Golden Chick

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Golden Chick

Food & Beverage
Chicken

Golden Chick Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Golden Chick is a fast-food restaurant franchise that specializes in fried chicken and Southern-inspired comfort food, offering crispy and flavorful chicken meals, homestyle sides, and classic American favorites.

Golden Chick is a well-established quick-service restaurant chain that has been delighting customers with its flavorful chicken since 1967. The franchise was originally founded in San Marcos, Texas, under the name "Golden Fried Chicken." 

Over the years, the brand has grown significantly, rebranding as Golden Chick in 1993 to reflect its evolving menu and modernized restaurant design. Today, Golden Chick is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.

Golden Chick's menu is anchored by its famous Golden Tenders®, which were introduced in 1985 and quickly set the standard in the industry for chicken tenderloins. These tenders, marinated for 24 hours and hand-battered to perfection, are considered the filet mignon of chicken. 

In addition to its signature tenders, the chain offers a variety of other options, including Golden Roast chicken, salads, and an assortment of sides, all of which are prepared with the same attention to quality and flavor.

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.

Golden Chick offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment
Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant $1,193,550 to $1,913,300
Free-Standing Conversion $833,450 to $1,390,500
End-Cap Construction $823,450 to $1,379,400

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fees $30,000
Site Evaluation Fee $0 - $2,500
Other Site Selection Assistance $0 - $1,000
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $250,000 - $425,000
Signs and Menu Boards $50,000 - $100,000
Delivery and/or Catering Vehicle(s) Variable
Initial Training Costs (travel and living expenses) $10,000 - $25,000
Computer & POS Systems $3,000 - $42,500
Initial Inventory/Supplies $15,000 - $20,000
Architect/Engineer Fees $12,000 - $42,000
Cost of Real Estate Variable
Cost of Lease N/A
Site Preparations $192,500 - $360,000
Construction and Finish-Out Cost $615,600 - $820,800
Professional Services $2,500 - $7,000
Insurance $750 - $7,500
Additional Funds $10,000 - $30,000
TOTAL $1,191,350 - $1,913,300

Golden Chick offers 3 types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment
Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant $1,193,550 to $1,913,300
Free-Standing Conversion $833,450 to $1,390,500
End-Cap Construction $823,450 to $1,379,400

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Free-Standing Ground-Up Golden Chick Restaurant

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fees $30,000
Site Evaluation Fee $0 - $2,500
Other Site Selection Assistance $0 - $1,000
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $250,000 - $425,000
Signs and Menu Boards $50,000 - $100,000
Delivery and/or Catering Vehicle(s) Variable
Initial Training Costs (travel and living expenses) $10,000 - $25,000
Computer & POS Systems $3,000 - $42,500
Initial Inventory/Supplies $15,000 - $20,000
Architect/Engineer Fees $12,000 - $42,000
Cost of Real Estate Variable
Cost of Lease N/A
Site Preparations $192,500 - $360,000
Construction and Finish-Out Cost $615,600 - $820,800
Professional Services $2,500 - $7,000
Insurance $750 - $7,500
Additional Funds $10,000 - $30,000
TOTAL $1,191,350 - $1,913,300

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

Golden Chick provides a comprehensive training program designed to ensure that franchisees and their staff are fully equipped to run their restaurants effectively. The training includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience in a Golden Chick restaurant. 

Franchisees can expect to receive guidance on all aspects of restaurant operations, including food preparation, customer service, financial management, and marketing strategies.

The training program typically covers the following areas:

  1. Operational Training: This includes detailed instruction on how to prepare Golden Chick's signature menu items, including the proprietary marination and battering process for Golden Tenders. Franchisees learn about kitchen operations, equipment usage, food safety, and quality control to maintain the brand's high standards.
  2. Management and Leadership: Franchisees receive training in managing restaurant staff, including hiring, training, and retaining employees. This part of the program emphasizes leadership skills and effective communication to create a positive work environment.
  3. Financial Management: Golden Chick provides training on financial management practices, including inventory control, cost management, and profit optimization. Franchisees are taught how to use the brand's systems for tracking sales, managing expenses, and ensuring profitability.
  4. Marketing and Customer Service: The training also includes guidance on local marketing strategies and customer service excellence. Franchisees learn how to implement national and local promotions, engage with the community, and deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Territory Protection

Golden Chick franchisees are typically provided with territory protection, ensuring that they have exclusive rights to operate within a specific geographic area. 

This means that no other Golden Chick franchise can be established within the protected territory, allowing franchisees to build their customer base without direct competition from another franchisee of the same brand.

Territory protection is a significant advantage for franchisees, as it helps to secure their investment and provides the opportunity to maximize market potential within their designated area. 

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
1972
Franchisees

?

194
+
1%
1%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$821,000 - $1,913,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$1,329,000

+
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

Golden Chick

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

415

New
+
0%
0%

$0

$9,000

$349,000

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

994

New
+
-8%
-8%

$0

$28,000

$302,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

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.

14

New
+
-7%
-7%

$40,000

$399,000

$1,499,000

n.a.

$2,623,000

$xxx,xxx

70.7%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$535,000

$1,155,000

n.a.

$2,771,000

$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.

15

New
+
-12%
-12%

$40,000

$1,455,000

$3,751,000

n.a.

$3,853,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Competitors

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Franchisees

?

14
+
-7%
-7%
Investment

?

$399,000 - $1,499,000
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Hot Chikn Kitchn

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Franchisees

?

5
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

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

Champs Chicken is a hot food franchise offering fried chicken, tenders, sides, and sauces, serving convenience stores and quick-serve customers, and known for turnkey programs, branded merchandising, and consistent, craveable comfort food.

Franchisees

?

415
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$9,000 - $349,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

Cowboy Chicken

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.

Franchisees

?

11
+
10%
10%
Investment

?

$582,000 - $1,422,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

POLLO CAMPERO

POLLO CAMPERO is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering Latin-style grilled and fried chicken meals with sides and wraps, serving families and quick-service diners, and known for its Cuban heritage, fresh ingredients, and bold flavors.

Franchisees

?

15
+
-12%
-12%
Investment

?

$1,455,000 - $3,751,000
Food & Beverage
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