Franchise Comparator

Chicken Salad Chick vs Dave's Hot Chicken: franchise cost side by side

Chicken Salad Chick is the cheaper of the two to open, from $777,000; Dave's Hot Chicken starts at $823,800.

Every figure comes from the brand's FDD, the disclosure file it must hand you before you sign.

Chicken Salad Chick is the cheaper to open, from $777,000.

Dave's Hot Chicken starts at $823,800, the lowest cost to open given in each FDD.

From each FDDChicken Salad Chick logoChicken Salad ChickDave's Hot Chicken logoDave's Hot Chicken
Total cost to open$777,000 to $998,500$823,800 to $4,121,900
Upfront fee$50,000$40,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)5% of gross sales (at least $600)6% of gross sales
Marketing fund2% of gross sales4% of gross sales
Published sales$1,496,540 a year (average of 214 locations, 2025)None published
Outlets252 franchised, 74 company348 franchised, 10 company
Year filed20262026

Not sure which brands to pick? Get help choosing or browse the full table.

Read the full figures on the Chicken Salad Chick franchise page and the Dave's Hot Chicken franchise page, or read how to compare franchise costs.

Every brand's fee, royalty and Item 7 range is also in one table you can download: the franchise fee comparison.

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