For a Churchs Chicken Conversion Restaurant, what is included in the low end of the Building and Improvements estimate?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
A Conversion Restaurant is a free-standing restaurant with a drive-thru facility and that complies with our current brand standards including the "Blaze Image." The estimated initial investment for a Conversion Restaurant between 1,000 and 1,800 square feet is described in the table below. The 1,000 square feet does not include an additional 205 square feet for the walk-in cooler and freezer and the utility room needed outside of the Franchised Restaurant. The low end of the estimates below reflects very limited site work plus "Tenant Improvements" (retrofit or renovation work required to convert existing space), as well as no dining furniture within the 1,000 square feet. The high end of the estimates reflects adding new building structure and site work to create the restaurant. The initial investment to convert an existing building to a Blaze Image restaurant will vary according to the circumstances.
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 24–31)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the low end of the Building and Improvements estimate for a Conversion Restaurant includes very limited site work plus "Tenant Improvements" and no dining furniture within the 1,000 square feet. A Conversion Restaurant is defined as a free-standing restaurant with a drive-thru facility that meets Churchs Chicken's current brand standards, including the "Blaze Image." The restaurant size considered in this estimate is between 1,000 and 1,800 square feet, not including an additional 205 square feet for the walk-in cooler and freezer and the utility room needed outside of the Franchised Restaurant.
In practical terms, this means a prospective franchisee looking at a Conversion Restaurant can expect the lowest building and improvement costs if the existing building requires minimal modifications to meet Churchs Chicken's standards. The "Tenant Improvements" refer to renovations needed to adapt the existing space. The absence of dining furniture in the low-end estimate suggests that franchisees opting for the lowest investment may need to source this separately or that the conversion assumes a model with limited or no dine-in seating.
It's important to note that the high end of the estimates reflects adding new building structure and site work to create the restaurant. The initial investment to convert an existing building to a Blaze Image restaurant will vary according to the circumstances. This variation highlights the importance of carefully assessing the condition of the existing building and site before committing to a conversion project. Franchisees should conduct thorough due diligence to determine the extent of required improvements and factor this into their overall investment decision.