Last Updated: 03/02/2026
If you have a felony on your record and are thinking about applying to IHOP, this guide will give you realistic answers without hype or false promises.
IHOP can be a real opportunity for some people with criminal records, especially in back-of-house roles like dishwasher, prep, and cook. The biggest reason is simple: IHOP is overwhelmingly franchise operated, so hiring decisions can vary a lot by location.
There are about 1,812 franchised IHOP restaurants and 12 company-owned IHOP restaurants, which means roughly 99.9% of the system is franchised. IHOP’s careers site also routes restaurant applicants into local restaurant job pages rather than one single centralized restaurant hiring system. This is great news for felons applying to IHOP.
Quick Answer
Yes, some IHOP locations will hire felons, especially for entry-level restaurant jobs.
However, keep these points in mind when applying to IHOP:
- Most IHOP restaurants are franchise-operated, so one location may be flexible while another may be strict.
- Kitchen and support roles are usually better starting points than server, cashier, or management jobs.
- IHOP’s applicant notice says background and reference checks may be used with your consent if you are offered a position, but actual screening practices can vary by franchise and role.
- Recent violent, theft/fraud, or sex-offense convictions can make approval harder, especially for customer-facing, cash-handling, or leadership positions.
IHOP Felon-Friendly Score™
41 / 50 — High Potential (Better in Kitchen Than Front-of-House But Still Good)
This score reflects IHOP’s huge franchise structure, the fact that local pages openly hire for roles like cooks, dishwashers, hosts, and servers, and the reality that family dining is usually a little less forgiving than fast food. IHOP is a great resource for felons wanting to get back into the workforce.
| Category | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Type (Family Dining) | 9/10 | Lots of hourly openings, but table-service restaurants are usually more selective than basic fast food. |
| Franchise / Store-Level Flexibility | 10/10 | IHOP is almost entirely franchised, which creates location-by-location variation. |
| Background Check Policy | 7/10 | Screening may be used, but there is no one-rule system every location. Some locations may not run a background check at all. |
| Customer-Facing Sensitivity | 7/10 | Servers, hosts, and cash handling increase scrutiny. |
| Second Chance Practicality | 8/10 | Good opportunities exist, especially in dish, prep, cook, and busser-type roles. |
How IHOP Hiring Actually Works
IHOP restaurant hiring is not one clean national yes-or-no system.
The IHOP system is franchised and their official career page sends restaurant applicants to local restaurant pages, and those local pages advertise restaurant-level openings like wait staff, host positions, servers, cooks, and dishwashers. Some of those pages also tell applicants they can apply online or call the restaurant directly to ask which jobs are in demand.
What that means for you
- There is no single answer for every IHOP. Each location is allowed to hire whoever they want without corporate oversite.
- A rejection from one location does not mean every IHOP will reject you.
- Your chances of being hired improve if you apply to multiple locations, especially different franchise groups.
- A strong in-person impression can matter a lot because restaurant managers often need dependable people fast. This is a huge plus for anyone with a criminal record!
Does IHOP Run Background Checks?
They can yes, but they always don’t choose to. It really depends on the franchise and how bad they need staff.
What that means in plain English:
- Do not assume there will be no background check.
- Some locations may check everyone, others don’t check anyone.
- Some may only check for certain roles.
- Some may care much more about job-related issues like theft, violence, safety, or repeated recent problems.
What they usually care about if a background check is used
- Type of offense
- How long ago it happened
- Whether it relates to the job
- Work history since conviction
- Reliability and interview attitude
- Whether the job involves cash, guests, keys, or supervision
State Laws and Background Check Rules
State laws regarding background checks can affect what a IHOP franchisee can ask and when they can ask it.
Why that matters to you.
Many places have fair chance / Ban the Box rules that delay criminal-history questions. Another benefit is that some state laws limit how far back a background check can go (often 7 years). Also, if an employer uses a third-party background report (consumer report), federal law (FCRA) requires notices/permission and specific steps before and after adverse action.
