Does Chick Fil A require a franchisee to directly supervise their franchised restaurant?
Chick_Fil_A Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Your Franchise Agreement requires you to devote your full time and personal best efforts to operate your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business to attempt to achieve the highest sales and profits possible and to diligently develop and promote the reputation and the goodwill of your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business, Chick-fil-A and CFA Properties' marks. This requirement will, for all practical purposes, require you to directly supervise your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business. As a result, you will have to keep free from conflicting enterprises or any other activities which would interfere with your exertion of your full time and personal best efforts to operate your franchised Chick-fil-A Restaurant business.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 69–70)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chick Fil A's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to directly supervise their franchised restaurant. The Franchise Agreement mandates that franchisees devote their full time and personal best efforts to operating the Chick-fil-A Restaurant to maximize sales and profits, and to develop the goodwill of the Chick-fil-A brand. This obligation effectively requires the franchisee to directly supervise the restaurant.
This requirement means that a Chick Fil A franchisee cannot passively own the business while delegating day-to-day operations to a manager. They must be actively involved in the restaurant's operation. Franchisees must also avoid any conflicting enterprises or activities that would hinder their ability to dedicate their full time and effort to the Chick-fil-A Restaurant.
Chick-fil-A may allow a franchisee to assign the Franchise Agreement to a single corporation, limited liability company, or other approved business entity for ownership convenience. However, even if the Franchise Agreement is assigned to a business entity, the franchisee must remain the sole owner (Operator-Owner) and continue to be personally bound by and liable for all terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement, including the attached Lease(s). The Operator-Owner must also guarantee the full performance of the business entity. This ensures that the franchisee remains fully committed to and responsible for the operation of the Chick-fil-A Restaurant, even if it is owned by a business entity.