rent) | $6,000 | $24,000 |
| Construction and Leasehold Improvements | $75,000 | $475,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | $77,000 | $140,000 |
| Signs and Graphics | $7,000 | $25,000 |
| POS System | $3,500 | $15,000 |
| Lease Negotiation Legal Expenses | $2,000 | $10,000 |
| Architectural Services | $8,000 | $35,000 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $7,500 |
| Uniforms | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Pre-Opening Advertising | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| Utility Deposits, Business Licenses, and Prepaid Expenses | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Additional Funds – Three Months | $20,000 | $30,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 or, if the Transfer is among then-existing owners of the franchisee, $2,000. |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current system standard initial franchise fee. |
| Audit Fee | $2,500 to $5,000 plus costs of travel, lodging, and meals for the auditor(s). |
| Refresher and Remedial Training | $200.00 per day per trainee. |
| Interest on Late Payments | 5% over JP Morgan Chase Bank’s prime rate |
| Administrative | $25 per day |
| Late Charges | 1% of Gross Sales |
| Service Charge | $25.00 per day |
| Review of Proposed New Supplier | Varies |
| Costs and Attorneys’ Fees | Will vary under the circumstances |
| Indemnity | Will vary under the circumstances |
| Liquidated Damages | Will vary under the circumstances |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 212 hours (60 classroom, 62 on-the-job for Phase 1; 0 classroom, 80 on-the-job for Phase 2; 10 classroom, 0 on-the-job for Manager food safety). |
| Classroom Training | 70 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 142 hours |
| Training Location | Escape’s headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, training store in Columbus, Ohio, and Franchisee’s Restaurant. |
| Additional Training | Escape may require additional training at any time during your operation of the restaurant for which a fee may be charged. If required at your facility, you must pay actual costs for the facility, shipment, training materials, trainers’ food, lodging, and transportation, plus a per diem training cost of $200, capped at no more than $600 per day. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Non-exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Description | You will not receive an exclusive territory. Escape may establish other franchised, company-owned or affiliated outlets that may compete with your location, regardless of their proximity. Your franchise is for a specific approved location. You have no right to acquire additional franchises or engage in direct sales of products outside your restaurant. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | unlimited number of additional successive 10-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current system standard initial franchise fee. |
| Renewal Conditions | Timely notice (6-12 months before expiration), no material default, execution of current standard Franchise Agreement (with waiver of initial franchise fee), execution of a general release by you and Principal Owners, proof of right to occupy premises for at least 5 years, completion of required remodeling/redecoration ($10,000 to $100,000), and satisfactory completion of retraining. |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 or $2,000 (if among existing owners). |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisee in compliance with all obligations and current on payments; franchisee and Principal Owners sign release; new franchisee meets franchisor standards and completes training; transfer fees paid; obligations assumed; new franchisee signs current standard agreement and guaranties; new franchisee has right to occupy premises for term of franchise or at least 5 years. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate for various defaults, including misuse of system, payment defaults (10-day cure), failure to construct/operate (30-day cure), material misrepresentation, abandonment, insolvency, trademark infringement, non-compete breach, or four defaults in a 12-month period (immediate termination). |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for two years after termination or expiration. |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, you, your affiliates, management personnel, Principal Owners, and their spouses cannot engage in a similar business. After termination/expiration, for two years, they cannot be involved in a competing business within a three-mile radius of another Escape franchise, employ Escape employees, or divulge confidential information. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | No particular individual must devote full time to the franchised business, though active participation by a principal owner is recommended. The restaurant must be directly supervised at all times by one of two Escape-certified on-premises managers. You must appoint an acceptable individual as your liaison. Franchisees, certain owners, non-owner managers, and their spouses are subject to confidentiality and non-competition restrictions. |
| Required Suppliers | All food and beverage ingredients, products, equipment, software, computer and POS systems, marketing and advertising materials and all paper and other goods bearing the STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL or other proprietary designation purchased for the restaurant must conform to Escape’s specifications and must be purchased from approved suppliers, if these suppliers are so designated. |
| Supply Restrictions | Escape may, by notice to you, issue additional specifications or alter existing specifications for these items and add or delete approved suppliers. Escape reviews proposed suppliers based on factors like utility, quality, capability, and compatibility with Escape’s distribution system. You must purchase POS systems from the current approved POS vendor of Escape. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | In 2021, Escape received rebates and contributions of approximately $73,306.78 (approximately 13% of total revenues) from certain suppliers, based on amounts of purchases by all franchisees. These amounts were applied to the marketing fund and to the provision of training and support materials for franchisees. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | Yes |
| Description | Escape may, in certain situations, introduce you to a possible funding source. The terms of financing will be subject to your negotiation with the funding source. The funding source may pay consideration to Escape for such introduction, but the amount is not subject to any agreement. Escape does not offer direct or indirect financing and does not guarantee your note, lease or obligation. |
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordSteak Escape Sandwich Grill has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill System Growth
Total Units
31
Franchised
28
Company-Owned
3
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill currently operates 28 franchised locations and 3 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 35 |
| 2020 | 0 | 2 | 31 |
| 2021 | 0 | 3 | 28 |
Transfers: 2 | Closures: 7
State Registrations
Registered in 11 states: CA, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, RI, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$1.1M
Net Income
$299K
Total Assets
$807K
Audited by Holbrook & Manter, CPAs for year ending December 31.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Steak Escape Sandwich Grill franchise ranges from $239,500 to $816,500, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $25,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a Mall: Currently 0.5% of Gross Sales but subject to increase up to 2%. Non-Mall: Currently 1.5% but subject to increase up to 3%. contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Steak Escape Sandwich Grill Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Steak Escape Sandwich Grill to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Steak Escape Sandwich Grill has been franchising since 2012. The FDD shows an investment range of $239,500-$816,500, a 6% of Gross Sales royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $25,000 and the total investment ranges from $239,500 to $816,500 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $20,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Steak Escape Sandwich Grill and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Steak Escape Sandwich Grill or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com