Cowboy Chicken Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Cowboy Chicken is a fast-casual franchise offering wood-fire rotisserie chicken, hearty sides, and salads, serving families and takeout guests, and known for mesquite flavor, wholesome meals, and a warm, rustic dining atmosphere.

Cowboy Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise that specializes in all-natural rotisserie chicken slow-roasted over real wood. The brand was founded in 1981 in Dallas, Texas by Phil and Jeanette Sanders, when they opened their first wood-fired chicken restaurant.

Headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the company has evolved from a single location to a growing franchise system.

Cowboy Chicken began franchising its concept in 2007, with its first franchise location opening in 2010 under Cowboy Chicken Franchising, LP. The menu features signature items such as hormone-free chicken roasted over wood, a secret dry-rub seasoning, scratch-made sides like the “Twice-Baked Potaters,” chicken enchiladas, and home-style desserts.

What sets Cowboy Chicken apart in the competitive chicken-franchise market is its commitment to cooking over real wood rather than gas, delivering a bold, smoky flavor and crispy skin that many other chains do not offer.

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 Franchise Fee $35,000
Lease Security Deposits $0 to $13,000
Grand Opening Promotions Advertising $25,000 to $50,000
Architectural/Engineering $7,000 to $16,700
Construction Plan Review $0 to $3,000
Leasehold Improvements $210,000 to $680,000
Signs $8,000 to $31,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, Freight and Installation $192,296 to $425,000
Point-of-Sale Equipment, Phone and Sound System (plus installation) $25,000 to $43,000
Opening Inventory and Smallwares $21,800 to $29,295
Utility Deposits $3,200 to $5,000
Training Expenses $8,000 to $20,000
Insurance Premiums $3,500 to $5,000
Professional Fees $3,000 to $6,000
Additional Funds $40,000 to $60,000
Total for a Single Franchise $581,796 to $1,421,995
Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $35,000
Lease Security Deposits $0 to $13,000
Grand Opening Promotions Advertising $25,000 to $50,000
Architectural/Engineering $7,000 to $16,700
Construction Plan Review $0 to $3,000
Leasehold Improvements $210,000 to $680,000
Signs $8,000 to $31,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, Freight and Installation $192,296 to $425,000
Point-of-Sale Equipment, Phone and Sound System (plus installation) $25,000 to $43,000
Opening Inventory and Smallwares $21,800 to $29,295
Utility Deposits $3,200 to $5,000
Training Expenses $8,000 to $20,000
Insurance Premiums $3,500 to $5,000
Professional Fees $3,000 to $6,000
Additional Funds $40,000 to $60,000
Total for a Single Franchise $581,796 to $1,421,995

Cowboy Chicken

2024

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Cowboy Chicken Franchising provides a detailed training and support program to help franchisees launch and operate their stores effectively. Here’s a structured explanation of the training provided by the franchisor:

  1. Initial Training Program
    Cowboy Chicken offers a comprehensive initial training program for new franchisees and their key management staff. This training covers operational procedures, brand standards, food preparation, customer service, and system usage. It includes classroom instruction as well as hands-on experience and is required before the store opens.
  2. Opening Crew Support
    As part of their startup assistance, Cowboy Chicken provides an Opening Crew to support franchisees during their store’s launch. This team helps with final training, operational setup, and opening-day readiness, ensuring the franchisee and their staff are fully prepared for actual operations.
  3. Ongoing and Successor Training
    Beyond the initial phase, the franchisor offers continuing education through seminars, web-based programs, and on-site sessions for new or replacement managers. These programs are designed to keep franchisees updated on operational standards, new product offerings, and system improvements.
  4. Operational Guidance and Updates
    Franchisees receive ongoing operational support, including updates on menu items, pricing strategies, approved suppliers, and marketing standards. This includes access to Cowboy Chicken’s manuals and regular communications to maintain brand consistency and operational efficiency.

Territory Protection

Cowboy Chicken Franchising offers a limited form of territory protection to its franchisees, primarily through the designation of a “Protected Territory.” Once a location is approved, the franchisor assigns a territory where it agrees not to open another Cowboy Chicken restaurant or license another franchisee to do so.

The size and boundaries of this protected area are determined based on factors such as demographics, geography, and market potential, and are specified in the Franchise Agreement.

However, this protection is not absolute. Franchisees are not shielded from competition that may arise from other sales channels under the Cowboy Chicken brand, such as online or delivery services that may cross geographic boundaries.

Competitors

Below are some of

Cowboy Chicken

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

11

New
+
10%
10%

$35,000

$582,000

$1,422,000

n.a.

$1,678,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Houston TX Hot Chicken

Houston TX Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches, tenders, and sides, serving spice-loving diners and families, and known for tiered heat levels, modern interiors, and rapid expansion across multiple U.S. markets.

Franchisees

?

17
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$671,000 - $1,760,000

Nashville Hot Chicken

Nashville Hot Chicken is a fast-casual fried chicken franchise offering spicy chicken sandwiches, tenders, and fries, serving guests seeking bold Southern flavors, and known for proprietary sauces, flexible restaurant, food-truck, and ghost-kitchen models, and streamlined operations designed for rapid expansion.

Franchisees

?

9
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$237,000 - $482,000

Starbird

Starbird is a fast-casual chicken restaurant franchise offering crispy chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads, and digital-forward ordering, serving convenience-driven diners, and known for super-premium fast food positioning, tech-driven guest experience, and craveable feel-good chicken focused on quality ingredients.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$843,000 - $2,027,000

Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse

Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse is a sports-bar franchise offering wings, burgers, craft beer and live game broadcasts, serving sports fans and groups, and known for high-energy environment, full-menu variety and strong franchise support.

Franchisees

?

14
+
-7%
-7%
Investment

?

$399,000 - $1,499,000

Hot Chikn Kitchn

Hot Chikn Kitchn is a fast-casual franchise offering elevated chicken sandwiches, tenders and comfort sides, serving millennials and lunch-dinner diners, and known for chef-driven taste, quality ingredients and modern franchise model.

Franchisees

?

5
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$206,000 - $688,000

Duff's Famous Wings

Duff's Famous Wings is a casual restaurant franchise offering Buffalo-style wings, sauces, and pub fare, serving sports fans and families, and known for authentic heat levels, hometown heritage, and a lively, welcoming environment.

Franchisees

?

2
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$535,000 - $1,155,000

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