FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

ITEMS 5–7 · 2016 FDD · 9+ YEARS OLD

How much is a Chick-fil-A License Program franchise?

Per Chick-fil-A License Program's 2016 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $0 (Item 5) and the total initial investment runs $89K–$1.1M (Item 7); once open, you pay an ongoing royalty of 10.0% of gross sales (Item 6). This is the most recent filing tracked here (2016 FDD · 9+ years old); fees have likely changed, so ask the franchisor for the current FDD.

Franchise fee · Item 5

$0

one-time, to buy in

Royalty · Item 6

10.0%

of gross sales, ongoing

Total investment · Item 7

$89K–$1.1M

franchisor's own estimate

Chick-fil-A License Program vs food & dining medians186 systems benchmarked
Cost lineChick-fil-A License ProgramSector median
Initial franchise fee ITEM 5$0$35,000
Ongoing royalty ITEM 610.0%5.5%
Total initial investment ITEM 7$89K–$1.1M$375K–$957K

MEDIANS: LATEST FDD FILINGS (≤24 MONTHS OLD) OF 186 FOOD & DINING SYSTEMS · FULL FOOD & DINING BENCHMARK →

Breakeven framingwhat it costs · what it drags

The buy-in is the smaller number. The larger one is the drag: 10.0% of every sale leaves before rent, labor, or your salary — so breakeven depends on volume you cannot know from the FDD; use the Item 19 figures as a starting point, not a promise.

To open (Item 7)

$89K–$1.1M

all-in investment range

Franchise fee (Item 5)

$0

upfront, one-time

Royalty (Item 6)

10%

of sales, ongoing

If a unit does this in annual sales…$500K/yr

Starts at a placeholder of $500K — a round figure for the sector, not from Chick-fil-A License Program’s filings. Set your own figure and check it against this brand's Item 19 and what owners tell you.

Royalty you'd pay / yr

$50K

10% of sales, before profit

Over a 10-yr term

$500K

royalties alone, excl. ad fund

This estimate is computed by software from the brand's public filings and any inputs you enter. No CPA prepared it for you and no assurance is provided on it. Actual results will differ, and the differences may be material.

This is not profit. It covers what the FDD fixes: what you put in, and the royalty you owe on sales. Your take-home depends on labor, rent, supplies, and the months to breakeven, none of which the FDD fixes for your unit (some Item 19s include cost data — read it).

Build a real pro-forma for Chick-fil-A License Program with a buyer-paid CPA

Chick-fil-A License Program cost questions, answered from the filing

How much is a Chick-fil-A License Program franchise?

Per Chick-fil-A License Program's 2016 FDD, opening a franchise requires an initial franchise fee of $0 (Item 5) and a total initial investment of $89K–$1.1M (Item 7). Item 7 is the franchisor's own estimate — treat the low end as a floor, not a budget.

What royalty does Chick-fil-A License Program charge?

Chick-fil-A License Program charges an ongoing royalty of 10.0% of gross sales, per Item 6 of its 2016 FDD. The median across 186 food & dining systems tracked here is 5.5%.

Does Chick-fil-A License Program tell you what franchisees earn?

Partly — Chick-fil-A License Program makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its 2016 FDD. Unit revenue is not owner profit: subtract royalties, ad fund, rent, labor, and debt service.

The Chick-fil-A License Program validation checklist

questions built from this brand's own filings · read them all on the profile

Want this as a checklist you can take to the calls?

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Before you sign anythingfree · 30 min · no commission

A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing Chick-fil-A License Program’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

Don Drummond, CPA — Virginia #43775 · what I charge

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