Chicken Salad Chick Franchise Cost: Startup & Ongoing Costs

Chicken Salad Chick sells a short, focused menu, but the restaurant itself is not small. Its cost table is dominated by the interior build-out and a furnished dining room, with a decor package and branded merchandise that you would not see in a plain counter-service shop. Drive-thru locations have their own total, which is higher.

The numbers are from Item 7 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the table in which a franchisor estimates what a new owner will spend before opening. Item 5 lists the initial fee and Item 6 lists continuing fees. This page uses the 2025 edition, reported by Franchise Chatter on a page last updated in January 2026, and the data was last checked on Oct 13, 2026.

For locations without a drive-thru, the estimate is $777,000 – $994,500. The drive-thru version adds a package of its own, listed as $25,000 – $35,000, and the document gives a separate total for those locations. If you plan a drive-thru, the table above is a starting point and not the final figure.

Two lines carry the weight. Leasehold improvements run $425,000 – $525,000, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment run $175,000 – $225,000. The decor package, which covers wall art, table coverings, decals, and window treatments, is $15,000 – $20,000.

Technology, signage, and merchandise

Technology equipment and software are $25,000 – $35,000. Signage is $12,000 – $25,000. Branded merchandise is $9,000 – $10,000. Inventory is $12,000 – $13,000. Each is a modest cost, but together they add a sizable block that does not depend on the lease.

Rent, fees, and the opening reserve

Rent for one month plus a security deposit is $6,000 – $11,000. Professional fees for attorneys, architects, and similar advisors are $10,000 – $20,000. Training costs for three people, including transportation and lodging, are $5,000 – $9,000. Additional funds for the first three months are $20,000 – $30,000.

Keep in mind that the table counts a limited period. If sales ramp slowly, you may need cash well beyond three months.

The initial fee for a first location is $50,000. For additional locations, it is $45,000. Entrepreneur's profile lists a minimum net worth of $750,000 and a cash requirement of $250,000.

The lower fee for additional locations means the first restaurant is the most expensive one in fee terms. If you plan to build several, ask about the development schedule and whether any deadlines come with the lower fee.

The continuing royalty is 5% of gross sales, with a minimum payment set out in the agreement. The advertising contribution is currently 2% of gross sales.

The minimum royalty protects the franchisor when sales are low. The agreement requires a minimum payment on set dates each month, so in a slow period you may pay more than the percentage would produce. Ask for the minimum amount and schedule in writing, and include it in your cash flow model.

Two sources are compared below. Franchise Chatter reports a range that tops out at the non-drive-thru figure, while Entrepreneur's profile reports a higher maximum. The gap may reflect the drive-thru format or a different edition of the document. A single page can therefore show two different numbers for what looks like the same restaurant.

Other differences come from the year of the FDD, from rounding, and from whether the source counts the franchise fee inside the total. Before comparing Chicken Salad Chick with another brand, check that both numbers use the same format, the same year, and the same treatment of real estate.

• Which format will you open, and does it include a drive-thru?
• How is the minimum royalty calculated, and when is it due?
• What development schedule applies if you plan more than one location?
• How is the advertising contribution used, and can it change?
• Does the FDD include financial performance information in Item 19, and does it cover franchised or company-owned restaurants?

Item 19 deserves a careful read in any FDD. The source notes that the information submitted to Chicken Salad Chick for financial representations was not independently audited by the company, so ask what that means for the figures. Review the whole document with a franchise attorney and an accountant before you sign a lease or pay a deposit.