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How Much Does a Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Cost?

2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Data

A Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise costs between $989,800 and $3,218,000 in total initial investment, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. The initial franchise fee is $20,000.

$989,800
Minimum Investment
$3,218,000
Maximum Investment
$20,000
Franchise Fee

Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Fee

Initial Franchise Fee $20,000
Fee Range $30,000 – $40,000
Item 7 Fee Estimate $40,000

Dave’s Hot Chicken Total Investment Breakdown

Here is the itemized breakdown of costs to open a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise, as reported in the 2025 FDD Item 7 (Estimated Initial Investment).

Minimum Investment
Dave’s Hot Chicken minimum investment breakdown
Maximum Investment
Dave’s Hot Chicken maximum investment breakdown
Franchise Fee $40,000
Initial Franchise Fee Lump sum · When you sign your Franchise Agreement $40,000
Real Estate $557,000 – $2,075,000
Construction, Remodeling and Leasehold Improvements As invoiced $542,000 – $2,000,000
Architect / Engineer As invoiced $15,000 – $75,000
Equipment & Assets $289,500 – $703,000
Equipment As invoiced $214,000 – $370,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Decorations As invoiced $11,500 – $95,000
Signage As invoiced $17,000 – $85,000
Computer Equipment and Information / POS Systems As invoiced $13,500 – $40,000
Initial Inventory and Supplies As invoiced $20,000 – $40,000
Drive-Thru, Loop Timers and Signage As invoiced $0 – $35,000
Smallwares As invoiced $11,000 – $30,000
Uniforms As invoiced $1,500 – $5,000
Office Supplies As invoiced $1,000 – $3,000
Training $10,000 – $25,000
Initial Training As invoiced $10,000 – $25,000
Working Capital & Reserves $16,300 – $48,000
Additional Funds- 3 Months As invoiced $16,300 – $48,000
Other Costs $77,000 – $327,000
Graffiti and Artwork As invoiced $30,000 – $125,000
Business Licenses and Permits As invoiced $1,000 – $55,000
Pre-Opening Rent $5,000 – $25,000
Pre-Opening Labor Expense $15,000 – $25,000
Grand Opening Kit, Menu Boards As invoiced $12,500 – $20,000
New Restaurant Opening Fee Prior to Opening $0 – $15,000
Miscellaneous Opening Costs As invoiced $1,000 – $15,000
Professional Fees $1,000 – $15,000
Pre-Opening/Grand Opening Advertising As invoiced $10,000 – $12,000
Insurance Deposits As invoiced $1,500 – $10,000
Liquor Licensing As invoiced $0 – $10,000
Total Estimated Investment $989,800 – $3,218,000

How Does Dave’s Hot Chicken Compare to Other Food & Beverage Franchises?

Dave’s Hot Chicken's minimum investment of $989,800 is above the Food & Beverage industry median. The median minimum investment for Food & Beverage franchises is $315,000.

$989,800
Dave’s Hot Chicken Min
$315,000
Food & Beverage Median Min
$3,218,000
Dave’s Hot Chicken Max
$687,250
Food & Beverage Median Max

Investment Analysis

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Dave’s Hot Chicken?

The total startup cost for a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise ranges from $989,800 to $3,218,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 7. The largest cost category is Real Estate at $557,000 to $2,075,000.

How much is the Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise fee?

The Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise fee is $20,000, with a range of $30,000 to $40,000 depending on the agreement, as disclosed in the 2025 FDD. This is a one-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor and is separate from the total initial investment.

Is Dave’s Hot Chicken a good investment?

Dave’s Hot Chicken requires a total franchise investment of $989,800 to $3,218,000 and scores Legal Risk: 66/100, Training: 100/100 in our FDD analysis. See our full Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise review for a detailed assessment of risks, territory, and support.

How much does a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise owner make?

Dave’s Hot Chicken's 2025 FDD does not include Item 19 financial performance data, so franchise owner earnings figures are not publicly available from this source.

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All product and company names mentioned are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of these names does not imply any affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by them. Data sourced from publicly available Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs).

ZeeReport does not audit the information it receives and does not independently verify the information in every instance.

Prospective franchisees should consult the original Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.

Data is extracted via automated AI tools. Inaccuracies or omissions are possible due to the nature of the technology.

This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, investment, or other professional advice.

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