Best fried chicken franchises in the UK to invest in

Fried chicken restaurants have been a staple on UK highstreets for decades, with fast-food businesses like KFC, Favorite Chicken, and Dixy Chicken becoming firm favourites of the British consumer.

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This craving for fried chicken doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, either. Actually, quite the opposite: the fried chicken sector is forecasted to experience further growth, with the foodstuff experiencing phenomenal popularity in the US. Recently, fried chicken brand Popeye’s went viral online by spearheading the ensuing ‘chicken wars’ trend and picking a battle with Chick-Fil-A, which has seen a plethora of other fried chicken brands throwing down the gauntlet to become the de-facto kings of the fried chicken sandwich world.

It’s not just the chicken sandwich that’s winning over hungry customers. While consumers as a whole are leaning towards more healthier options, the chicken segment – or more specifically, fried chicken fast-casual concepts – are appealing to foodies for the opposite reason: the public craves indulgence, especially when it comes coated in breadcrumbs, a range of spices and herbs, and exciting sauces for dipping.

In fact, the international appeal of the fried chicken concept is what is currying favour with the British public, with mainly incoming US fried chicken franchises and brands at the forefront of the fried chicken movement. UK consumers are lapping it up, too, as in 2017 UK consumers spent an estimated £2.2bn in chicken restaurants, according to Mintel and reported by Poultry News, with that figure predicted to rise to £2.6bn by 2022.

The humble highstreet chicken shop isn’t just the food of choice for people looking for a bargain bucket either, as according to Mintel, well-heeled Brits are joining the nation’s obsession for fried chicken, grilled chicken, chicken wings and more, with affluent Brits visiting chicken outlets and restaurants growing from 40% in 2018 to 45% in 2019. This could be prompted by the rise of ‘better chicken’ concepts, such as Slim Chickens, which made its UK debut in 2019.

So, all things considered, a chicken franchise could be well worth your investment, when you consider the growing popularity of this fast food favourite? Want to know how much it costs to buy a chicken franchise? And how much money can you make by running a fried chicken restaurant? We cover it all and round-up our top fried chicken franchises to invest in below.

How can I run my own chicken shop franchise?

Fast food franchises can generate big profits, but there are myriad other benefits to owning your own chicken shop franchise. For instance, franchisees can benefit from the support of a big brand, start a business that immediately has strong brand awareness, receive ample support and training from the franchisor, and more.

In order to access the full benefits of investing in a franchise, prospective franchisees will be required to pay the initial franchise fee.

Franchise fees: explained

The initial costs of opening a chicken franchise can seem quite high at first, but the rewards and profits that can be made make them a very enticing investment option. For example, KFC – the most popular fried chicken franchise on earth - states that prospective franchisees must have £5m in assets and £2m in liquid capital, and the franchise fee, which is payable upfront, is approximately £38,000.

The cost of a chicken franchise also includes the initial investment figure, which is higher for fast-food franchises as the prospective franchisee typically invests in real estate and ample equipment to start the business. This cost is obviously offset by the strong reputation, instant customer base and constant support that comes with investing in a reputable franchise business.

Other costs to factor in when buying a chicken franchise

A royalty fee is another cost that prospective chicken shop franchise owners need to factor in. According to Vicky Wilkes, a senior associate at Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP, a royalty fee is an ongoing fee that is usually paid by a franchisee during the whole length of a franchise agreement in return for use of the franchisor’s trademark, systems and goodwill. “Royalty payments received by the franchisor may also be used to offset expenses such as developing the franchise network, new products, services, and technologies,” says Vicky. Royalty fees are usually calculated as a percentage of gross sales of the franchisee’s business and are payable monthly.

All of the costs outlined above are included in the Franchise Disclosure Document that you will receive once you’ve made contact with the franchisor about the franchise opportunity. Once the prospective franchisee and franchisor are happy with the relationship, they will confirm the costs in the Franchise Agreement document.

Top chicken franchises to invest in right now

 

KFC

While there are often multitudes of articles stating that they’ve discovered Colonel Sanders’ covered secret herbs and spices recipe, you can rest assured that when you buy a KFC franchise, you’ll not only be investing in the bonafide recipe behind the chicken brand’s success, but also a brand with a global presence, stratospheric marketing clout, beloved products, a fantastic franchising reputation, and more.

From its first franchise location in Salt Lake, Utah, USA, in the 1950s, Kentucky Fried Chicken now boasts 20,000 restaurants worldwide, and is estimated to service in the region of 12 million customers every single day.

