Chick-fil-A
A Chick-fil-A franchise works very differently than most franchises.
The total investment ranges from $317,521 to over $3.4 million, with a $10,000 franchise fee.
Franchise Inspectors has verified from Chick-fil-A's latest 2026 FDD that the average free-standing location generates over $9.1 million in annual sales.
Instead of a traditional royalty, Chick-fil-A uses a profit-sharing model where the company takes a percentage of both sales and net profit.
How Much Does It Cost?
Total Investment*
$317,521 - $3,463,155
See details below
Franchise Fee
$10,000
Royalty*
15% plus 50%*
See details below
Marketing Ad Fund
Currently 0%
Total Investment Explained
Opening a Chick-fil-A franchise is different from almost every other franchise model. While the total cost to build and open a location can range from roughly $317,000 to over $3.4 million, you are not the one personally funding that full amount. Chick-fil-A corporate typically covers the major expenses like real estate, construction, and equipment, which is why the required upfront investment is only the $10,000 franchise fee.
That said, most operators still need some level of financial stability or savings to support themselves during the early stages, even though they are not taking on a large loan or writing a seven-figure check to get started.
The reason the total investment appears so high in the FDD is because it reflects the true cost of the business, not what the operator pays out of pocket.
Royalty Explained
Unlike most franchises, Chick-fil-A does not charge a traditional royalty based on a simple percentage of sales. Instead, they use a profit-sharing model that gives the company a much larger role in the financial performance of each location. Operators pay a base operating service fee (15%) that is tied to gross sales, along with an additional fee that takes a significant portion of the restaurant’s net profit (50%).
In practical terms, Chick-fil-A takes roughly 15% of gross sales and 50% of the remaining profit. Because the company is funding the real estate, construction, and equipment, they retain a much larger share of the business than a typical franchisor. This structure reduces the operator’s upfront risk, but it also limits how much they ultimately keep, even in high-performing locations.
How Much Do Owners Make?
$1,658,209
LOWEST GROSS REVENUE
$9,161,239
AVERAGE GROSS REVENUE
$20,048,032
highest GROSS REVENUE
Chick-fil-A Retention Amongst Company-Owned and Franchise Owned Outlets
Corporate Units
Franchised Units
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Chick-Fil-A Franchise Quick Facts
- Total Investment: $317,521 – $3,463,155
- Franchise Fee: $10,000
- Royalty: Profit-sharing model (not a traditional royalty)
- Marketing Fee: 0% currently
- Average Revenue: $9,161,239
- Lowest Revenue: $1,658,209
- Highest Revenue: $20,048,032
- Total Outlets: 2,863
How much does a Chick-fil-A franchise cost?
Chick-fil-A is very different from a typical franchise. While the total cost to build and open a location can range from around $317,000 to over $3.4 million, the operator is not responsible for funding that full amount. Instead, Chick-fil-A covers most of the major costs, including the real estate, construction, and equipment. As an operator, you typically only need the $10,000 franchise fee to get started, rather than hundreds of thousands or millions out of pocket.
How much does a Chick-fil-A franchise owner make?
Chick-fil-A does not disclose owner income or net profit in its FDD. Operators share profits with the company, so actual earnings vary widely depending on expenses and performance.
Why is Chick-fil-A so cheap compared to other franchises?
The upfront cost is lower because Chick-fil-A corporate retains ownership of the real estate and equipment. In exchange, operators share a significant portion of revenue and profits with the company. Franchisees do not own their store and are not able to sell the asset/store at the end of the term.
Does Chick-fil-A charge a royalty?
Not in the traditional sense. Instead, Chick-fil-A takes a percentage of gross sales and a share of net profits, making it a profit-sharing model rather than a standard royalty structure.
Chick-fil-A takes 15% of gross sales (Base Operating Service Fee) PLUS 50% of net profits (Additional Operating Service Fee).
Is Chick-fil-A semi-absentee?
No. Operators are expected to be highly involved (physically in the stores themselves) in day-to-day operations and typically cannot own multiple locations.
What are the biggest risks of owning a Chick-fil-A franchise?
Owning a Chick-fil-A franchise comes with a unique set of risks, largely because of how much control the company retains compared to a typical franchise. Operators don’t fully control the business, including key decisions around location, operations, and long-term growth. The profit-sharing model also limits upside, since a significant portion of both revenue and net profit goes back to Chick-fil-A. In addition, most operators are limited to a single location, which makes it difficult to scale or build a larger portfolio. Finally, the role is highly hands-on, with expectations that the operator is deeply involved in daily operations, which may not align with buyers looking for a more passive investment.
This page contains information derived from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). We are not making any financial claims, projections, or guarantees. The data shown reflects historical information provided by the franchisor and should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance. Individual results will vary.
