What is the high-end estimated initial investment for a non-traditional Chicken Guy restaurant?
Chicken_Guy Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Expenditure | Amount: In-line, End Cap or Drive Thru (1) | Amount: Nontraditional Restaurant (2) | Method of Payment (3) | When Due | To Whom Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit Fee(4) | $0 - $5,000 | $0 - $5,000 | Lump sum | See Item 5 | Chicken Guy |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $40,000 - $50,000 | Lump sum | See Item | Chicken |
| (4) | 5 | Guy | |||
| Grand Opening | $10,000 | $5,000 | Progress | As | Vendors |
| Required Spending (5) | payments | incurred | |||
| Leasehold Costs and Building and Site Improvements (6) | $350,000 - $1,900,000 | $350,000 - $1,200,000 | Progress payments | As arranged | Contractor, Architect |
| Furnishings, Fixtures | $195,000 - $600,000 | $195,000 - $600,000 | As | As | Vendors |
| and Equipment (7) | arranged | incurred | |||
| Signage (8) | $20,000 - $95,000 | $15,000 - $95,000 | As arranged | As incurred | Vendors |
| Point of Sale | $4.500 - $25,000 | $4,500 - $25,000 | As | As | Vendors |
| System (9) | arranged | incurred | |||
| Technology (10) | $15,000 - $30,000 | $15,000 - $25,000 | As arranged | As incurred | Vendors |
| Graphic Items (11) | $30,000 - $60,000 | $20,000 - $60,000 | As arranged | As incurred | Vendors |
| Type of Expenditure | Amount: In-line, End Cap or Drive Thru (1) | Amount: Nontraditional Restaurant (2) | Method of Payment (3) | When Due | To Whom Paid |
| Professional Fees (12) | $10,000 - $20,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 | Before opening | As incurred | Attorney, accountant, and other business advisors |
| Initial Manager | $15,000 - $25,000 | $15,000 - $25,000 | As | As | Third |
| Training (13) | arranged | incurred | parties | ||
| Pre-Opening Costs | $15,000 - $50,000 | $15,000 - $50,000 | As | As | Vendors |
| (14) | arranged | incurred | |||
| Additional Funds – | $50,000 - $150,000 | $50,000 - $150,000 | As | As | Vendors |
| 3 months (16) | arranged | incurred | |||
| TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (17) | $764,500 - $3,020,000 | $734,000 - $2,310,000 | (Estimate does not include the cost to obtain an alcoholic beverage license which you may choose to incur. See Note 15 below.) |
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 16–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chicken Guy's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the total estimated initial investment for a non-traditional restaurant ranges from $734,000 to $2,310,000. This investment covers various expenses, including the initial franchise fee, grand opening spending, leasehold costs and building improvements, furnishings, signage, point of sale system, technology, graphic items, professional fees, initial manager training, pre-opening costs, and additional funds for the first three months of operation.
The initial franchise fee for a non-traditional Chicken Guy restaurant can range from $40,000 to $50,000. Leasehold costs and building improvements are estimated to be between $350,000 and $1,200,000. Furnishings, fixtures, and equipment are projected to cost between $195,000 and $600,000. Signage can range from $15,000 to $95,000, while the point of sale system is estimated to cost between $4,500 and $25,000. Technology costs range from $15,000 to $25,000, and graphic items are estimated to be between $20,000 and $60,000.
Additional costs include professional fees, which range from $10,000 to $20,000, and initial manager training, which is estimated to cost between $15,000 and $25,000. Pre-opening costs can range from $15,000 to $50,000. Furthermore, Chicken Guy estimates that franchisees will need an additional $50,000 to $150,000 for the first three months of operation. It is important to note that these estimates do not include the cost of an alcoholic beverage license, which can range from $10,000 to $200,000, depending on the jurisdiction.