Keke's Franchise Investment - High Volume Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe*®* is a brand built on a simple but powerful premise: fresh, made-to-order breakfast and lunch served in a warm, spotless, community-focused environment. Now, nearly two decades since its founding, Keke’s has grown into a high-performing concept with a scalable model, streamlined operations and a strong corporate support system — all of which make it a standout franchise investment.

With impressive average unit volumes (AUV) and short daily operating hours, Keke’s offers franchisees the chance to own a high-volume restaurant business without the burnout of traditional foodservice.

In 2024, Keke’s averaged net sales of $2,089,007 for all franchised restaurants that reported through the iLumen Reporting Software, with the top half of franchise restaurants seeing net sales of $2,589,666, according to the brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) .

This strong revenue potential is supported by a simple and efficient model. Keke’s restaurants are open for one shift per day, typically from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., which helps franchisees manage labor and enjoy a better work-life balance.

Franchise model benefits

“The benefit is that we’re doing high volume all within a 7.5-hour window,” said Ardag Tachian, senior director of franchise development. “Breakfast tends to carry lower food costs than other dayparts, which is another advantage for franchisees. It's an incredibly efficient business model.”

Keke’s is also designed for operational efficiency. The total investment necessary to open a Keke’s Breakfast Cafe ranges from $622,825 to $1,887,313, including a $30,000 franchise fee .

Here’s a quick breakdown of startup costs:

In addition, ongoing fees are straightforward:

• Royalty Fee: 5% - 5.5% of gross sales

• Brand Building Fund: 2% - 3% of gross sales

• Technology Support Fee: 0.25% of gross sales

Corporate support

One of the biggest strengths of the Keke’s franchise opportunity is the operational and financial support provided by the corporate team.

“Keke’s corporate looks to maintain 5% to 10% of the system as company-owned locations,” said Jon Ahrendt, senior director of franchise relations. “We also do what we call ‘seed and feed’ — investing our own resources into launching new markets. Sometimes we’ll keep those locations corporate, or we may transition them to franchisees later. That kind of financial and operational commitment from corporate is a huge advantage for our franchise partners.”

Thanks to the support of Denny’s Corporation, franchisees also benefit from robust shared services — including site selection, equipment sourcing, project management, and more — while still operating an independent brand.

“We’re purposefully maintaining brand separation between Denny’s and Keke’s in the eyes of the consumer,” said Ahrendt. “But behind the scenes, the support and infrastructure are incredibly valuable for our franchisees.”

Expansion plans

Keke’s is strategically positioned for continued expansion, targeting new markets and investing in innovation. The brand has been rolling out modern cafe designs, off-premise dining options like Keke’s Anywhere To-Go and Catering, and exploring CRM and digital marketing tools to drive demand.

“We’re constantly refining the model and working to bring investment costs down,” said Ahrendt. “If our franchisees are successful and profitable, the brand succeeds as well.”

Looking ahead, the brand targets between 12-20 new openings in 2025.

“Now is a great time to invest in Keke’s,” said Tachian. “For nearly 20 years, we’ve proven the concept is strong. We're on the verge of becoming a nationally recognized brand, and we have wide-open availability in many great markets — but that won’t last long.”

For entrepreneurs seeking a scalable, profitable business with limited hours and a beloved brand identity, the Keke’s franchise opportunity offers a compelling path forward.

With high unit volumes, simplified operations and the backing of Denny's Corporation, Keke's offers an opportunity for franchisees looking to break into the booming breakfast and brunch segment.