In Honor of The Big Breakfast Day, Here Are 13 Franchises to Consider in 2023

Breakfast is a multibillion-dollar opportunity for entrepreneurs. Gen-Zers – adults born between 1993 and 2003 – consistently buy Breakfast through third-party delivery services. In fact, two-thirds of Gen-Zers buy breakfast outside the home at least once a week, according to food manufacturer J.M. Smucker Co. Breakfast franchises can offer healthier, gluten-free food in addition to their pastry, pancake and egg options, which are also attractive to Gen-Zers. Breakfast is so popular for people of all ages that there is a national holiday for it: The Big Breakfast Day on Feb. 27.

What Is The Big Breakfast Day?  

Big Breakfast Day was established in 2020 by Jeffrey Arnold to commemorate the most important meal of the day. Franchisees who offer breakfasts benefit from a younger fan base, family-friendly work hours, and added revenue streams, including catering, online orders, merchandise and alcohol sales, and third-party delivery options.

But is owning a breakfast franchise a wise investment? If the success of American icons like Denny’s and IHOP are any indication, breakfast franchises are a hit in any community. Here are 13 breakfast franchise opportunities to consider in 2023.

Breakfast Franchise Opportunities 

The Toasted Yolk Cafe

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is a breakfast, lunch and brunch franchise based in Texas. Its breakfast and lunch menus include eggs, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. The breakfast franchise also has a full wine list and draft beers. The Toasted Yolk Cafe wants to change the way people think about breakfast and lunch by offering foods with a contemporary twist. These restaurants support work-life balance because they’re open only from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Added revenue streams include catering, private events, online ordering and third-party delivery services. Franchisees will also benefit from a fan base that is middle class to upper middle class and appreciates a fine dining experience. Flexible build-out options are a bonus. 

Famous Toastery

Brian Burchill and Robert Maynard opened the first Famous Toastery location in Huntersville, N.C., in 2005 and began awarding franchise locations in 2013. These childhood best friends came up with the concept for the Famous Toastery based on their love of food, good entertainment, and fun times with family and friends. Franchisees benefit from the Famous Toastery’s scalable business model and amazing culture; they should also value customer service. Catering and online orders bring in additional revenue. To give back to the community, 100% of the first two days’ proceeds are donated to local non-profit organizations every time a location is opened.

Denny’s

For more than 60 years, Denny’s has been a part of America’s breakfast routine. The franchise’s menu has something for everyone: Eggs, pancakes and crepes are among the breakfast-all-day options; customers can order salads, sandwiches and dinner later in the day. The 24/7 brand was founded by Harold Butler. The first Denny’s opened in Lakewood, Calif., in 1953. Since franchising began in 1963, the company has expanded to more than 1,600 locations. The breakfast franchise is also known for its innovative food items and virtual concepts like The Den, located on college and university campuses to woo new generations of customers. Denny’s also has a welcoming culture that values diversity and inclusion, partnering with the Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership program of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospital Alliance. 

IHOP

The International House of Pancakes, or IHOP, has been an American icon for six decades. Founded by Jerry Lapin, Al Lapin Jr. and Albert Kallis, the first IHOP location opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, a suburb of Los Angeles. The breakfast brand’s menu includes many varieties of pancakes, including Original Buttermilk, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, New York Cheesecake and other seasonal options. Franchisees have nontraditional location opportunities including casinos, universities, airports and other travel centers. IHOP’s parent company is Dine Brands, which also owns Applebee’s and has agreed to purchase Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. 

Crepe Delicious 

The crepe puts a French twist on breakfast and provides a departure from the usual eggs, toast and pancakes. Founded in 2004 by Chef Oded Yefet, Crepe Delicious specializes in this thinner, healthier variation on pancakes that originated in France. Crepes can be filled with fresh fruit, jam and chocolate spread as well as savory ingredients. The crepe is perfect for a light breakfast – or a tasty treat at any time of the day. The Crepe Delicious franchise serves gelato and other frozen treats. Franchisees can give back to the community with Breakfast for Learning, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure no child goes to school hungry. 

