
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 1973 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Atlanta, GA United States Source: franchise.org
POPEYES LOUISIANA KITCHEN franchise specializes in Louisiana-style fried chicken and seafood, distinguished by its bold Cajun and Creole flavors that have made
Headline figures
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen quick facts
- Is Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen a franchise?
- Yes. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 3,079 franchised and 98 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 104).
- How much does it cost to open a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise?
- The Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,222,045–$3,923,245 for freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40); $504,545–$1,968,245 for in-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40); $1,968,245 for in-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40); $3,923,245 for freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 40); $1,222,045–$1,968,245 for total estimated initial investment free standing: 1222045 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 39). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $50,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 25). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 5% · high (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 90). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations are there?
- The FDD reports 3,177 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 104). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 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: $1,222,045 – $3,923,245 (Freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low)); $504,545 – $1,968,245 (In-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low)); $1,968,245 (In-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high)); $3,923,245 (Freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high)); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 65 separate groups: other measures for 881 Company-owned and franchised locations; revenue for 90 Company-owned locations; revenue for 2,248 Franchised locations; revenue and other measures for 2 Company-owned locations; revenue and other measures for 498 Company-owned and franchised locations; revenue and costs and other measures and EBITDA for 637 Franchised locations; revenue for 2,338 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 33 Company-owned locations; other measures for 34 Company-owned locations; other measures for 728 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 729 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 156 Franchised locations; other measures and revenue for 496 Franchised locations; other measures for 90 Mixed or corresponding ownership locations; other measures for 706 Franchised locations; other measures for 2,248 Mixed or corresponding ownership locations; other measures for 695 Franchised locations; other measures for 1 Company-owned locations; other measures for 143 Franchised locations; other measures for 847 Franchised locations; other measures for 23 Company-owned locations; other measures for 157 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 143 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 22 Franchised locations; revenue and costs and other measures and EBITDA for 382 Franchised locations; other measures for 197 Franchised locations; other measures for 31 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 624 Franchised locations; costs and revenue and EBITDA and other measures for 382 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 637 Franchised locations; other measures for 134 Franchised locations; revenue and costs and other measures and EBITDA for 364 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 364 Franchised locations; revenue and EBITDA and costs and other measures for 624 Franchised locations; other measures and revenue for 187 Franchised locations; costs and other measures and revenue and EBITDA for 70 Franchised locations; EBITDA and other measures and revenue and costs for 133 Franchised locations; other measures and EBITDA and revenue and costs for 56 Franchised locations; costs and other measures and revenue and EBITDA for 169 Franchised locations; EBITDA and revenue and costs and other measures for 133 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 397 Franchised locations; EBITDA and costs and revenue and other measures for 169 Franchised locations; revenue and costs and EBITDA and other measures for 56 Franchised locations; EBITDA and other measures and costs and revenue for 827 Franchised locations; costs and revenue and EBITDA and other measures for 827 Franchised locations; EBITDA and costs and other measures and revenue for 190 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 70 Franchised locations; EBITDA and costs and revenue and other measures for 419 Franchised locations; revenue and EBITDA and other measures and costs for 397 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 51 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 154 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 419 Franchised locations; costs and revenue and EBITDA and other measures for 154 Franchised locations; costs and revenue and EBITDA and other measures for 51 Franchised locations; revenue and EBITDA and costs and other measures for 190 Franchised locations; other measures for 2,338 Mixed or corresponding ownership locations; other measures for 198 Company-owned and franchised locations; other measures for 187 Franchised locations; other measures for 22 Franchised locations; other measures for 31 Franchised locations; other measures and costs and EBITDA and revenue for 364 Franchised locations; costs and EBITDA and revenue and other measures for 364 Franchised locations; EBITDA and other measures and costs and revenue for 33 Franchised locations; costs and revenue and other measures and EBITDA for 33 Franchised locations; other measures for 134 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 101 in 2024, to 3,177 (System-wide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 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 4 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (4)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- In-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low)PDF p. 40$504,545 – $1,968,245
- Freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (low)PDF p. 40$1,222,045 – $3,923,245
- In-line total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high)PDF p. 40$1,968,245
- Freestanding total estimated initial investment excluding real estate (high)PDF p. 40$3,923,245
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 25
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty feeMain ongoing fee
44 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?