What Positions Are More Felon-Friendly at IHOP?
These are usually the best starting points if you have a felony record.
More Flexible Positions
- Dishwasher / Dish Machine Operator
- Prep Cook
- Line Cook
- Busser
- Food runner / expo
- General kitchen support
These jobs are usually the best entry points because they are operationally necessary and less sensitive than front-counter or management roles.
More Sensitive or Harder Positions to Get (Not impossible though)
- Server
- Host / Hostess
- Cashier / front counter
- To-go / takeout roles
- Shift lead
- Assistant manager
- General manager
Why these are harder
- More customer interaction
- More cash or tip handling
- More responsibility for closing, keys, or supervision
- More trust and reliability expectations from the franchise owner
Official IHOP restaurant career pages clearly advertise front-of-house and back-of-house roles.
What Convictions May Cause Problems?
These felony convictions usually create more obstacles when applying at IHOP, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they wont hire you.
- Recent violent felonies
- Theft, fraud, or embezzlement offenses
- Sex offenses
- Recent serious charges with unresolved court issues
- Probation or parole restrictions that interfere with scheduling
- Multiple recent offenses with no stable work history since
Older, non-violent convictions are usually much more manageable, especially if you apply for kitchen or support roles first and show solid work habits.
What Should I Say in an IHOP Interview if I Have a Felony?
Nothing unless you are asked directly. If they ask, keep it short, calm, and professional:
“I made a mistake in the past, took responsibility, and I’ve been focused on working and moving forward. I’m dependable, I show up, and I’m ready to work.”
Do not overexplain. Restaurant managers are usually trying to solve staffing problems, not hear a long life story.
Real-World Strategy to Get Hired at IHOP With a Felony
IHOP is usually a numbers game plus presentation.
Step 1: Apply online
Use IHOP’s careers page and local restaurant pages. Official restaurant pages show that applicants can apply directly online and, in some cases, call the restaurant to ask what positions are hot right now.
Step 2: Apply to multiple locations
Because most IHOPs are franchise-run, different owners can make different decisions.
Step 3: Visit during non-rush hours
Best times are usually:
- 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Avoid breakfast rush
- Avoid weekends if possible
Step 4: Ask to introduce yourself to a manager
Keep it simple:
“I applied online and wanted to introduce myself. I’m available mornings, nights, weekends, and can start quickly.”
Step 5: Sell what restaurant managers actually need (Important)
- Reliability
- Open availability
- Ability to handle busy rushes
- Cleanliness
- Team attitude
- Willingness to work mornings, weekends, or closing shifts
What IHOP Managers Actually Care About
At the store level, managers usually care most about whether you will make the shift easier by doing the following:
- Showing up on time
- Handling breakfast rush without panicking
- Open availability
- Being respectful to guests and coworkers
- Cleanliness and food safety
- Not creating drama
- Learning quickly
- Taking direction well
If you communicate that clearly, your odds of getting the job go up big time.
Green Flags vs Red Flags
| Green Flags | Red Flags |
|---|---|
| Older conviction | Recent violent offense |
| Applying for dishwasher/cook/busser roles first | Applying only for server/manager jobs |
| Open availability | Restricted schedule |
| Calm, short explanation if asked | Overexplaining or acting defensive |
| Stable job history | Unresolved legal issues |
| Reliable transportation | Theft/fraud history for cash-handling roles |
IHOP Hiring Readiness Checklist
- ☐ My conviction is older or non-violent, or I can show strong rehabilitation since
- ☐ I have at least some work history or references
- ☐ I can work mornings, nights, weekends, or holidays
- ☐ I can explain my background briefly and calmly if asked
- ☐ I am applying to cook, dish, prep, or busser roles first
- ☐ I am applying to multiple IHOP locations
- ☐ I have reliable transportation
- ☐ I can handle fast-paced restaurant work
Score meaning
- 6–8 checks: Great Chance
- 4–5 checks: Very Possible
- 0–3 checks: harder, but not impossible
IHOP Pay Scale
Pay at IHOP varies a lot by state, city, franchise owner, and whether the job is tipped or not. Generally speaking you are looking at a broad range from 12.00 – 24.00 dollars an hour.
