Tag: M&A & exits
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How to Value a Restaurant to Sell in 2026: The Operator’s Guide
What restaurants actually sell for in 2026. EBITDA multiples by concept, add-backs buyers scrutinize, and an operator diligence checklist.
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Jersey Mike’s Priced at $23, Closed at $21.63: What the Discount Tells Restaurant Operators
Jersey Mike’s priced at $23 and closed the first trading day at $21.63, giving JMKE a $6.7B market cap. That is roughly $5B below the rumored $12B valuation. Here is what the discount tells multi-unit restaurant operators planning an exit.
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State of Restaurant M&A Q2 2026
Q2 2026 restaurant M&A: the Pizza Hut carve-out, multiple compression in casual dining, coffee holding, and what PE firms are actually buying.
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Restaurant Franchisee vs Franchisor: The P&L Trade-Offs
Franchisee vs franchisor P&L math. Royalty structures, unit economics, cash-on-cash returns, and how the two sides split the value.
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When to Refinance Restaurant Debt: The Ratios That Actually Matter
Refinance restaurant debt when DSCR drops below 1.3x or rates move 100 bps. The four ratios lenders watch, three refi scenarios worth acting on, and what to bring.
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The Real Reason Restaurant Chains Keep Filing for Chapter 11 in 2026
Fat Brands, Applebee’s, Carl’s Jr., and Hardee’s franchisee filings in 2026 share a pattern. It is not menu. It is capital structure. What operators should learn.
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What Q2 2026 Restaurant Earnings Actually Say About Same-Store Sales
Q2 2026 restaurant earnings split: Cheesecake Factory posted first $1B quarter and 20% margin, while Sweetgreen and Wingstop dropped comps ~7.5%. What operators should take from it.
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When Does a Restaurant Need a CFO? Revenue Thresholds
Restaurants under $3M need a bookkeeper. $3M to $10M hire a fractional CFO. Above $10M go full-time. Complexity signals matter as much as revenue.
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4-Wall EBITDA Margin by Restaurant Concept: What Buyers Look For in 2026
2026 4-Wall EBITDA benchmarks by concept: QSR, fast casual, full service, bar-heavy, coffee, pizza, ghost kitchen. What buyers pay for and why.
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How to Prepare Your Restaurant for a Private Equity Exit
Free: The Restaurant Financial Health Checklist. The 6 numbers a chain CFO tracks weekly, plus 30 yes/no questions you can run against your P&L in 15 minutes. Written by a former chain CFO. Instant PDF. Send me the checklist Unsubscribe anytime. Preparing a restaurant for a private equity exit takes…