ScorecardWorth It?HistoryDatabaseCompareDistress Signals
Non-standard franchise structure - This franchise operates differently from typical franchises (e.g., operator model, no equity ownership). Review carefully before investing.
QSRRevenue OnlyItem 19: ✓ DisclosedHigh Confidence · 100/100

Chick-fil-A, Inc. Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Chick-fil-A, Inc..

Based on 2025 FDD · 8 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
79
B
Moderate-Low Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
B+
84/100
7/7 metrics · High confidence

Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Chick-fil-A, Inc. franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Chick-fil-A, Inc. franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $427K – $2.3M. Reported owner economics show $0. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$427K – $2.3M
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
$0
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
0.0% cash-on-cash
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costs →Estimate franchise ROI →Check SBA default rates →Browse QSR franchises →Compare similar franchises →

Quick fee read: $10K franchise fee · 15% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

10-brand free summary pilot · report unlocked

Chick-fil-A, Inc. is in the free pilot, so the buyer-grade evidence is visible on this page.

Use this as a source-document screening summary: FDD investment range, royalty/ad burden, Item 19 economics, SBA repayment outcomes, unit movement, and comparable-brand context. Treat missing or low-confidence fields as diligence flags — not as blanks to ignore.

FDD-derived fieldsSBA matched where availableItem 19 labeledUnit movement checkedHigh confidence
What is unlocked
• Risk Engine rationale and sub-scores• Growth Forecast table when forecast data exists• Fee, cost, SBA, and comparable-brand context
Need another brand? Unlock the 10-report pack →Compare against the sample report
Total Investment Range$427K – $2.3M
MinMid: $1.4MMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$10K
Royalty Rate
15%
Ad Fund Rate
0%
Total Burden
15.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
2,494
+135 vs prior yr
Net Unit Growth
↑ 5.8%
Year over year

Financial Analysis

Cash-on-Cash Return
0.0%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
-
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
$3.4M
Item 19 disclosed

Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Chick-fil-A, Inc. vs. QSR Average

MetricChick-fil-A, Inc.QSR Avg
SBA Default Rate0.0%▲9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return0.0%▼14.2%
Total Investment$1.4M$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

SBA Loan Performance

Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2025-2025). 1 loans across 1 states.

Default Rate
0.0%
Low Risk
Total SBA Loans
1
1 states
Total Loan Volume
$3.0M
SBA 7(a) approved
Avg Loan Size
$3.0M
Per franchisee
Loan Status Breakdown
0
Paid in Full (0%)
1
Currently Active
0
Charged Off
$0
Total Charged Off ($)
● Paid● Active● Charged Off

Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.

Compare

Chick-fil-A, Inc. vs Loving CupChick-fil-A, Inc. vs Donut KingChick-fil-A, Inc. vs Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar

Similar Franchises · QSR

Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
No Item 19
$210K–$264K
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K
BURGER 21
$413K – $1.1M

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Founded 2017 - May 2024 · General
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Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Chick-fil-A, Inc. franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Chick-fil-A, Inc.'s SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Chick-fil-A, Inc. disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Chick-fil-A, Inc. →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

Explore More

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