Chick-fil-A is a quick service restaurant (QSR) chain that specializes in chicken. It’s best known for its chicken sandwiches, whose popularity has inspired other chicken chains to follow suit, adding sandwiches to their menus. It’s one of the most successful QSR chains in America, with billions of dollars in sales each year.
As a franchise, part of its appeal is its distinctive model, which makes it inexpensive for a new franchisee to sign up and provides more support than most, with the company doing more of the heavy lifting than other brands, for example in finding locations. For someone who just wants to get a business set up, it has the appeal of low initial outlay, strong franchisee support, potentially strong earnings, and having the company take responsibility for many supply issues.
But franchisees have to run their franchises full-time, making it suitable for someone who wants a steady job but not an ambitious franchisee who’s set on empire building. Chick-fil-A franchisees don’t own the restaurant, so there’s nothing to sell when they exit.
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In this exclusive Franchise Chatter FDD Talk post, you’ll learn the following:
Section I – Estimated initial investment (franchise costs) for a Chick-fil-A franchise, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD
Section II – Initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee for a Chick-fil-A franchise, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD
Section III – Number of franchised and company-owned Chick-fil-A outlets at the start of the year and the end of the year for 2022, 2023, and 2024, based on Item 20 of the company’s 2025 FDD
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Section V – Presentation and analysis of Chick-fil-A’s financial performance representations (average revenues and/or profits), based on Item 19 of the company’s 2025 FDD, including information on the:
- 2024 average, median, high, and low sales for the 197 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in malls that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024
- percentage of domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in malls that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 and generated annual sales of less than $2,700,000; between $2,700,000 and $4,500,000; and over $4,500,000, respectively
- 2024 average, median, high, and low sales for the 2,179 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in non-malls that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024
- percentage of domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in non-malls that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 and generated annual sales of less than $8,325,000; between $8,320,000 and $10,155,000; and over $10,155,000, respectively
- 2024 average, median, high, and low sales for the 4 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in delivery kitchens that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024
- percentage of domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in delivery kitchens that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 and generated annual sales of less than $2,800,000; between $2,800,000 and $3,000,000; and over $3,000,000, respectively
Section VI – Key ratios, comparables, computations, and analyses for the Chick-fil-A franchise opportunity (exclusive content for Platinum subscribers)
Section I – Chick-fil-A Franchise Costs
- Chick-fil-A franchise costs, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD:
- Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000
- Opening Inventory: $22,000 to $84,000
- First Month’s Rental of Equipment: $750 to $5,000
- First Month’s Lease/Sublease of Premises: $2,725 to $96,285
- First Month’s Insurance Expense: $260 to $10,240
- Additional Funds: $391,000 to $2,134,000
- Total Estimated Chick-fil-A Franchise Costs: $426,735 to $2,339,525
Section II – Chick-fil-A’s Initial Franchise Fee, Royalty Fee, and Marketing Fee
- Chick-fil-A’s initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD:
- Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000
- Additional Franchise Fee: $5,000 for each additional Chick-fil-A Restaurant business, whether for a traditional location, a captive venue unit, or a delivery kitchen unit
- Advertising: advertising fund contribution may vary (a) between 0% and 3.25%, to be determined by Chick-fil-A, as a percentage of Gross Receipts or (b) by vote of Operators in local or regional areas
- “Base Operating Service Fee” for a particular restaurant for each calendar month is the amount by which 15% of the Gross Receipts for the month exceeds the monthly equipment rental payable and business services fee for the calendar month.
- “Additional Operating Service Fee” as to a particular restaurant for each calendar month is (i) in the case of the Initial Business (i.e., your first restaurant), 50% of the Net Profit for Initial Business for the month, or (ii) in the case of an Additional Business, 50% of the Net Profit for Additional Business for the month.
Section III – Number of Franchised and Company-Owned Chick-fil-A Outlets
Franchised
2022
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 2,230
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 2,338
- Net Change: +108
2023
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When I owned a UPS Store, I learned firsthand how much your ZIP code shapes your outcome. I sold my store at a premium because my territory was in a high-value area. The best areas go first, and once they're gone, they're gone. Enter your ZIP code to see which franchises are still available near you, saving you months of wasted research.📈Dreaming of Multi‑Unit Success? Lock In Prime Territories Before They're Gone.
