Chicken Salad Chick Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise in a snapshot

Franchisees

?

157
+
34%
34%
Investment required

?

$745,000 - $991,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

$1,361,000
Undisclosed
Pro
+
13.2%
+
xx%
-xx%
13.2%
Initial franchise fee

?

$50,000
Royalty fees

?

5.00%
+
2% to 4%
Operating Profit

?

8.6%

Pro
Franchisees

?

157
+
34%
34%
Investment required

?

$745,000 - $991,000
Franchise fee

?

$50,000
Royalty fees

?

5.00%
+
2% to 4%
Revenue (AUV)

?

$1,361,000
Undisclosed
Pro
+
13.2%
+
xx%
-xx%
13.2%
Operating Profit

?

8.6%

Pro

Chicken Salad Chick: A Southern Staple Revolutionizing Fast-Casual Dining

Chicken Salad Chick is a popular fast-casual restaurant chain that focuses on chicken salad. It was established in 2008 by Stacy and Kevin Brown in Auburn, Alabama. The idea came from Stacy Brown's homemade chicken salad, which she initially sold door-to-door. However, due to health department regulations, the Browns decided to open a dedicated restaurant to continue their venture.

The franchise rapidly expanded, with its headquarters now located in Atlanta, Georgia, highlighting its quick growth and Southern heritage. Chicken Salad Chick started franchising in 2012, four years after its inception. Since then, it has grown significantly, providing various franchise models to accommodate different real estate opportunities in franchisees' areas.

The menu at Chicken Salad Chick offers a range of chicken salad flavors, served in various ways, including on bread, lettuce, or as a scoop with crackers. Besides its famous chicken salads, the restaurant also offers pimento cheese, egg salad, and a selection of side dishes and desserts. The chain is known for providing fresh, scratch-made, Southern-style favorites with a touch of hospitality, making customers feel as if they are dining at a friend's home.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial franchisee fee $50,000
Grand Opening Marketing Fee $10,000
Rent (1 month) and Security Deposit $6,000 - $11,000
Leasehold Improvements $400,000 - $500,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment $175,000 - $225,000
Décor Package $15,000 - $20,000
Branded Merchandise $9,000 - $10,000
Inventory $12,000 - $13,000
Signage $12,000 - $25,000
Drive Thru Package (Drive-Thru Only) $20,000 - $30,000
Computer Equipment and Software $20,000 - $30,000
Permits and Licenses $500 - $2,500
Insurance (6 months) $2,500 - $3,500
Training (transportation, lodging, etc. for 3 people) $2,500 - $5,000
Other deposits and prepaid expenses $0 - $5,500
Professional Fees (Attorney, Architect, etc.) $10,000 - $20,000
Additional Funds—3 months $20,000 - $30,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment (all locations other than Drive-Thru locations) $744,500 - $960,500
Total Estimated Initial Investment (Drive-Thru locations only) $764,300 - $990,500

Franchise Disclosure Document

Upgrade to Pro to download this FDD

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

Upgrade to Pro
Thank you for signing up
Complete your upgrade now
Signup successful!
Complete your upgrade

Competitors

Franchise
Franchisees
Growth
Initial fee
Investment
Revenue
Gross Profit
Operating Profit
Industry

157

+
34%
34%
No growth
New

$50,000

$745,000

-

$991,000

n.a.

$1,361,000

Pro

65.3%

Pro

8.6%

Pro

Food & Beverage

Training 

To ensure their franchisees thrive, Chicken Salad Chick provides an extensive training program. This program is not only designed to maintain the brand's reputation but also to arm franchisees with the essential skills and knowledge to manage their restaurant effectively. The training covers:

  • Basic business procedures
  • Equipment operation and maintenance
  • Scheduling
  • Basic accounting principles
  • Computer operations
  • Advertising and promotion
  • Purchasing procedures
  • Food preparation, safety, presentation, and quality
  • Food and beverage inventory and cost control
  • Customer service
  • Janitorial service
  • General maintenance

Franchisees must attend and successfully complete this training program, which is scheduled to last a minimum of two weeks, before they can start their business operations.

Territory Protection

Franchisees of Chicken Salad Chick are not granted an exclusive territory. They have the right to own and operate a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant at a specific location and are prohibited from conducting their business at any other site.

The Franchise Agreement restricts franchisees from using other distribution channels, including the internet. Additionally, the agreement does not offer options, rights of first refusal, or similar rights to acquire additional franchises.

If a franchisee does not have a designated site for the restaurant at the time of signing the Franchise Agreement, they must find a site within a geographic area specified in the agreement, subject to the franchisor's approval.

Number of units

2023
Franchised units

117

140

157

Company-owned units

44

51

63

Total units

161

191

220

Competitors

Project LeanNation

Investment required
$238,000
-
$354,000
Franchisees
28
+
300%
300%

fresh&co

Investment required
$588,000
-
$1,386,000
Franchisees
4
+
100%
100%

JUICE IT UP

Investment required
$271,000
-
$632,000
Franchisees
83
+
6%
6%

Acai Express

Investment required
$146,000
-
$429,000
Franchisees
38
+
73%
73%

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Get unlimited access to:
2,145 franchises data
Number of locations
Franchise fees
Total investment

?

Download unlimited FDDs
Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit metrics

?

Upgrade to Pro

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Upgrade to Pro
$180 / year
Total investment

?

Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit margin

?

Franchise Disclosure Documents
Advanced filtering and sorting
Watchlist

?

Priority support

?

Upgrade to Pro
Signup successful!
Complete your upgrade

A comprehensive and transparent look at franchising finances. The inclusion of profit margins and disclosure documents offers insights you can’t find elsewhere. Essential for anyone considering a franchise investment.

Darren M.

Franchisee

Been waiting for years for this. All the most important franchises and their latest Franchise Documents to download. The team also updates the franchises very quickly.

Emily V.

Franchisee