About Sweet Chick Franchise
Sweet Chick is a fast-casual dining concept specializing in chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches, salads, and a curated selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The brand has built a loyal following among urban diners seeking bold, comfort-driven food in a vibrant atmosphere, blending Southern-inspired culinary traditions with a modern, culturally relevant identity.
Guests visit Sweet Chick locations for distinctive menu items prepared with high-quality ingredients and proprietary recipes that set the brand apart in the competitive chicken segment.
Sweet Chick Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$1.0M
Average Investment
$1.4M
Maximum Investment
$1.8M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Up to 3% of weekly Gross Sales (currently 2%) for National Brand Development Fund; minimum 2% of prior week's Gross Sales for local advertising | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $1,033,900 – $1,763,200 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $1.0M–$1.8M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (Up to 3% of weekly Gross Sales (currently 2%) for National Brand Development Fund; minimum 2% of prior week's Gross Sales for local advertising) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Real Estate/Rent (3 months) | $30,000 | $120,000 |
| Lease, Utility and Security Deposits | $75,000 | $120,000 |
| Design & Architectural Fees | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $400,000 | $700,000 |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $30,000 | $70,000 |
| Equipment | $250,000 | $400,000 |
| Signage | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| POS System and Software | $2,500 | $10,000 |
| Professional Fees | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| Business License and Permits | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Opening Inventory and Supplies | $70,000 | $90,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Training Expenses (out-of-pocket costs for up to 3 people) | $8,900 | $11,700 |
| Insurance (3 months) | $6,000 | $23,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 months | $70,000 | $80,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 75% of then-current initial franchise fee; 50% if transferee is existing Sweet Chick franchise owner; $7,500 non-refundable deposit upon notification |
| Renewal Fee | 10% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | Up to $300 per week (currently $100 per week) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of inspection or audit; reimbursement if understatement exceeds 2% |
| Annual Meeting Fee | $1,000 per person |
| Cooperative Advertising Programs | Up to 2% of Gross Sales |
| Initial Training Fee (additional attendees) | $1,500 per person per day |
| Additional or Renewal Training | $500 per person per day |
| Relocation Fee | 50% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Testing/Supplier Approval | Greater of $1,000 or direct out-of-pocket costs |
| Computer Systems Maintenance and Support | $250-$1,000 per month |
| Interest on Overdue Amounts | 4% above prime rate or maximum allowable by law |
| Insurance Administration Fee | Reimbursement plus 10% of total annual policy cost |
| Insufficient Funds Processing Fee | $250 plus expenses |
| Brand Damages | Varies upon early termination |
| Management Fee | Direct costs plus 10% of Gross Sales during management period |
| Administrative Fee | $500 per day during right to terminate |
| Mystery Customer Fee | Greater of $150 or direct out-of-pocket costs |
| Quality Assurance Fee | Greater of $500 or direct out-of-pocket costs |
| Extension Fee | $5,000 per 90-day extension |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | At least 12 days of initial training (excluding on-site opening support of at least 7 days) |
| Classroom Training | 25 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 87 hours |
| Training Location | Corporate Office in New York, New York and/or Designated Restaurant |
| Additional Training | At least 7 total days of on-site support (3 days pre-opening, 4 days opening); ongoing training courses periodically required; annual national meeting attendance; additional training available at $500 per person per day |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Geographic area with estimated population of 75,000 people |
| Description | Franchisees at traditional locations receive a protected territory covering approximately 75,000 people. Franchisor may not operate or grant a franchise within the Territory while franchisee is in full compliance. Franchisor retains rights to operate at Non-Traditional Sites within the Territory, sell through alternative channels, and serve national/regional/institutional accounts. No territory granted for Non-Traditional Site locations. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | Up to two successive 5-year renewal terms |
| Renewal Fee | 10% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Franchisee must be in full compliance; give timely notice (180-220 days before expiration); pay renewal fee; maintain possession of premises; remodel to current standards; sign then-current franchise agreement and general release |
| Transfer Fee | 75% of then-current initial franchise fee (50% if transferee is an existing Sweet Chick franchise owner); $7,500 non-refundable deposit upon notification of intent to transfer |
| Transfer Conditions | Prior written consent required; transferee must qualify financially and experientially; all amounts owed must be paid; no defaults in prior 60 days; training completed; lease transferred with landlord consent; current franchise agreement signed by transferee; general release signed |
| Termination for Cause | Non-curable defaults include misrepresentation, failure to open timely, abandonment, unapproved transfers, felony conviction, dishonest conduct, unauthorized use of confidential information, repeated defaults, insolvency events, anti-terrorism violations, false records. Curable defaults include health/safety violations (72 hours to cure), monetary defaults (10 days), operational defaults (30 days). |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years after termination or expiration |
| Non-Compete Details | No ownership interest in or performance of services for any Competitive Business (restaurant deriving more than 5% of revenue from chicken and waffles and/or chicken sandwiches) for 2 years within: the Premises, the Territory, within 25 miles of the Territory, or within 25 miles of any other Sweet Chick Restaurant in operation or under construction at time of termination |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Restaurant must be under full-time direct on-premises supervision of the franchisee, Managing Owner, or an approved Operating Principal at all times. Kitchen and front-of-house activities must be supervised by a full-time General Manager. Managing Owner must own at least 10% interest in the franchisee entity. |
| Required Suppliers | Sweet Chick Life Inc. (waffle batter mix, dredge, maple syrup, sauces, canned cocktails, froze mix, branded packaging, mac and cheese, biscuits, pies, salad dressing); Ludlow Coffee Supply (coffee products); Sysco Holdings LLC (additional food goods); Toast (POS software and hardware); Restaurant365 (accounting software); Imperial Dade (paper and plastic products); Zero-In (digital menus and digital music streaming); The Coca-Cola Company (fountain sodas); A10 (retail items) |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must purchase specified items exclusively from designated suppliers. Approximately 90% of establishment purchases and 85-90% of operating purchases must come from designated or approved sources. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Neither the franchisor nor its affiliates received any revenue or other material consideration during 2022 from selling items to Sweet Chick Restaurant franchise owners. No rebates received from suppliers in fiscal year 2022. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | The franchisor and its affiliates do not offer direct or indirect financing and will not guarantee any note, lease, or obligation. |
Sweet Chick Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$3.2M
Sample Size
5 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Sweet Chick Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordSweet Chick has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Sweet Chick System Growth
Total Units
6
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
6
Sweet Chick currently operates 0 franchised locations and 6 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Sweet Chick Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Sweet Chick franchise ranges from $1,033,900 to $1,763,200, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $40,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Sweet Chick charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a Up to 3% of weekly Gross Sales (currently 2%) for National Brand Development Fund; minimum 2% of prior week's Gross Sales for local advertising contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Sweet Chick Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Sweet Chick to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Sweet Chick franchise owners report average revenue of $3.2M. This is based on a sample of 5 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sweet Chick has been franchising since 2023. The FDD shows an investment range of $1,033,900-$1,763,200, a 6% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $40,000 and the total investment ranges from $1,033,900 to $1,763,200 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Sweet Chick and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Sweet Chick or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com