FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Old Chicago.
Based on 2019 FDD · 2 filings in corpus
This page is using 2019 FDD source data. Verify the franchisor's current FDD before relying on costs, fees, or Item 19. It is excluded from search indexing until refreshed.
Cost and profit at a glance
Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Old Chicago franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $1.3M – $2.0M. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.
Quick fee read: $40K franchise fee · 7% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.
Old Chicago requires a total initial investment of $1.3M to $2.0M (midpoint approximately $1.6M), with an initial franchise fee of $40K. The ongoing fee burden is 7% (4% royalty plus 3% advertising fund). This is below the industry average of approximately 15.5%, leaving more margin for the operator.
Old Chicago does not publicly disclose Item 19 financial performance data in their FDD. This is a significant transparency gap — franchisees must rely on validation calls and personal research rather than audited financial representations. Prospective buyers should demand current unit-level financials from existing operators during due diligence.
Old Chicago operates approximately 26 franchised units. However, the brand has been contracting with a 7.4% net unit decline, which may signal franchisee dissatisfaction, territory saturation, or competitive pressure.
Prospective franchisees should verify all figures against the most recent FDD, conduct validation calls with multiple existing franchisees, and consult with a franchise attorney before signing any agreement.
Analysis based on 2019 FDD filing. FDDIQ Editorial Team · Methodology
Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.
Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.
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5 data-driven questions every Old Chicago franchise buyer should ask.