65 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
881 locations
Other measures · 881 locations
- Who is counted
- Free-standing consolidated
- Period
- consolidated
- Method
- Met/exceeded range average
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
System-wide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of Year 2024 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 104
Net +231 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 2026 Item 7 estimate ($504,545 – $3,923,245) 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 3,076 to 3,177 in 2024. 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]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 25
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing consolidated · PDF p. 90
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing restaurants — company-owned · PDF p. 90
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing restaurants — franchised · PDF p. 90
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line company-owned · PDF p. 92
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line consolidated · PDF p. 92
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; sales range < $1.5M · PDF p. 96
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing restaurants — consolidated · PDF p. 90
- [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing company-owned · PDF p. 90
- [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing company-owned · PDF p. 90
- [11]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing consolidated · PDF p. 90
- [12]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing consolidated · PDF p. 91; PDF p. 90
- [13]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised · PDF p. 92
- [14]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised · PDF p. 92
- [15]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing company-owned restaurants continuously operated for the 12 months… · PDF p. 90
- [16]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised · PDF p. 90; PDF p. 91
- [17]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants continuously operated for the 12 months en… · PDF p. 90
- [18]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised · PDF p. 90
- [19]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line company-owned · PDF p. 92; PDF p. 93
- [20]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised · PDF p. 92
- [21]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised · PDF p. 90
- [22]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing company-owned · PDF p. 91; PDF p. 90
- [23]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line consolidated · PDF p. 92
- [24]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line consolidated · PDF p. 92
- [25]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised food-court restaurants · PDF p. 94
- [26]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; sales range $2.0M - $2.5M · PDF p. 96
- [27]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised · PDF p. 92; PDF p. 93
- [28]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised food-court restaurants · PDF p. 94
- [29]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; sales range $1.5M - $2.0M · PDF p. 96
- [30]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; sales range $2.0M - $2.5M · PDF p. 96
- [31]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; sales range < $1.5M · PDF p. 96
- [32]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised food-court restaurants · PDF p. 95; PDF p. 94
- [33]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; sales range >$2.5M · PDF p. 96
- [34]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; sales range >$2.5M · PDF p. 96
- [35]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; sales range $1.5M - $2.0M · PDF p. 96
- [36]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised food-court restaurants · PDF p. 94
- [37]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; sales range $2.0M - $2.5M · PDF p. 97
- [38]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; sales range $1.5M - $2.0M · PDF p. 97
- [39]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; sales range >$2.5M · PDF p. 97
- [40]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; sales range < $1.5M · PDF p. 97
- [41]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; sales range $1.5M - $2.0M · PDF p. 97
- [42]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 4 · PDF p. 99
- [43]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; sales range < $1.5M · PDF p. 97
- [44]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; sales range >$2.5M · PDF p. 97
- [45]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 2 · PDF p. 99
- [46]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 2 · PDF p. 99
- [47]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 2 · PDF p. 100
- [48]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; sales range $2.0M - $2.5M · PDF p. 97
- [49]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 1 · PDF p. 99
- [50]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 4 · PDF p. 99
- [51]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 3 · PDF p. 100
- [52]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 1 · PDF p. 100
- [53]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 1 · PDF p. 99
- [54]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 1 · PDF p. 100
- [55]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 3 · PDF p. 100
- [56]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 2 · PDF p. 100
- [57]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Consolidated Restaurants · PDF p. 90
- [58]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line consolidated · PDF p. 92; PDF p. 93
- [59]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Food-court overall sales range · PDF p. 94
- [60]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Food-court upper sales range · PDF p. 94
- [61]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Food-court middle sales range · PDF p. 94
- [62]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 3 · PDF p. 99
- [63]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Free-standing franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 3 · PDF p. 99
- [64]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Median; Tier 4 · PDF p. 100
- [65]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — In-line franchised restaurants; Average; Tier 4 · PDF p. 100
- [66]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Food-court lower sales range · PDF p. 94
- [67]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 104
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
161 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | rbi consolidated balance sheet cash and cash equivalents 2024 | $1,334 |
| 2024 | rbi consolidated balance sheet accounts and notes receivable 2024 | $698 |
| 2024 | total equity 4,843 4,730 | $4,843 |
| 2024 | total liabilities and equity $ | $24,632 |
| 2024 | prepaids and other current assets | $108 |
| 2024 | total current assets 2,282 2,173 | $2,282 |
| 2024 | rbi consolidated balance sheet property and equipment, net 2024 | $2,236 |
| 2024 | rbi consolidated balance sheet operating lease assets, net 2024 | $1,852 |
| 2024 | total assets $ 24,632 $ | $24,632 |
| 2024 | accounts and drafts payable $ | $765 |
| 2024 | total current liabilities 2,364 2,144 | $2,364 |
| 2024 | long-term debt, net of current | $13,455 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
What changed from 2025 to 2026
- Franchise fee: $2 → $25,000
- System size: 3,076 → 3,177 units
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
Loading…
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
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 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: In-line opening supplies (low) (high)
“Opening supplies $13,000-$26,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: In-line opening supplies (high) (low)
“Opening supplies $13,000-$26,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: In-line opening supplies (high) (high)
“Opening supplies $13,000-$26,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Freestanding opening supplies (high) (low)
“Opening supplies $13,000-$26,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: In-line additional funds for 3 months (low) (low)
“Additional funds 3mo $20,000-$30,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 7 · PDF p. 40 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Freestanding opening supplies (high) (high)
“Opening supplies $13,000-$26,000”
Note: Could not confirm the quoted text on cited PDF page 40; leaving unresolved.
Item 20 · PDF p. 104 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Company-Owned 2024: 41 → 98
“Company-Owned 2024 41 98”
Note: The cited page does not establish the Table 1 systemwide start/end row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 104 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Franchised 2024: 3035 → 3079
“Franchised 2024 3,035 3,079”
Note: The cited page does not establish the Table 1 systemwide start/end row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 104 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Franchised 2023: 2905 → 3035
“Franchised 2023 2,905 3,035”
Note: The cited page does not establish the Table 1 systemwide start/end row.
Item 20 · PDF p. 104 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Company-Owned 2023: 41 → 41
“Company-Owned 2023 41 41”
Note: The cited page does not establish the Table 1 systemwide start/end row.
Item 21 · PDF p. 564 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Total Partners' capital 4,841 4,728 (2023)
“Total Partners' capital 4,841 4,728”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 21 · PDF p. 564 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Total Partners' capital 4,841 4,728 (2024)
“Total Partners' capital 4,841 4,728”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.




