Does Chick Fil A allow for exceptions to the uniform imposition of fees?
Chick_Fil_A Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
These fees are imposed by Chick-fil-A and, except as expressly provided, are either (a) payable to Chick-fil-A, (b) payable to Chick-fil-A, as administrator, if determined by vote of Operators in your local or regional area, or (c) payable to the insurance company for premiums for workers' compensation, general liability, auto liability, and employment practices liability insurance coverages. All fees are non-refundable and are imposed uniformly except as expressly provided below.
In unusual circumstances which include special costs, the fees paid by you may be higher than those outlined in this Item 6.
Pursuant to a Chick-fil-A internal rent policy effective beginning January 1, 2015 (the "Rent Policy"), your rent for a franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant premises in a traditional location during
the duration of the policy (excluding any equipment) will not exceed 6% of the annual Gross Receipts of your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business. Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy does not extend to, affect or limit in any way, your obligation to pay any other monies or charges due under the Franchise Agreement or any additional charges and expenses due under any Lease. Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy has been established unilaterally as part of Chick-fil-A's internal working procedures. Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy is not a part of any contract between Chick-fil-A and you and does not create any rights or expectations for you under your Franchise Agreement and its attached Lease(s), including the rent calculation report(s). Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy also does not amend, modify or affect any contract rights and obligations between Chick-fil-A and you as otherwise set forth in the Franchise Agreement and its attached Lease(s), including the rent calculation report(s). The application of Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy to individual situations may vary. Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy is subject to revocation and/or change at any time in the future as determined by Chick-fil-A in its sole and exclusive business judgment. Chick-fil-A's Rent Policy does not apply to occupancy charges for a captive venue unit or a delivery kitchen unit.
If none of our vendors provide cash handling system services in the geographic area where your Chick-fil-A Restaurant business is located, you will not pay these fees and expenses to us. If your Chick-fil-A Restaurant business is located in a mall, office building, captive venue or delivery kitchen location, you may not be required to pay these fees and expenses to us depending on a variety of factors, including the location of the mall or office building, its use restrictions and requirements, whether the owner or manager of the location collects customer payments, and other things. In these circumstances, you may incur similar fees and expenses by engaging a vendor directly or paying the vendor appointed by the owner or manager of the location or the owner or manager directly, to provide similar services.
Chick-fil-A may in the exercise of its sole and exclusive business judgment offer certain additional marketing or other incentive funds and programs to one or more Operators in connection with certain special circumstances or situations that arise from time to time, such as assisting with brandbuilding in low awareness areas, including new markets, new locations, enhancing the physical premises of Chick-fil-A Restaurant facilities or other challenging situations which may have a
detrimental effect on sales and profits. Chick-fil-A is under no obligation to offer these additional marketing or other incentive funds and programs or any other assistance of this type to you under any circumstances. Such additional marketing or other incentive funds and programs do not grant you any contract rights, are not part of your contract, and do not modify or affect Chick-fil-A's or your contract rights and obligations under the Franchise Agreement. Chick-fil-A's internal programs and policies are subject to change or cancellation at any time by Chick-fil-A.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 27–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chick Fil A's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the fees imposed are generally uniform, but there are express exceptions. Specifically, the fees paid by a franchisee may be higher than outlined in Item 6 of the FDD in unusual circumstances, such as certain high-cost sites.
Chick Fil A's Rent Policy, effective January 1, 2015, states that rent for traditional locations will not exceed 6% of annual Gross Receipts. However, this policy does not extend to captive venue units or delivery kitchen units. Additionally, the application of the Rent Policy may vary, and Chick Fil A can revoke or change it at any time. The document also notes that if cash handling system services are not provided in a franchisee's geographic area, or if the Chick Fil A restaurant is in a mall, office building, captive venue, or delivery kitchen location, the franchisee may not be required to pay certain fees.
Chick Fil A may also offer additional marketing or other incentive funds and programs to operators in special circumstances, such as assisting with brand building in low awareness areas, new markets, new locations, enhancing physical premises, or other challenging situations that may negatively affect sales and profits. However, Chick Fil A is under no obligation to offer these funds or programs, and they do not grant any contract rights to the franchisee.