This legendary breakfast brand seeks experienced restaurant operators to support innovative new stores.
IHOP is an iconic brand that has provided quality food and innovative menu items to its guests for over 65 years. From new prototypes to LTOs that go viral, a new loyalty program and digital experiences for guests, IHOP prides itself on proactively adapting to changing industry and guest needs.
“We are a heritage brand, but we focus on menu innovation and different avenues of development to stay relevant to guests—and to drive brand awareness by capturing new guests,” says Jacob Barden, vice president of development at IHOP. “We are always looking at new ways to evolve our business.”
At the end of March 2023, IHOP introduced its largest menu evolution to date—the return of classic guest favorites, like the nostalgic Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity Combo and our Cinn-A-Stack pancakes. Barden says guests requested this revival over a dozen times a week. The re-engineered menu also features new options that focus on quality and all dayparts.
IHOP also seeks to develop not only its traditional, full-service restaurants, but also smaller, non-traditional venues to broaden reach.
“Our first-ever loyalty program, the International Bank of Pancakes, launched in April 2022 and only continues to grow. As of Q3 2023, the loyalty program grew to more than 7 million members, and the data we’ve gathered from the program enables us to methodically plan promotions and menu offers that are most likely to appeal to our guests,” Barden says.
Amid these successes, IHOP is seeking experienced restauranteurs interested in helping to grow this iconic brand. The opportunity offers a range of development incentives for new and existing franchisees and strategic growth plans for traditional and non-traditional development.
“Our strong franchisee system holds substantial historical knowledge, with an average of 17 years with the brand. When you become an IHOP franchisee, you gain strong resources, including a focus on operations excellence and on-the-ground support from our field operations, training, and marketing teams,” Barden says.
IHOP has consistently looked to add new restaurants year after year. We offer a variety of options for development, and we focus on growth and the development of our restaurants—not only traditional, full-service sit-down dining restaurants, but also a smaller expression, counter service type model for non-traditional venues. We’ll be able to serve our current guests on-the-go in such venues as college campuses, airports, casinos, and travel centers, but also build brand awareness and capture new guests.
“We have opportunities available in select domestic prime markets and internationally for both traditional and non-traditional development,” Barden says. “A widely recognized and loved family dining brand, we are looking for experienced operators to continue our brand consistency, adaptability, and growth.”
To learn more about franchise opportunities with IHOP, visit franchise.ihop.com/en/us/request-more-info.
- Global Locations: Nearly 1,800
- Minimum Liquidity: $500,000
- Minimum Net Worth: $1,500,000
