Dave's Hot Chicken franchise
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual chain serving Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders in spice levels from mild to extremely hot. Some locations can add beer and wine, and existing owners can run food trucks. At the end of 2025 there were 358 Dave's Hot Chicken locations in the US, 348 franchised and 10 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $824K–$4.12M
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 358+260 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Pasadena, California
- Time to open
- 11 to 12 months after signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Dave's Hot Chicken franchise costs
Opening a first traditional restaurant under a three-restaurant development agreement costs an estimated $823,800 to $4,121,900. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC, 2026 filing, page 36
Dave's Hot Chicken franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000, for a traditional or non-traditional restaurant ($20,000 for a food truck). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC, 2026 filing, page 23
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 4% of weekly gross sales to the creative fund (can rise to 5%; 1% at airports). |
Source: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC, 2026 filing, page 25
Sales and earnings
No figures Dave's Hot Chicken 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: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC, 2026 filing, page 80
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 157 (+69) | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 233 (+76) | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 348 (+115) | 10 | 2 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC, 2026 filing, page 81
How Dave's Hot Chicken compares
Of the 11 chicken franchises on this site, Dave's Hot Chicken is the 3rd cheapest to open and the 9th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Dave's Hot Chicken | Typical chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $824K | $1.45M |
| Royalty | 6% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 0.9% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +295.5% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in chicken franchises.
Other chicken franchises
Dave's Hot Chicken franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Dave's Hot Chicken?
11 to 12 months after signing, according to Dave's Hot Chicken's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Dave's Hot Chicken help with financing?
No. Dave's Hot Chicken does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Dave's Hot Chicken franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Dave's Hot Chicken growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 264 franchised locations opened and 4 closed or left, a net change of +295.5%. About 0.9% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 1.9% typical for chicken franchises.
How does Dave's Hot Chicken compare with other chicken franchises?
Of the 11 chicken franchises here, Dave's Hot Chicken is the 3rd cheapest to open (low end $824K against a $1.45M median) and the 9th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 5% median.
Does Dave's Hot Chicken say how much franchisees make?
No, Dave's Hot Chicken doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 9 of the 11 chicken brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Dave's Hot Chicken based?
Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co. SPV LLC is based in Pasadena, California.