Dave's Hot Chicken

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Dave's Hot Chicken

Food & Beverage
Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Dave's Hot Chicken specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken, serving flavorful and spicy chicken dishes with a range of heat levels.

Dave's Hot Chicken has emerged as a dominant force in the spicy fast-casual dining sector, captivating food enthusiasts with its delectable offerings and swift growth. Launched in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan in Los Angeles, California, this franchise has quickly gained a reputation for its Nashville hot chicken's bold flavors.

Based in Los Angeles, Dave's Hot Chicken boasts a brief yet remarkable history, marked by a commitment to providing an extraordinary taste experience.

The franchise began its journey into franchising in 2018, allowing entrepreneurs and fans of spicy cuisine to bring the renowned Nashville hot chicken to their neighborhoods. Dave's Hot Chicken is renowned for its spicy chicken tenders and sliders, which range in heat levels from mild to extra hot, accompanied by a selection of tasty sides.

Dave's Hot Chicken distinguishes itself from its competitors through its dedication to hot chicken artistry, focusing on authenticity, quality, and robust flavor profiles. The franchise's unique secret spice blend, paired with its juicy and expertly cooked chicken, has earned it a loyal fanbase of spice aficionados and food lovers.

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 Low Amount High Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $40,000 $40,000
Architect / Engineer $14,000 $50,000
Business Licenses and Permits $1,000 $30,000
Construction, Remodeling and Leasehold Improvements $275,000 $875,000
Equipment $110,000 $315,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Decorations $11,500 $100,000
Smallwares $11,000 $18,000
Signage $17,000 $110,000
Graffiti and Artwork $30,000 $70,000
Grand Opening Kit, Menu Boards $12,500 $15,000
Drive-Thru, Loop Timers and Signage $0 $35,000
Computer Equipment and Information / POS Systems $13,500 $40,000
Office Supplies $1,000 $3,000
Uniforms $1,500 $5,000
Initial Inventory and Supplies $20,000 $50,000
Insurance Deposits $1,500 $4,000
Liquor Licensing $0 $10,000
Pre-Opening Rent $5,000 $20,000
Initial Training $12,000 $23,000
New Restaurant Opening Fee $0 $15,000
Pre-Opening Labor Expense $15,000 $40,000
Pre-Opening/Grand Opening Advertising $10,000 $12,000
Miscellaneous Opening Costs $1,000 $20,000
Professional Fees $1,000 $15,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months $16,300 $48,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT $619,800 $1,963,000
Type of Expenditure Low Amount High Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $40,000 $40,000
Architect / Engineer $14,000 $50,000
Business Licenses and Permits $1,000 $30,000
Construction, Remodeling and Leasehold Improvements $275,000 $875,000
Equipment $110,000 $315,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Decorations $11,500 $100,000
Smallwares $11,000 $18,000
Signage $17,000 $110,000
Graffiti and Artwork $30,000 $70,000
Grand Opening Kit, Menu Boards $12,500 $15,000
Drive-Thru, Loop Timers and Signage $0 $35,000
Computer Equipment and Information / POS Systems $13,500 $40,000
Office Supplies $1,000 $3,000
Uniforms $1,500 $5,000
Initial Inventory and Supplies $20,000 $50,000
Insurance Deposits $1,500 $4,000
Liquor Licensing $0 $10,000
Pre-Opening Rent $5,000 $20,000
Initial Training $12,000 $23,000
New Restaurant Opening Fee $0 $15,000
Pre-Opening Labor Expense $15,000 $40,000
Pre-Opening/Grand Opening Advertising $10,000 $12,000
Miscellaneous Opening Costs $1,000 $20,000
Professional Fees $1,000 $15,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months $16,300 $48,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT $619,800 $1,963,000

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

Dave's Hot Chicken offers a comprehensive training program to ensure that franchisees and their teams are fully prepared to run their franchises smoothly. The training program includes:

Initial Training Program

  • Location: Conducted at Dave's Hot Chicken's training facilities in Pasadena, California, or another designated location.
  • Participants: Required for the franchisee (or Operating Principal if the franchisee is an entity) and up to three management personnel selected by the franchisee.
  • Content: Encompasses Dave's Hot Chicken's system and operational procedures, including food preparation, customer service, business management, and the use of proprietary technology.
  • Duration: Varies depending on the participants' prior experience and skill levels.

Extra Practice Week and Online Training

  • An additional week of hands-on training (Extra Practice Week) is necessary for the franchisee's Operating Principal and Director of Operations, ideally scheduled 60 days before the restaurant's opening.
  • Online training modules supplement the in-person sessions, offering flexibility and opportunities for continuous learning.

Territory Protection

Dave's Hot Chicken provides a territory protection option for its franchisees. The franchise agreement specifies whether a franchisee is granted "No Territorial Rights" or is assigned a defined area detailed in Attachment A as their "Territory."

  • No Territorial Rights: If this option is selected, the franchise rights are confined to the specific location at the given street address. The franchisee acknowledges that there is no territorial protection.
  • Defined Territory: If a Territory is outlined and described in Attachment A, Dave's Hot Chicken and its affiliates agree not to open or operate any restaurants, nor license others to do so, within that geographic area for the duration of the agreement.

In cases where the franchisee is also part of an Area Development Agreement, the designated Territory will be limited to the development area specified in that agreement. The franchise agreement may permit some territorial overlap, particularly when multiple franchises are located in close proximity.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2019
Franchisees

?

146
+
564%
564%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$620,000 - $1,963,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$0

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

No
Upgrade
No
Passive investment

?