For tipped jobs, pay rules vary by state; the U.S. Department of Labor notes that where federal tip-credit rules apply, the federal cash wage floor can be $2.13/hour, but many states require more.
| Position | Typical Pay Structure |
|---|---|
| Dishwasher / Busser | Hourly |
| Prep Cook / Line Cook | Hourly |
| Host / Hostess | Hourly |
| Server | Tipped pay + tips, or full state minimum wage + tips depending on the state |
| Shift Lead / Assistant Manager | Higher hourly or salary-equivalent |
| General Manager | Salary or salary + bonus, varies widely by franchise |
Promotion Potential
IHOP can offer real advancement if you get in and prove yourself. A realistic path often looks like this:
Dish / Busser / Host / Cook → Key Hourly Role → Shift Lead → Assistant Manager → General Manager
What helps you get promoted and earn more? These attributes:
- Good attendance
- Working rushes without falling apart
- Learning multiple roles
- Strong teamwork
- Cleanliness and food safety
- Reliability over time
- Awesome customer service
If you have a felony record, the best strategy is usually:
get in first → build trust → move up This is how you make more money!
Industry Insight: Why IHOP Is a Good Option For Felons
IHOP is not as easy as some fast-food employers, but it can still be one of the more realistic sit-down chains for people with criminal records because of the following:
- It has a huge restaurant footprint
- It hires across both front-of-house and back-of-house roles
- Franchise ownership creates flexibility and less background scrutiny.
- Restaurants constantly need dependable hourly workers.
- Kitchen roles are often easier entry points than guest-facing roles.
The broader restaurant labor market also still produces a lot of openings. BLS projects about 1,159,600 openings each year for food and beverage serving workers and about 432,200 openings each year for cooks over the 2024–2034 decade. This means high turnover.
How IHOP Compares to Other Employers
| Employer | Felon-Friendly Level |
|---|---|
| IHOP | High |
| McDonald’s | Moderate-High |
| Subway | High |
| Olive Garden | Moderate-Low |
| Large Retail Chains | Moderate |
IHOP is usually a better bet than many polished sit-down chains if you target kitchen roles, but usually not as easy as the best fast-food chains.
Reality Check
IHOP is a very realistic but not automatic opportunity for applicants with felony records. CAUTION: Please do not think your getting hired automatically no matter what, that is not the aim of this article.
Your odds are best if you:
- Apply to multiple locations
- Target dishwasher, prep, cook, or busser roles first
- Keep your explanation short if asked
- Show open availability
- Present yourself like someone who will actually show up and work hard.
- Are likeable and a show interest
The biggest mistake people make is getting rejected once and assuming the entire chain is off-limits. With IHOP, different location can mean different answer.
IHOP FAQ
Often yes, especially if the charge is older, non-violent, and you are applying for kitchen or support roles first. Generally speaking most franchises will let drug charges or convictions fly under the radar.
Possibly, but recent violent felonies usually make hiring harder, especially for guest-facing roles. This is a question with to many variables for us to give you a good answer.
They can run a background check if they choose to but some locations do not. It depends on the franchise, position you applied for and other factors.
Dishwasher, prep cook, line cook, and busser roles are usually the best places to start. Start small and work your way up.
Yes. Because hiring can vary by franchise and location, another IHOP may make a different decision.
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- Does Burger King Hire Felons?
- Does Taco Bell Hire Felons?
- Does Subway Hire Felons?
- Does Olive Garden Hire Felons?
- Does Walmart Hire Felons?
- Does McDonald’s Hire Felons?
- Does Pizza Hut Hire Felons?
- Does Wawa hire felons?
Disclaimer
HelpForFelons.org is not affiliated with IHOP, Dine Brands, or any IHOP franchisee. Hiring policies vary by location and may change at any time. This guide is for educational purposes only and does not guarantee employment.