Jimmy’s Egg

The Jimmy’s Egg breakfast franchise attracts investors because of its simple business model and family-friendly hours, operating only from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. For an affordable investment, franchisees benefit from the breakfast brand’s three decades of experience and success. The Jimmy’s Egg franchise’s menu includes eggs, omelets, salads, sandwiches, burgers and more. The breakfast franchise’s locations can be end-cap spaces that range from 3,000 to 3,400 square feet. Franchisees can also convert existing restaurants into Jimmy’s Egg locations; online ordering and catering services are additional revenue streams.  

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe provides customers with a menu made with fresh ingredients. No prior business experience is required in order to successfully run the business. Since opening in 2006, the breakfast brand has expanded across Florida. Franchisees enjoy the flexibility that comes with operating a business with family-friendly hours (7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Online ordering can be an additional revenue stream. Denny’s Corp. acquired Keke’s from K2 Restaurants Inc. in 2022.

Broken Yolk Cafe

The original Broken Yolk Cafe restaurant opened in Pacific Beach, a community near San Diego, in 1979. The breakfast franchise has since become a go-to spot for Southern Californians for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Customers enjoy breakfast at Broken Yolk for special events like birthdays, mixers, conferences, fundraisers, parties and graduations. Ideal franchise partners have prior business experience and know how to follow a proven system. In addition to the lure of a nine-hour operating period (6 a.m. to 3 p.m.), franchisees have flexible location options that range from 3,500 to 4,500 square feet. You can also convert an existing restaurant into a Broken Yolk location. Online ordering, private rooms, gift cards, merchandise and catering options can boost the bottom line.  

Rising Roll Gourmet Café 

The Rising Roll Gourmet Café has a menu of healthy options that you can feel good about serving. These include eggs, salads, sandwiches, wraps and more. Franchisees with the breakfast franchise can achieve a great work-life balance with flexible hours. They also benefit from Rising Roll’s culture that values corporate responsibility and giving back to communities. Rising Roll has donated to Bert’s Big Adventure, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers. Rising Roll Gourmet Professional Catering Services offers an additional revenue stream. 

Sunny Street Café

Sunny Street Café offers a wide range of breakfast and lunch options including pancakes, eggs, omelets, Tex-Mex, salads, sandwiches and more. Franchisees don’t need to have prior business experience to provide this feel-good fare. An investment in a Sunny Street franchise is affordable and provides flexibility with family-friendly hours of 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Franchisees have the freedom to regionalize their menus and create their own promotions. Alcohol, merchandise, catering and online ordering sales offer additional revenue sources.   

Scramblers

Scramblers serves breakfast and lunch options daily from 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Originally  called Cafe Marie’s, the first location was opened in 1989 so Philip Buerk and his son, Shain, could share and carry on the tradition of eating meals as a family. Over time, Scramblers expanded across the Midwest and wants to grow through franchising. Franchisees will appreciate the brand’s family-like culture and have available opportunities in prime markets in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Alabama and Kentucky. 

Perkins

The Perkins franchise was founded by Matt and Ivan Perkins in Cincinnati in 1958. While Perkins has lunch and dinner options, its franchisees capitalize on a menu offering breakfast all day, a hot trend that’s driving traffic and profits. And those breakfast options range from pancakes, French toast and Belgian waffles to omelets and Perkins’ famous Smashers, which are a bed of tater tots topped with two eggs, meats and cheeses. Perkins franchise opportunities are available across North America. Qualified candidates should be committed to great customer service and have an entrepreneurial mindset. Perkins is franchised by Ascent Hospitality Management, which also has Huddle House in its portfolio. 

Turning Point Restaurants 

CEO Kirk Ruoff established Turning Point Restaurants in Little Silver, N.J., in 1998. Over time, the brand has expanded to over 20 locations across New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Popular menu items include bacon lollipops, seven different origins of French press coffee and lobster avocado toast. Turning Point is looking for experienced single- and multi-unit restaurant operators who are involved in their communities and have a track record of business success. Candidates also should be passionate about giving customers a great experience.