How much does it cost to own a KFC franchise?
Prospective franchisees must have £5 million in assets and £2 million in liquid capital. The franchise fee is approximately £38,000.

What do I get in return for my investment?
As stated above, chicken entrepreneurs benefit from a wide range of business-boosting factors, however, when it comes to return on investment and forecasted profits, the brand remains are tight-lipped on the financials as it does its secret spice and herb recipe. Contact the brand here and find out the details.

Southern Fried Chicken

If you’re looking for a less obvious chicken franchise to own than KFC – and one with a cheaper franchise fee –  yet one with decades of experience and a global reputation, then look no further than Southern Fried Chicken. The brand, which opened its doors in the UK almost four decades ago, boasts 102 international stores and is a real competitor to KFC in Britain.

The brand has built a strong connection with consumers who are dedicated to the quick service franchise restaurant’s chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, chicken pieces, fries, burgers, coleslaw and other delectable items.

How much does it cost to own a Southern Fried Chicken franchise?
The total investment is around £80,000 - £30,000, with a minimum investment of £125,000, and a franchise fee of £15,000. The royalty fee is around £650, depending on the franchise location and size.

What do I get in return for my investment?
Southern Fried Chicken franchisees receive a minimum of 21 days on-site training, where they learn how the company’s processes work. The franchisor also provides ongoing marketing advice and expertise, branding, continuous auditing, consistent support and more.

Investors can choose between four different store formats, including restaurant; express or kiosk; food court; and drive thru.

Chicken Cottage

Chances are if you’ve been in London and craved chicken, you’ve most likely paid the ubiquitous fast-food franchise Chicken Cottage a visit.

Originally opened in Wembley, north London in 1994, and now headquartered in Fulham, the franchise is renowned for its memorable logo, strong brand identity and menu consisting of convenient, tasty, Halal and affordable fried chicken.

How much does it cost to own a Chicken Cottage franchise?
The acreage set up cost for a Chicken Cottage store ranges from around £200,000 to £250,000, with the franchise fee costing from £15,000 to £30,000 depending on the shop size. Chicken Cottage is currently specifically looking for franchise owners in the North East, North West, South East, and South West of England currently.

If you are interested in introducing the Chicken Cottage franchise to your country, the franchisor is looking for international investors who can apply for a master franchise licence. A master franchise licence costs between £350,000 and £1 million, and Chicken Cottage head office has stated it is specifically looking to take the brand to Ireland, Scotland, Japan, India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

If you would like to contact Chicken Cottage and ask for a franchise application form, click here.

What do I get in return for my investment?
For an estimated upfront investment of around £200,000, franchises can set up a Chicken Cottage franchise unit selling a range of delicious fried chicken products and other exciting menu items. The £200,000 investment includes the shop fit-out, but excludes the cost of catering equipment and acquiring the actual unit.

In return the entrepreneur benefits from a tried-and-tested business, which means that investors needn’t require previous restaurant experience. Franchisees are trained to become a manager of their own unit and will be involved in every aspect of their operation.

Slim Chickens

If you’re on the hunt for an emerging chicken franchise brand that’s reinvigorating the fried chicken category, then look no further than Slim Chickens. Slim Chickens is a fast-casual restaurant brand operating in what it calls the ‘better chicken’ category, which is experiencing significant growth in the UK and Europe.

With a bold and growing presence in the US, Slim Chickens’ concept was brought to the UK and Ireland in 2019 and is expanding at a fast rate. Customers enjoy its fresh, cooked-to-order food, which all come at affordable prices.

Looking for a brand drenched in Southern hospitality that brings genuine American fried chicken pedigree? Then a Slim Chickens franchise could be the perfect investment for you.

How much does it cost to own a Slim Chickens franchise?
The cost to fit out a Slim Chickens restaurant unit varies by the site, depending on size and whether it’s a conversion unit or a new build.

Rest assured that the Slim Chickens team will share with you the details of the cost of fit-out of its existing stores, to give you an idea of what to expect.

The Slim Chickens franchise fee is structured so you pay £50,000 initial fees for five stores, then it’s £17,000 per store on opening.

What do I get in return for my investment?
Slim Chickens franchisees experience a three-day onboarding session where they experience what it’s like to work in a Slim Chickens restaurant. For the first two store openings of the five-store initial agreement, the store management team will receive four weeks’ worth of training prior to opening.

You will be supported before the launch with training your workforce for a further week and the Slim Chickens support team will be there on opening to ensure you open with great success.

Sound like a finger-lickin’ good investment? Enquire about owning your own Slim Chickens franchise today by clicking here.

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