Chester Fried
Franchise research report · reviewed 2025 disclosure data
Researching Chester Fried franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Chester’s franchises operate food service businesses offering fried chicken and related menu items. Franchisees serve customers through branded locations.
Headline figures
Chester Fried quick facts
- Is Chester Fried a franchise?
- Yes. Chester Fried offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 994 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 39).
- How much does it cost to open a Chester Fried franchise?
- The Chester Fried Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $27,500–$301,500 for total estimated initial investment — low (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17); $301,500 for total estimated initial investment — high (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- Does Chester Fried disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Chester Fried FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Chester Fried locations are there?
- The FDD reports 994 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 39). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Chester Fried a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 makes no financial performance representation, so ask current owners about results; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2025 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $27,500 – $301,500 (Total estimated initial investment — low); $301,500 (Total estimated initial investment — high); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets declined by 8 in 2024, to 994 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Chester Fried head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2025 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- lowPDF p. 17$27,500 – $301,500
- highPDF p. 17$301,500
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
22 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2025 FDD for Chester Fried has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31, 2024 of each year.
2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39
Net −87 outlets, 2022–2024
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2024 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2025 Item 7 estimate ($27,500 – $301,500) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Chester Fried reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units decreased from 1,002 to 994 in 2024. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2025 FDD)
- [1]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 39
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | decrease/increase in cash 2024 | -$360,706 |
| 2024 | cash at end 2024 | $2,154,968 |
| 2024 | franchises in operation 2024 | $992 |
| 2024 | total liabilities 2024 | $7,700,661 |
| 2024 | members' equity 2024 | $2,048,394 |
| 2024 | product sales 2024 | $27,865,394 |
| 2024 | franchise fees revenue 2024 | $246,000 |
| 2024 | total revenues 2024 | $40,358,110 |
| 2024 | operating income 2024 | $2,543,571 |
| 2024 | net income 2024 | -$69,699 |
| 2024 | net cash operating activities 2024 | $3,544,176 |
| 2024 | balance sheet cash 2024 | $2,154,968 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
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Payroll Vault Franchising, LLCHead-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Territory definition: existing business premises for in-store locations; leased site for non-traditional locations.
“If you operate a Restaurant-in-Store franchise, you will operate your Restaurant within your existing business premises. If you will operate a food court/strip mall franchise or other non-traditional franchise (such as at a sports arena or stadium), you will operate your Restaurant from a site you lease in a food court, strip mall, sports arena, or stadium.”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Other revenue 2023
“Other revenue 12,246,716 6,370,755”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 65.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Other revenue 2024
“Other revenue 12,246,716 6,370,755”
Note: The supplied quote could not be matched to a clear year-aligned row on cited PDF page 65.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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