Does 'Opened' for Chick Fil A include company-owned restaurants purchased by an operator?
Chick_Fil_A Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Notes:
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- All numbers for "Outlets at Start of the Year" in the preceding table are as of the beginning of each fiscal year. All numbers for "Outlets at End of the Year" in the preceding table are as of the end of each fiscal year.
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- For purposes of the above table, "Opened" reflects the total number of franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurants opened in each state during each fiscal year, including both new restaurants and company-owned restaurant operations purchased by an Operator from Chick-fil-A.
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- For purposes of the above table, "Terminations" reflects the total number of Franchise Agreements terminated in each state during each fiscal year by Chick-fil-A prior to the end of the Franchise Agreement's term and without providing any consideration to the Operator (whether by payment, forgiveness or assumption of debt, or new franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant opportunity).
Source: Item 20 — Outlets and Franchisee Information (FDD pages 83–102)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chick Fil A's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the number of 'Opened' franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurants includes both new restaurants and company-owned restaurant operations purchased by an Operator from Chick-fil-A. This means that when Chick Fil A reports the number of restaurants opened, it is counting both newly constructed franchise locations and existing company-owned locations that were sold to a new franchisee.
This is relevant for prospective franchisees as it provides a more complete picture of how the Chick Fil A system is growing. It shows that growth can occur not only through the establishment of new locations but also through the transfer of existing company-operated restaurants to franchisees. This may also indicate the financial investment required, as purchasing an existing company-owned store may differ from the costs associated with building a new location.
It is important to note that this definition of 'Opened' applies to franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurants. The FDD also includes information on Chick-fil-A Licensed Units, where 'Opened' includes both new licensed units and company-owned licensed units purchased by a Licensee from Chick-fil-A. Therefore, franchisees should pay attention to whether the data refers to franchised restaurants or licensed units, as the definitions and implications may differ.