Colin started as a team member at 21 and now owns 6 locations in Tampa Bay. Lisa came from marketing and built 21 in San Diego. The most successful multi-unit owners move early and secure markets with room to grow. Use our free tool to search multiple ZIP codes and find franchises where you can still stack locations, before someone else does.- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 2,331
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 2,494
- Net Change: +163
2024
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 2,494
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 2,629
- Net Change: +135
Company-Owned
2022
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 81
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 73
- Net Change: -8
2023
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 80
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 58
- Net Change: -22
2024
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 58
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 55
- Net Change: -3
Section IV – News Updates on the Chick-fil-A Franchise
Section V – Financial Performance Representations (Average Revenues and/or Profits) for the Chick-fil-A Franchise (Item 19, 2025 FDD)
Domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants Included in Sample
- As of December 31, 2024, there were approximately 3,109 domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants open and operating, including approximately 2,684 domestic company-operated and franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants and 425 domestic Chick-fil-A Licensed Units. The domestic Chick-fil-A Licensed Units, which are operated by Chick-fil-A Licensees, and their annual sales volumes are not the subject of these financial performance representations.
- As of December 31, 2024, approximately 2,629 of the 2,684 domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants were being operated by Operators and 55 of the 2,684 domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants were being operated by Chick-fil-A or its affiliates. The domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants, which are operated or were operated at any time during calendar year 2024 by Chick-fil-A or its affiliates, and their annual sales volumes are not the subject of these financial performance representations.
- Approximately 2,405 of those 2,629 domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants being operated by Operators had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 and had been operated by Operators during the entire year. Of these 2,405 domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants operated by Operators, 25 were captive venue units. Those 25 captive venue units and their annual sales volumes are not the subject of these financial performance representations.
- The remaining 2,380 non-captive venue domestic Chick-fil-A Restaurants that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024, and their annual sales volumes, are the subject of these financial performance representations and discussed below.
- Approximately 197 of the 2,380 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 were located in malls.
- Approximately 2,179 of the 2,380 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 were located in non-mall environments (e.g., free-standing or drive-thru only units).
- Approximately 4 of the 2,380 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants that had been open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 were located in delivery kitchen environments.
Annual Sales of Chick-fil-A Restaurants Open for a Full Twelve Months During 2024
Non-Captive Venue Mall Restaurants
- Number of Restaurants: 197
- Median Annual Sales Volume: $3,386,837
- Average Sales Volume: $4,516,855
- Number and Percentage That Did as Well or Better Than Average: 66 of the 197 or 34%
- Lowest Annual Sales Volume: $1,219,834
- Highest Annual Sales Volume: $18,918,134
- Approximately 33% had annual sales volumes less than $2,700,000; approximately 34% had annual sales volumes between $2,700,000 and $4,500,000; and approximately 33% had annual sales volumes in excess of $4,500,000.
Non-Captive Venue Non-Mall Restaurants (e.g., freestanding or drive-thru only units)
- Number of Restaurants: 2,179
- Median Annual Sales Volume: $9,226,669
- Average Sales Volume: $9,317,007
- Number and Percentage That Did as Well or Better Than Average: 1,061 of the 2,179 or 49%
- Lowest Annual Sales Volume: $1,878,888
- Highest Annual Sales Volume: $19,318,796
- Approximately 33% had annual sales volumes less than $8,325,000; approximately 33% had annual sales volumes between $8,320,000 and $10,155,000; and approximately 34% had annual sales volumes in excess of $10,155,000.
Delivery Kitchens
- Number of Restaurants: 4
- Median Annual Sales Volume: $3,048,803
- Average Sales Volume: $3,526,342
- Number and Percentage That Did as Well or Better Than Average: 1 of the 4 or 25%
- Lowest Annual Sales Volume: $2,786,286
- Highest Annual Sales Volume: $5,221,575
- Approximately 25% had annual sales volumes less than $2,800,000; approximately 25% had annual sales volumes between $2,800,000 and $3,000,000; and approximately 50% had annual sales volumes in excess of $3,000,000.
- During the calendar year ending December 31, 2024, 3 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in mall units permanently closed, of which 0 had been open for less than 12 months, and 16 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants located in non-mall environments permanently closed, of which 0 had been open less than 12 months.
- The financial performance representations set forth above are based upon a total of 2,380 domestic non-captive venue franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants that were open and operated by Operators for at least one full calendar year as of December 31, 2024 and had been operated by Operators during the entire year, of which 197 were located in malls, 2,179 were located in non-mall environments (e.g., freestanding or drive-thru only units), and 4 were located in delivery kitchen environments (i.e., delivery kitchens).
- Some franchised Operator Chick-fil-A Restaurants have sold this amount. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you’ll sell as much.
Section VI – Chick-fil-A Franchise Ratios, Comparables, Computations, and Analyses (Exclusive Content for Platinum Subscribers) ⬇️
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