M THE DAILY INSIGHT
// news

How hard is it to get a Chick-fil-A franchise?

By Gabriel Cooper

It simply isn’t easy to get a Chick-fil-A franchise. According to AOL, the company only accepts about 75 to 80 new franchises each year, despite the fact that it receives around 20,000 applications on an annual basis. That means about 0.4 percent of applicants get approved.

How much does it cost to franchise a Chick-fil-A?

Opening a Chick-fil-A franchise costs between $342,990 and $1,982,225, including a $10,000 franchise fee, but unlike most other franchisors, Chick-fil-A covers all opening expenses, meaning franchisees are on the hook only for that $10,000.

Are there any black Chick-fil-A owners?

Meet Ashley Lamothe, the HBCU Grad Who Became Chick-Fil-A’s Youngest Black Franchise Owner At Age 26. When Ashley Lamothe first started her job at Chic-Fil-A at age 15, she had no idea the journey would lead to her becoming the company’s youngest owner at age 26 when opening in 2011, according to Black Business.

Does Chick-fil-A or Mcdonalds make more money?

In fact, the average Chick-fil-A unit made around $4,090,900 in 2017. By contrast, the total sales for a McDonald’s ($2,670,320 per unit), Starbucks ($945,270) and Subway ($416,860) is $4,032,450.

How much money do you need to own a Chick-fil-A franchise?

While operating a Chick-fil-A restaurant requires a relatively modest $10,000 initial financial commitment ($15,000 CAD in Canada), it requires a holistic commitment to own and operate the business in a hands-on manner. We are in the restaurant industry – the quick-service restaurant industry, at that.

Why is it so hard to get a Chick-fil-A franchise?

The Chick-fil-A franchise fee is so low because the company wants to maintain ownership of the franchise, and make all purchasing decisions (we will get into this more below). The initial investment is right within the industry average, and ranges from $265,000 to $2.2 million.

How much money does a Chick-fil-A owner make?

According to the franchise information group, Franchise City, a Chick-fil-A operator today can expect to earn an average of around $200,000 a year.

What happens if you no longer want a Chick-fil-A franchise?

If they decide they no longer want the franchise, Chick-fil-A just takes it back. Still, it’s highly competitive, and a lengthy process. Take a look at the compendium of applicants’ experiences on Glassdoor, for example.

Do you have to own a Chick fil A?

So, if you have the intention of buying a franchise you can later sell, Chick-fil-A isn’t for you. Chick-fil-A pays (almost) every startup cost. If you’ve already started to wonder why anyone would consider purchasing a Chick-fil-A franchise, given that you can’t actually own the franchise, then this is a powerful reason.

How to become a Chick fil A franchisee?

The application process. The Chick-fil-A ® Franchisee selection process is thorough and extensive. Candidates must possess a desire to operate a quick-service restaurant and be free of any other business ventures. Candidates enter the process by submitting an initial online application.

Can a Chick fil A owner be a passive investor?

Chick-fil-A owner-operators are required to give their “full-time best efforts” to their franchise, which means you can’t land a Chick-fil-A franchise, hire a bunch of managers, and become a passive investor. Most Chick-fil-A franchisees are limited to owning only one restaurant.