Chick-fil-A maintains highly competitive franchise selection process

Chick-fil-A maintains a highly competitive selection process for its owner-operator positions. Approximately 100,000 individuals apply annually, but only about 200 are ultimately selected to operate a restaurant.

According to restaurant owner Julian Good, the franchise fee has remained at $10,000 for roughly 50 years. Unlike many other franchise models, Chick-fil-A retains ownership of the restaurants and equipment, while operators manage the business.

Applicants without prior experience with the company often face a waiting period of three to five years. However, previous company experience is not a strict requirement; more than 25% of newly selected operators have no prior history with Chick-fil-A, coming instead from diverse professional backgrounds such as healthcare, law enforcement, and education.