Church’s Texas Chicken Markets Franchise Packages Amid Slowing Unit Expansion

Church’s Texas Chicken is pitching franchisees on opportunities that start with a $20,000 franchise fee and a total development cost that typically falls between $644,366 and $1,808,972, even as its store count growth has cooled. The Atlanta-based chain — founded in San Antonio in 1952 and franchising since 1969 — operates about 1,474 restaurants worldwide under parent company Cajun Global LLC, and its recent growth rate slipped by about one-fiftieth. CEO Roland Gonzalez heads a compact corporate team, and the brand currently sits in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list.

The chain emphasizes multiple store formats to fit different markets: drive-thru focused units, delivery kitchens and selected dine-in restaurants, many of which also handle large catering requests. Church’s says those options let franchisees tailor locations to local demand and site availability, and the company highlights experience in selecting real estate and managing construction to speed openings. The concept historically finds sites in busy retail corridors, near convenience hubs and on college-adjacent streets.

Support for new owners includes classroom and on-the-job instruction — roughly 13 to 17 hours of classroom time plus 116 to 154 hours of hands-on training — along with marketing, purchasing co-ops and field operations assistance. Financial obligations include a continuing royalty set at one-twentieth of sales and an advertising contribution also equal to one-twentieth. Franchise agreements run 20 years and can be renewed; a technology fee runs about $2,700 a year. The company allows absentee ownership, but part-time operators are not permitted and typical unit staffing lists four employees.

Prospective buyers must meet financial thresholds: a net worth of $500,000 and at least $250,000 in available cash. Financing is handled by third parties, and veterans are offered a half-off discount on the initial fee. The brand’s internal sales snapshot for drive-thru free-standing locations draws on a dataset that counted 588 domestic outlets as of Dec. 31, 2024, and used 576 of those sites for top-quartile performance analysis after removing 112 Puerto Rico locations and a dozen stores that hadn’t been open long enough.

Industry advisers say the numbers point to both opportunity and caution. “A mature quick-service chain with a heritage name can still reward disciplined multi-unit operators, but the pace of openings has slowed,” said a franchise consultant who regularly advises restaurant buyers. They note that converting existing sites, a common Church’s strategy, can reduce upfront expenses and shorten the path to revenue — but market research and competitive analysis are more important than ever given dense fast-food competition and shifting consumer habits.

Anyone considering a Church’s Texas Chicken franchise should review the Franchise Disclosure Document, consult legal and financial advisors and talk with current franchisees before committing. The listing notes that information was last updated Dec. 12, 2022, while certain performance figures reflect results through 2024; interested parties are responsible for verifying the latest data and territory availability.