Zaxby's franchise
Zaxby's is a chicken chain serving hand-breaded chicken fingers, wings and salads with signature sauces. Restaurants offer dine-in, drive-thru, carryout and delivery and are concentrated in the Southeast. At the end of 2024 there were 969 Zaxby's locations in the US, 826 franchised and 143 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $1.45M–$3.81M
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2024
- 969+61 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Time to open
- 12 to 24 months after signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC’s 2025 filing.
How much a Zaxby's franchise costs
Opening one franchised Zaxby's restaurant costs an estimated $1,445,000 to $3,810,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 24
Zaxby's franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000, per restaurant. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid weekly (2% in the first year and 4% in the second under the new restaurant opening incentive). |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 1.5% of gross sales to the national marketing fund (up to 3.5%), plus up to 4% for local marketing. |
Source: Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 17
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Zaxby's publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2024 results for the 826 franchised restaurants. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 59
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 776 (+11) | 146 | 6 |
| 2023 | 796 (+20) | 145 | 6 |
| 2024 | 826 (+30) | 143 | 7 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 63
How Zaxby's compares
Of the 11 chicken franchises on this site, Zaxby's is the 6th cheapest to open and the 5th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Zaxby's | Typical chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $1.45M | $1.45M |
| Royalty | 6% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +8% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in chicken franchises.
Other chicken franchises
Zaxby's franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Zaxby's?
12 to 24 months after signing, according to Zaxby's's 2025 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Zaxby's help with financing?
No. Zaxby's does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Zaxby's franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Zaxby's assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Zaxby's 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 Zaxby's growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 80 franchised locations opened and 19 closed or left, a net change of +8%. About 0.8% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 1.9% typical for chicken franchises.
How does Zaxby's compare with other chicken franchises?
Of the 11 chicken franchises here, Zaxby's is the 6th cheapest to open (low end $1.45M against a $1.45M median) and the 5th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 5% median.
Does Zaxby's say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2024 results for the 826 franchised restaurants. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Zaxby's based?
Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC is based in Atlanta, Georgia.