Lees Famous Recipe
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Lees Famous Recipe franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Lee's Famous Recipe® franchise specializes in Southern-style fried chicken and comfort food, building on decades of tradition with its signature recipes and fam
Headline figures
Lees Famous Recipe quick facts
- Is Lees Famous Recipe a franchise?
- Yes. Lees Famous Recipe offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 92 franchised and 35 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71).
- How much does it cost to open a Lees Famous Recipe franchise?
- The Lees Famous Recipe Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,340,600–$1,447,400 for newtotalinvestment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 23); $640,600–$1,447,400 for existingtotalinvestment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 23). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Lees Famous Recipe charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 19). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 1% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 19). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Lees Famous Recipe disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Lees Famous Recipe FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 62). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Lees Famous Recipe locations are there?
- The FDD reports 127 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Lees Famous Recipe a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; 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 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,340,600 – $1,447,400 (Newtotalinvestment); $640,600 – $1,447,400 (Existingtotalinvestment); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 9 separate groups: other measures for 30 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 30 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 30 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations; other measures for 10 Affiliate-owned franchise-adjusted locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 1 in 2025, to 127 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Lees Famous Recipe 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
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- ExistingtotalinvestmentPDF p. 23$640,600 – $1,447,400
- NewtotalinvestmentPDF p. 23$1,340,600 – $1,447,400
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- RoyaltyMain ongoing fee
65 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?
9 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
30 locations
Other measures · 30 locations
- Who is counted
- Affiliate-owned Lee’s Famous Recipe locations open and operated in 2025; Part I
- Period
- Gross Sales median
- Excluded
- Of 35 affiliate-owned locations, 5 were excluded: 2 non-traditional locations and 3 remodeled locations with operational disruption or temporary closure. The data also excludes 3 franchised locations operating in Canada.
- Method
- Affiliateactual adjusted franchiseCOGSmarkup Shift4bankcosts insurance payrollprocessing royalty5%marketing3%localad. Grosssalesincluncollectedinsuranceproceeds;excludessalestax. Laborincludesstorebenefitstaxes notowner/supervisorypay. Occupancyremovesrent. EBITDARexcludesrentinteresttaxdepreciationamortizationdebtserviceabove-storeG&A; notnetprofit.
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025-12-31 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71
Net +4 outlets, 2023–2025
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 2025 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 2026 Item 7 estimate ($640,600 – $1,447,400) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units went from 126 to 127 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
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?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
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 (2026 FDD)
- [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Affiliate-owned Lee’s Famous Recipe locations open and operated in 2025; Part I · PDF p. 62
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All30 affiliate locations groupedbygrosssales · PDF p. 62
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All30affiliate locations; sourceaverageattainmentlabel notexplicitmetric, narra… · PDF p. 62
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Topthird10 affiliate locations groupedbygrosssales · PDF p. 63
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Topthird10affiliate locations; sourceaverageattainmentlabel notexplicitmetric,… · PDF p. 63
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Middlethird10 affiliate locations groupedbygrosssales · PDF p. 64
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Middlethird10affiliate locations; sourceaverageattainmentlabel notexplicitmetri… · PDF p. 64
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottomthird10 affiliate locations groupedbygrosssales · PDF p. 65
- [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottomthird10affiliate locations; sourceaverageattainmentlabel notexplicitmetri… · PDF p. 65
- [10]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 71
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | payment of contingent consideration liability | -$275,040 |
| 2025 | royalties receivable | $135,585 |
| 2025 | due from related partyMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $3,497 |
| 2025 | other receivablesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $49,217 |
| 2025 | inventoryMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $919,893 |
| 2025 | prepaid expensesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $278,811 |
| 2025 | property and equipment, net | $22,196,382 |
| 2025 | conversion incentive, net | $556,146 |
| 2025 | right of use assets, operating | $12,968,915 |
| 2025 | deferred tax asset | $288,000 |
| 2025 | goodwill, net | $23,546,381 |
| 2025 | other intangible assets, net | $17,000 |
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.
Head-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 20 · PDF p. 72 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 3 South Carolina 2025 — nonrenewals
“2025 1 0 0 0 0 0 1”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 72 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 3 South Carolina 2025 — terminations
“2025 1 0 0 0 0 0 1”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 72 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 3 South Carolina 2025 — reacquired
“2025 1 0 0 0 0 0 1”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 72 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 3 South Carolina 2025 — otherceased
“2025 1 0 0 0 0 0 1”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.