Watch to find out more about the process.
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Compared to other fast-food franchises, it’s quite affordable to open a Chick-fil-A at only $10,000. But actually getting a franchise is the real challenge.
Every year, only about 80 people are selected out of the 60,000 that usually apply. That translates to a 0.13% success rate which is only marginally better than a basketball player’s chances of getting drafted into the NBA (0.03% success rate).
It’s not just the sheer number of applicants but Chick-fil-A’s strict vetting process that is responsible for the low number of franchises granted each year.
If you’re interested in taking the helm of one of the 120 stores that the company opens each year, you can simply start the application process by entering your email address in the company’s franchise information page. But if you want more information first, Chick-fil-A does offer non-mandatory information sessions around the country to get any of your questions answered.
The company then sends you an application form and interview you several times (at least a dozen of them, says Forbes). The interviews can be conducted via phone, video chat, and even in person. Going through several interviews is no guarantee because you can be dropped as a candidate any time.
The interview process typically lasts several months up to a year. This is because Chick-fil-A is not just evaluating your professional competency but also intangibles such as character and chemistry.
One thing the company is really looking for is a hands-on manager. They don’t want absentee store managers who will only treat the franchise as a hobby or cash cow. The Chick-fil-A website is clear when it says: “Being a franchised Chick-fil-A Operator is anything but a passive investment.”
The company also expects its franchisees to have the franchise as its primary business. There are exceptions but franchise operators usually only get one store at a time.
Compatibility with the company’s core values also comes into play. So they look for signs that you are active in the community where the proposed store will be and they also look at your personal character.
The company does clarify that it’s not true that Chick-fil-A requires prior food-service experience, restaurant management experience, or prior work experience at Chick-fil-A. The company cites Jim Toth, a Temecula, California, franchise operator who is a retired Marine who has no previous food-service experience. However, the company does admit that over half of franchise owners have had previous job experience with Chick-fil-A.
While the process of getting awarded a franchise is like going through the proverbial eye of the needle, the good news is that money is not as much of an issue to get you started.
You only need to put up $10,000 and Chick-fil-A takes care of all other startup costs needed to build the store from the ground up. However, in that case, you’re considered an “operator,” not an “owner.” All rights to the store remain with Chick-fil-A.
This means that you can’t put it for sale if you want to retire or include it in an inheritance.
Should you be one of the lucky 0.13%, you’ll undergo an extensive training program lasting several weeks. It teaches you everything you need to know to run a fast-food restaurant, from food preparation, accounting, purchasing, marketing, management skills, and so much more.
It’s an extensive process but well worth the reward. And the best part is, money is not a barrier.