No
Upgrade
No
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Competitors

Below are some of

Dave's Hot Chicken

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

146

New
+
564%
564%

$40,000

$620,000

$1,963,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

30

New
+
-3%
-3%

$40,000

$408,000

$1,233,000

n.a.

$1,802,000

$xxx,xxx

63.4%

xx%

n.a.

14.9%

xx%

n.a.

714

New
+
-7%
-7%

$20,000

$644,000

$1,809,000

n.a.

$1,256,000

$xxx,xxx

69.8%

xx%

n.a.

21.5%

xx%

n.a.

93

New
+
-18%
-18%

$35,000

$517,000

$2,354,000

n.a.

$1,686,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

559

New
+
10%
10%

$35,000

$779,000

$3,829,000

n.a.

$2,128,000

$xxx,xxx

70.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

95

New
+
375%
375%

$35,000

$306,000

$518,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

192

New
+
43%
43%

$30,000

$1,229,000

$4,466,000

n.a.

$2,396,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$603,000

$1,323,000

n.a.

$2,107,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$478,000

$834,000

n.a.

$1,073,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
200%
200%

$45,000

$452,000

$1,050,000

n.a.

$1,850,000

$xxx,xxx

67.6%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

22

New
+
633%
633%

$40,000

$682,000

$1,536,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

54

New
+
0%
0%

$40,000

$1,483,000

$2,000,000

n.a.

$2,659,000

$xxx,xxx

68.7%

xx%

n.a.

10.2%

xx%

n.a.

2629

New
+
12%
12%

$10,000

$427,000

$2,340,000

n.a.

$8,742,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

28

New
+
-3%
-3%

$40,000

$109,000

$751,000

n.a.

$1,243,000

$xxx,xxx

57.7%

xx%

n.a.

12.9%

xx%

n.a.

39

New
+
95%
95%

$30,000

$340,000

$616,000

n.a.

$757,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2154

New
+
28%
28%

$25,000

$298,000

$1,014,000

n.a.

$2,002,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

994

New
+
-8%
-8%

$0

$28,000

$302,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3558

New
+
-7%
-7%

$45,000

$1,053,000

$3,772,000

n.a.

$1,414,000

$xxx,xxx

66.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

194

New
+
1%
1%

$30,000

$821,000

$1,913,000

n.a.

$1,329,000

$xxx,xxx

64.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

41

New
+
-15%
-15%

$50,000

$465,000

$2,536,000

n.a.

$1,852,000

$xxx,xxx

75.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

21

New
+
0%
0%

$25,000

$358,000

$2,699,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

54

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$369,000

$2,881,000

n.a.

$1,484,000

$xxx,xxx

71.3%

xx%

n.a.

12.1%

xx%

n.a.

11

New
+
175%
175%

$35,000

$628,000

$1,427,000

n.a.

$2,116,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$35,000

$363,000

$726,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3079

New
+
6%
6%

$50,000

$505,000

$3,923,000

n.a.

$1,824,000

$xxx,xxx

69.0%

xx%

n.a.

12.0%

xx%

n.a.

205

New
+
67%
67%

$45,000

$305,000

$1,289,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

101

New
+
-8%
-8%

$75,000

$2,748,000

$4,100,000

n.a.

$3,575,000

$xxx,xxx

72.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

538

New
+
2%
2%

$25,000

$2,450,000

$4,883,000

n.a.

$3,443,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

826

New
+
6%
6%

$35,000

$1,445,000

$3,811,000

n.a.

$2,710,000

$xxx,xxx

67.8%

xx%

n.a.

12.8%

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
100%
100%

$15,000

$77,000

$440,000

n.a.

$492,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

27

New
+
50%
50%

$37,500

$192,000

$698,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

13

New
+
-19%
-19%

$50,000

$568,000

$2,529,000

n.a.

$2,151,000

$xxx,xxx

75.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$644,000

$2,293,000

n.a.

$1,793,000

$xxx,xxx

65.9%

xx%

n.a.

19.5%

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
200%
200%

$30,000

$415,000

$1,132,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$206,000

$688,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

38

New
+
-19%
-19%

$35,000

$192,000

$795,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$128,000

$500,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

69

New
+
64%
64%

$35,000

$933,000

$2,996,000

n.a.

$2,169,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$875,000

$2,690,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

325

New
+
8%
8%

$40,000

$794,000

$2,686,000

n.a.

$2,063,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$35,000

$183,000

$995,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10

New
+
233%
233%

$30,000

$506,000

$662,000

n.a.

$1,662,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Chuck's Hot Chicken

Chuck's Hot Chicken is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken. It offers a menu centered around spicy fried chicken, catering to customers seeking bold flavors.

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$478,000 - $834,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

Angry Chickz

Angry Chickz is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and tenders, known for its bold flavors and spice levels.

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$603,000 - $1,323,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

WOW American Eats

WOW American Eats is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering classic American comfort food, including burgers, wings, and hearty sides.

Franchisees

?

38
+
-19%
-19%
Investment

?

$192,000 - $795,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

HCK Hot Chicken

HCK Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, offering bold flavors and customizable heat levels for spice lovers.

Franchisees

?

5
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$206,000 - $688,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

East Coast Wings + Grill

East Coast Wings + Grill serves a variety of flavorful chicken wings, burgers, and other American fare, offering a casual dining experience with a focus on quality and taste.

Franchisees

?

30
+
-3%
-3%
Investment

?

$408,000 - $1,233,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

Brown's Chicken

Brown's Chicken serves fried chicken and a variety of homestyle sides, offering a flavorful and satisfying dining experience with a focus on quality ingredients.

Franchisees

?

21
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$358,000 - $2,699,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken
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