- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#84 Ranked #115 last year
- Initial investment
-
$1.5M - $4.4M
- Units as of 2023
-
214 130.1% over 3 years
Whether it is chicken tenders, wings, or wraps, the mission of Slim Chickens is to serve the best hand-breaded chicken using the freshest ingredients. Since its inception in 2003, the foundation for Slim Chickens has always been serving customers the best meals with 100 percent all-natural premium tenderloins.
Slim Chickens began franchising in 2011 and has since opened more than 80 U.S. franchises to go along with more than 10 that are located internationally.
Why You May Want to Start a Slim Chickens Franchise
Slim Chickens strives to be known to go above and beyond in creating its food. Slim Chickens franchise locations serve main course chicken meals with side dishes including southern-fried pickles or fried mushrooms. Customers may want to save room for delicious strawberry cheesecake and chocolate brownie desserts. As a fun change of pace, all items are typically served in Mason jars.
Slim Chickens was founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and now has dozens of locations in several states. In addition to daily operations, Slim Chickens offers catering for special occasions. Whether it is game day, weddings, outdoor gatherings, family reunions, or office parties, Slim Chickens works with customers to give them the best food.
What Might Make a Slim Chickens Franchise a Good Choice?
A dedication to good food served with the customer in mind may be why Slim Chickens has experienced sustained success.
An ideal franchisee should have a desire to serve their community and make fresh food. A background in hospitality would be helpful, but it is preferred that franchisees have restaurant or franchise experience. But if you don't have the experience, the Slim Chickens team can teach you what you need to know.
To be part of the Slim Chickens team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth requirements.
How To Open a Slim Chickens Franchise
Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the Slim Chickens franchising team questions.
As part of applying for a Slim Chickens franchise, you will be required to go through an interview and submit a franchise application. From there, you will be traveling to company headquarters in Fayetteville, Arkansas as part of a discovery day to tour existing Slim Chickens restaurants.
You will also be meeting with the Slim Chickens founders, Tom Gordon, Ryan Hodson, and Greg Smart, along with their team, to discuss your ideas for a franchise and its location. A Slim Chickens franchise representative will guide you as you explore your potential franchise opportunity.
It may be a good idea to speak with an attorney or a financial advisor to ensure that you have the necessary financial resources to own and operate a Slim Chickens franchise.
Company Overview
About Slim Chickens
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 2011 (13 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 70 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises worldwide. |
| # of Units | 214 (as of 2023) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Slim Chickens franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$15,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$1,522,900 - $4,439,000 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$3,000,000 - $12,000,000 |
|
Royalty Fee
|
5% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
3% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10-15 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Slim Chickens has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 210 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 30 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Slim Chickens landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Slim Chickens ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
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