Securing a Chick-fil-A franchise is an intensely competitive endeavor, with an estimated 100,000 individuals applying each year for approximately 200 owner-operator positions. The franchise fee has remained a consistent $10,000 for the past five decades, a figure that has surprised many.
Julian Good, a Chick-fil-A owner-operator in St. Charles, Illinois, shared insights into the rigorous selection process during a recent appearance on the “Founder Talk” podcast. He noted that applicants without prior experience at Chick-fil-A may wait three to five years to be considered.
Chick-fil-A describes its selection process as highly competitive, seeking leaders committed to operating restaurants and developing their teams. According to the company's press room, more than 25% of new owner-operators have no prior experience with the chain. Operators come from diverse professional backgrounds, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, law enforcement, and retail.
A key distinction of the Chick-fil-A model, as noted by Franchise Business Review, is that owner-operators do not own the physical restaurant, equipment, or, in most cases, the real estate. Chick-fil-A retains ownership, meaning operators do not build equity in the business and cannot sell it upon retirement. Instead, the restaurant returns to Chick-fil-A's stewardship.
Good explained this is a significant departure from many other franchise models, where operators build and sell their businesses. "When a Chick-fil-A operator retires, you can’t pass it down to your kids. You don’t sell the business or anything. It just goes back into the hands of Chick-fil-A," he said.
The company also adheres to a long-standing tradition of closing all its restaurants on Sundays. Good stated this practice serves as an opportunity "to glorify God and give back to the team and the community."