Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Fast-food chain specializing in homestyle fried chicken and comfort food, serving a variety of chicken meals and sides, delivering a flavorful and satisfying dining option.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

-18%

Franchise fee

$35,000

Investment

$517,000 - $2,354,000

Revenue (AUV)

$1,686,000

9.4%

Founded in 1966 in Lima, Ohio, by Lee Cummings—nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders—Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken has established itself as a distinguished name in the quick-service restaurant industry.

The brand specializes in fresh, never frozen, honey-dipped, hand-breaded fried chicken, complemented by homestyle sides and biscuits, offering a menu that resonates with those seeking authentic Southern comfort food.

The company began franchising in 1967, rapidly expanding its footprint across the United States. Today, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken operates over 130 locations nationwide, with its headquarters situated in Shalimar, Florida.

What sets Lee's apart from competitors is its unwavering commitment to quality and tradition. By adhering to time-honored recipes and preparation methods, the brand ensures a consistent and flavorful dining experience.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken franchise is $517,000 - $2,354,000. 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.

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken offers 4 types of franchises:

Franchise Type	Initial Investment
Single Unit Traditional(a new structure) Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$1,340,600 to $2,353,900
Single Unit Traditional Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$640,600 to $1,336,400
Single Unit Streamlined Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$572,500 to $1,126,400
Single Unit Non-Traditional Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$517,200 to $825,800

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Single Unit Traditional(a new structure) Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise.

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

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000
Training Fee	$5,000
Training Expenses	$15,000 to $22,000
Restaurant Opening Campaign	$10,000
Real Estate (leased or purchased)	Variable
Site Work	$0 to $500,000
Building and Improvement	$150,000 to $1,200,000
Equipment, Furniture and Signage	$228,700 to $389,900
POS System	$35,000 to $40,000
Opening Inventory	$6,000 to $32,000
Utility Deposits, Permits, Business Licenses and Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$7,500 to $50,000
Insurance	$10,000 to $20,000
Additional Funds - 3 Months	$15,000 to $55,000
Total	$517,200 to $2,353,900

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken offers 4 types of franchises:

Franchise Type	Initial Investment
Single Unit Traditional(a new structure) Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$1,340,600 to $2,353,900
Single Unit Traditional Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$640,600 to $1,336,400
Single Unit Streamlined Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$572,500 to $1,126,400
Single Unit Non-Traditional Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise	$517,200 to $825,800

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Single Unit Traditional(a new structure) Stand-Alone Lee’s Famous Recipe® Franchise.

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

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000
Training Fee	$5,000
Training Expenses	$15,000 to $22,000
Restaurant Opening Campaign	$10,000
Real Estate (leased or purchased)	Variable
Site Work	$0 to $500,000
Building and Improvement	$150,000 to $1,200,000
Equipment, Furniture and Signage	$228,700 to $389,900
POS System	$35,000 to $40,000
Opening Inventory	$6,000 to $32,000
Utility Deposits, Permits, Business Licenses and Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$7,500 to $50,000
Insurance	$10,000 to $20,000
Additional Funds - 3 Months	$15,000 to $55,000
Total	$517,200 to $2,353,900

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken had 126 total units in 2025, of which 93 were franchised-owned and 33 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise

New

-18%

5.00%

$517,000

$2,354,000

$1,686,000

n.a.

Wing it On!

$50K - $100K

New

100%

6.00%

$77,000

$440,000

$492,000

n.a.

Wings ETC.

$200K - $500K

New

-2%

5% - 6%

$369,000

$2,881,000

$1,484,000

12.1%

Hoots Wings Restaurant

$200K - $500K

New

200%

5.00%

$415,000

$1,132,000

n.a.

The Budlong Hot Chicken

$100K - $200K

New

n.a.

6.00%

$183,000

$995,000

n.a.

Slim Chickens

Over $500K

192

New

43%

5.00%

$1,229,000

$4,466,000

$2,396,000

n.a.

POLLO CAMPERO

Over $500K

New

-12%

5.00%

$1,455,000

$3,751,000

$3,853,000

n.a.

Training

Lees Famous provides a comprehensive training program to ensure franchisees are well-equipped to manage and grow their business successfully.

The franchisor offers an initial training program that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience.

This training covers essential operational procedures, marketing strategies, and customer service standards tailored to the franchise's unique business model.

Additionally, ongoing training and support are available to address new processes, technologies, and best practices, helping franchisees stay competitive and efficient.

Territory Protection

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken franchisees are granted the right to operate a restaurant at a specific location, with the franchisor determining whether the site is traditional stand-alone, streamlined, or non-traditional.

While franchisees do not receive exclusive territory rights, the franchisor will not establish or franchise another Lee's Famous Recipe restaurant within the franchisee's assigned protected area during the term of the franchise agreement.

Typically, this protected area is a circle with a one-mile radius from the franchise premises for traditional stand-alone and streamlined locations.