Nashville Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in authentic Nashville-style hot chicken, offering spicy fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and Southern-inspired comfort food.

The brand was founded in 2018 in Pacoima, California, originally operating as a ghost kitchen before expanding into a full franchise system. It aims to deliver classic Nashville heat and bold flavors through a streamlined menu that attracts strong customer demand.

The franchise is known for its simple, high-impact menu built around its signature hot chicken and proprietary pink sauce, which helps drive repeat traffic.

Nashville Hot Chicken offers multiple franchise formats, including traditional restaurants, food trucks, and cloud kitchens, giving owners flexibility in how they operate. Select locations also offer Halal-certified options, helping the brand stand out in diverse markets and differentiate itself from other chicken concepts.

Training

Nashville Hot Chicken offers a multi-phase training program to prepare franchisees for successful business operations. Here are the key training components provided by the franchisor:

1. Initial Training Program
   Franchisees, including the Managing Owner and one designated manager, must attend and complete the franchisor’s initial training program before opening the restaurant. This training may include classroom and on-the-job instruction, either in person or remotely via online conferencing. If more than three individuals attend, additional fees apply at $300 per person per day.
2. Supplemental Training
   Nashville Hot Chicken may provide optional or required supplemental training, either at the franchise location or remotely. If offered, the franchisee must pay $300 per trainer per day plus applicable travel and accommodation expenses. This is often mandated when a new Operating Manager is hired or if the franchise operations fall below standards.
3. Ongoing and Refresher Programs
   Franchisees and their managers are required to attend periodic refresher training and system-wide seminars. The franchisor provides materials and instructors, but franchisees cover all costs, including travel, lodging, meals, and wages. These sessions help ensure continued adherence to brand and operational standards.

Territory Protection

Nashville Hot Chicken offers limited territorial protection to its franchisees, with each franchisee potentially receiving a "Designated Territory." The territory is typically defined by either a three-mile radius from the restaurant location or a population area of about 40,000 people, though this may vary for non-traditional locations like malls or airports.

However, the franchise agreement does not guarantee exclusivity, and the franchisor may still operate or license others to operate under different marks within the same or nearby areas.

While the franchisor agrees not to establish another restaurant using the licensed marks within a franchisee’s designated territory during the agreement’s term (assuming full compliance), it reserves broad rights.