Chili's franchise
Chili's is a casual dining grill and bar serving fajitas, burgers, ribs and margaritas with table service. Franchisees typically develop several restaurants in a region. At the end of 2025 there were 1,208 Chili's locations in the US, 99 franchised and 1,109 company-owned, so most are run by the company itself.
- Cost to open
- $3.96M–$6.35M
- Franchise fee
- $60,000
- Royalty
- 1.25% + 2.75%
- Locations, 2025
- 1,208−2 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1984
- First location
- 1975
- Franchisor based in
- Dallas, Texas
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Brinker International Payroll Company, LP’s 2025 filing.
How much a Chili's franchise costs
Opening a prototypical Chili's Grill & Bar, excluding the site and liquor licence costs an estimated $3,959,695 to $6,354,695. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| Chili's special venue | $2,261,195 to $5,088,695 |
|---|
Source: Brinker International Payroll Company, LP, 2025 filing, page 25
Chili's franchise fee
The franchise fee is $60,000, for a single restaurant ($40,000 under a development agreement). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Brinker International Payroll Company, LP, 2025 filing, page 16
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | A 1.25% royalty plus a 2.75% technical services fee, both on gross sales and paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 0.5% of gross sales |
Source: Brinker International Payroll Company, LP, 2025 filing, page 17
Sales and earnings
No figures Chili's does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Brinker International Payroll Company, LP, 2025 filing, page 64
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 101 (0) | 1,130 | 2 |
| 2024 | 97 (−4) | 1,117 | 4 |
| 2025 | 99 (+2) | 1,109 | 1 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Brinker International Payroll Company, LP, 2025 filing, page 65
How Chili's compares
Of the 59 restaurant franchises on this site, Chili's is the 58th cheapest to open and the 25th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Chili's | Typical restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $3.96M | $846K |
| Closed or left per year | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −2% | +5.3% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 49 of 59 |
Typical is the median across the 59 brands in restaurant franchises.
Other restaurant franchises
Chili's franchise questions
Does Chili's help with financing?
No. Chili's does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Chili's franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Chili's grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Chili's can open nearby.
Is Chili's growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 5 franchised locations opened and 7 closed or left, a net change of −2%. About 2.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 2.3% typical for restaurant franchises.
How does Chili's compare with other restaurant franchises?
Of the 59 restaurant franchises here, Chili's is the 58th cheapest to open (low end $3.96M against a $846K median) and the 25th largest by number of locations.
Does Chili's say how much franchisees make?
No, Chili's doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 49 of the 59 restaurant brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Chili's based?
Brinker International Payroll Company, LP is based in Dallas, Texas and the brand has sold franchises since 1984; the first location opened in 1975.