Olive Garden Franchise FDD, Profits & Costs
Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, a leader in full-service dining in North America. Founded in 1982, Olive Garden specializes in Italian-American cuisine and is a flagship brand for Darden, alongside LongHorn Steakhouse and Yard House.
Darden operates over 2,000 restaurants, with Olive Garden being a key contributor.
While most U.S. locations are company-owned, Olive Garden franchises in non-traditional locations like airports and internationally. The brand stands out for its warm dining experience, quality Italian-inspired dishes, and memorable service.
Initial Investment
How much does it cost to start a Olive Garden franchise? Olive Garden does not offer franchise opportunities, as all of its locations are company-owned in the US.
Therefore, it is not possible to start a Olive Garden franchise, and there is no associated cost for franchising with the company.
For similar Italian-American style restaurant franchises, however, the initial investment is on average $1,330,000.
In comparison, for example, Villa Italian Kitchen (a Quick-service Italian restaurant franchise brand) requires an investment upfront of $303,000 up to $1,016,000 for a franchised restaurant.
| Franchise | Initial investment |
|---|---|
| Fazoli’s | $378,000 – $2,329,000 |
| Villa Italian Kitchen | $303,000 – $1,016,000 |
Average Revenue (AUV)
How much revenue can you make with a Olive Garden franchise?
Since Olive Garden does not franchise its stores and all locations are company-owned, Olive Garden does not publish a Franchise Disclosure Document. Therefore, it does not disclose the average revenue of its stores.
However, a similar Italian-American franchise makes on average $1,198,000 in revenue (AUV) per year. For example, a Villa Italian Kitchen franchised store makes on average $635,000 in revenue per year.
| Franchise | Revenue (AUV) |
|---|---|
| Fazoli’s | $1,094,000 |
| Villa Italian Kitchen | $635,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Olive Garden franchise owner expect to earn?
Since Olive Garden is entirely company-owned and does not operate as a franchise, there is no earning disclosure for a Olive Garden franchise.
Now, assuming the average gross sales for an Italian-American franchise similar to a Olive Garden franchise of $874,000 per store. And assuming a 15% operating profit margin, $874,000 yearly revenue would result in about $180,000 operating profit per year.
What funding options are available for a Olive Garden franchise?
Most franchise buyers in Olive Garden’s investment range finance their unit through an SBA 7(a) loan, with some multi-unit operators using SBA 504 loans for real estate. Buyers with rollable retirement funds sometimes use a ROBS structure to reduce debt service. See SharpSheets’ financial model hub for funding guidance.
How long does it take to pay back a Olive Garden franchise investment?
Payback periods for franchises in Olive Garden’s category typically run 3-7 years, depending on investment level, location performance, and financing structure. Actual payback varies significantly by unit performance and debt service obligations.
Who owns Olive Garden?
Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants, Inc., which is one of the largest full-service dining restaurant companies. Darden also owns other well-known restaurant brands like LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, and The Capital Grille.
SharpSheets Editorial Team | sharpsheets.io | Last Updated: June 2026
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Research Olive Garden franchise data: For the full FDD cost breakdown, investment tables, and Item 19 disclosures, visit FranchisePayback.com → Olive Garden FDD Review.
