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Church’s Chicken Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Church's Chicken serves Southern-style fried chicken, biscuits, and homestyle sides.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

722
+
-3%
-3%
Franchise fee

?

$20,000
Investment

?

$610,000 - $1,886,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,066,000

+
-9.3%
-9.3%
Sign up

Church’s Texas Chicken is a prominent quick-service chicken restaurant chain, originally founded in 1952 by George W. Church Sr. in San Antonio, Texas, right across the street from the historic Alamo.

The franchise, which started as a small operation serving only fried chicken, has grown significantly over the decades. Today, Church’s Texas Chicken is known for its hand-battered, double-breaded chicken, freshly baked Honey-Butter Biscuits™, and a variety of home-style sides.

The company began franchising in 1969 and has since expanded with a presence in 23 countries. The brand operates under the name Texas Chicken™ outside of the United States. Church’s Texas Chicken is recognized for its bold flavors and commitment to quality, which have helped it stand out in the competitive fast-food market.

In recent years, the franchise has undergone a rebranding to emphasize its Texas roots, adopting the name Church’s Texas Chicken. The brand's growth trajectory has been impressive, with continuous expansion into new markets and significant increases in sales. The headquarters is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, and the franchise is owned by High Bluff Capital Partners since 2021.

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Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Church’s Chicken franchise is $610,000 - $1,886,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Church’s Chicken offers 3 options:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
Blaze Freestanding Building$1,202,400 to $1,886,300
Conversion of Existing Freestanding Building$609,725 to $1,296,300
End Cap Restaurant$654,366 to $1,273,300


The investment information below is based on the estimated initial investment for a Conversion of Existing Freestanding Building.

For more information on the costs required to start a Church’s Chicken franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).


Type of Expenditure Amount
Development Fee$10,000
Initial Franchise Fee$20,000
Grand Opening Marketing Funds$15,500 to $25,000
Real Estate - Purchase or LeaseVariable
Site Work$30,075 to $175,000
Building and Improvements$150,000 to $510,000
Equipment and Signs$290,000 to $375,000
Fees, Miscellaneous, Architectural and Engineering Services, Deposits$50,000 to $100,000
Initial Training$10,000 to $23,000
Opening Supplies$6,350 to $12,700
Insurance$7,500 to $10,000
Utility Deposits$10,000 to $15,000
Business Licenses$300 to $600
Additional Funds - 3 Months$10,000 to $20,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment$609,725 to $1,296,300

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Church’s Chicken offers 3 options:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
Blaze Freestanding Building$1,202,400 to $1,886,300
Conversion of Existing Freestanding Building$609,725 to $1,296,300
End Cap Restaurant$654,366 to $1,273,300


The investment information below is based on the estimated initial investment for a Conversion of Existing Freestanding Building.

For more information on the costs required to start a Church’s Chicken franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).


Type of Expenditure Amount
Development Fee$10,000
Initial Franchise Fee$20,000
Grand Opening Marketing Funds$15,500 to $25,000
Real Estate - Purchase or LeaseVariable
Site Work$30,075 to $175,000
Building and Improvements$150,000 to $510,000
Equipment and Signs$290,000 to $375,000
Fees, Miscellaneous, Architectural and Engineering Services, Deposits$50,000 to $100,000
Initial Training$10,000 to $23,000
Opening Supplies$6,350 to $12,700
Insurance$7,500 to $10,000
Utility Deposits$10,000 to $15,000
Business Licenses$300 to $600
Additional Funds - 3 Months$10,000 to $20,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment$609,725 to $1,296,300

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Church’s Chicken's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

Church’s Chicken had 885 total units in 2026, of which 722 were franchised-owned and 163 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Church’s Chicken

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

722

New
+
-3%
-3%

5.00%

$610,000

-

$1,886,000

$1,066,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

19.4%

xx%

n.a.

Training 

Church’s Texas Chicken® offers a comprehensive training program designed to equip franchisees with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully operate their locations. The training covers various aspects of the business, from food preparation and service to management and operations.

The training program typically includes an initial training phase, which takes place at the Church’s headquarters or a designated training facility. This phase focuses on core operational procedures, including food safety, quality control, customer service, and day-to-day restaurant management.

Franchisees also receive hands-on training in the kitchen to ensure they can maintain the high standards of Church’s Texas Chicken® products, such as their signature hand-battered, double-breaded chicken and freshly baked Honey-Butter Biscuits™.

Additionally, franchisees are trained in the brand's specific marketing strategies and the use of technology platforms to enhance operational efficiency. This training is designed to prepare franchisees for the fast-paced environment of quick-service restaurants and ensure consistency across all locations.

Ongoing support and training are also provided as the franchisee's business grows and evolves.

Territory Protection

Church’s Texas Chicken® franchise does offer territory protection to its franchisees. This means that franchisees are granted exclusive rights to operate within a specific geographic area, ensuring that no other Church’s Texas Chicken® locations will be established within that protected territory.

This protection helps franchisees maintain market share and avoid direct competition from other franchisees of the same brand within their area.The specific terms and size of the protected territory are typically outlined in the franchise agreement and can vary depending on the location and market potential.

This strategic approach allows franchisees to focus on growing their business without the concern of oversaturation in their designated area, contributing to the long-term success and stability of their operations.

Competitors

Below are some of Church’s Chicken's key competitors in the Chicken sector.

Atomic Wings

Franchisees

?

20
+
33%
33%
Investment

?

$222,000 - $861,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

ATL Wing Spot

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$216,000 - $435,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

101 Chicken

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$397,000 - $809,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

375 Chicken ‘n Fries

Franchisees

?

6
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$324,000 - $522,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$805,000

Wings Over

Franchisees

?

27
+
-10%
-10%
Investment

?

$198,000 - $702,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$1,136,000

Houston TX Hot Chicken

Franchisees

?

17
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$671,000 - $1,760,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

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