Golden Chick vs Slim Chickens Franchise Comparison

Howard Walker opened the first Golden Fried Chicken location in San Marcos, Texas, in 1967. The restaurants, which served fried chicken, chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, biscuits and other favorites, quickly spread through Texas and Oklahoma. In 1996, the name was changed from Golden Fried Chicken to Golden Chick. The conversion included an image update and the addition of new menu items, such as Golden Roasted Chicken and a variety of new side items to go along with all the existing menu item favorites. Free-standing and co-branded units offer dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, catering and optional delivery service.

The Original & Still the Best.

#334 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

#302 in Franchise 500 for 2021.

Our roots run deep in the Delta where the food is honest, meals are social, and the door is always open. We started with a mission to bring a dose of that southern hospitality to a fast, casual setting - serving Fresh Delicious Chicken® to the communities we serve.

Our startup story is pretty simple. It all started with a craving for a quick, quality meal - fresh chicken cooked to order. The founders, Greg Smart and Tom Gordon, discovered there was a niche to fill and rallied where lots of great startups begin, from their garage! Tireless testing and a laser-focused vision launched the first

Slim Chickens restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2003. Now, tens of thousands of happy customers later, we know that there’s something special about our hand-breaded chicken tenders, fresh hot chicken sandwiches, made-to-order wings and our house-made dipping sauces that keep our loyal fans coming back…over and over again.

Our service model sets us apart from quick service restaurants. Whether you’re dining in, driving through, or carrying out, our people will greet you with a warm smile and a desire to please. When dining in, we bring your food to your table and provide you with that extra touch of hospitality. We strive to return that enthusiasm by giving back to the communities we serve - helping local non-profits with fundraisers, donating food to community events, and doing everything we can to improve the lives of people in the communities where we live and work.

The initial investment necessary to begin operation of a single Slim Chickens franchise ranges from $841,900 to $1,739,000. This includes $15,000 that must be paid to the franchisor as initial franchise fees. If you sign a Development Agreement to develop multiple Restaurants, you will have to pay the franchisor a territory fee equal to $15,000 multiplied by the total number of Restaurants to be developed. The franchisor does not have a minimum number of Restaurants you would need to develop to sign a Development Agreement.