HCK Hot Chicken: Redefining Nashville Heat in Fast-Casual Dining

HCK Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken. Founded in 2020 in Woodbridge, Virginia, by Mike Sarago, his son Anthony Sarago, and Chef Frederic Gilmore, the brand quickly gained popularity for its bold flavors and creative spice levels.

The company is headquartered in Woodbridge and began franchising in 2022. HCK’s menu is centered around its signature Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich, served on a toasted potato bun with HCK’s proprietary GOOD sauce, house-fried chicken, and pickles.

Customers can select from four spice levels: Base, After Burner, Angry Hot, and Medic. The restaurant also offers wings, tenders, chicken & waffles, and loaded fries, all made with fresh ingredients and unique house-made sauces.

What differentiates HCK Hot Chicken is its simplicity and dedication to quality. With a focused menu of in-demand items and fast service, the brand ensures consistent customer satisfaction. Its emphasis on customizable spice levels and bold, Southern-inspired flavors makes it stand out in the growing hot chicken segment.

Training

HCK Hot Chicken provides a structured training program to equip franchisees with the necessary operational skills. The training program includes several components designed to ensure consistent quality and service standards across all locations. These are tailored to both initial and ongoing needs of the franchise operation.

1. Initial Training for Three Individuals
   HCK Hot Chicken offers initial training at no cost for up to three individuals per franchise, provided they attend the same session.
2. Additional Training or Assistance
   For extra participants or special sessions (e.g., refresher or advanced courses), the franchisor charges between $500 and $1,000 per person per week depending on the trainer's expertise and the scope of training.
3. Certification Training
   The company provides one certification at no charge for the training and restaurant managers. For additional certifications, the cost is $2,500 per person or $1,000 if conducted at a certified training store.
4. On-Site Training Fee
   A mandatory $5,000 On-Site Training Fee is charged for each new restaurant, due around 60 days prior to opening. This fee ensures practical hands-on guidance during the store's pre-opening phase.

Territory Protection

HCK Hot Chicken provides territory protection to its franchisees, but with some limitations based on the type of restaurant and agreement. For traditional restaurant franchises, once the franchisor accepts the site, a specific territory is designated for the franchisee.

This designated area is intended to prevent another HCK Hot Chicken franchise from operating within the same territory, providing a level of exclusivity and competitive protection.

However, for non-traditional locations, such as those inside other businesses or unique venues, territory protection may not be granted. The nature of these locations means the franchisor retains the flexibility to approve similar locations in close proximity.