Chester's vs Slim Chickens Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Chester's vs Slim Chickens including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Chester's Franchise
Slim Chickens Franchise
Investment $12,385 - $277,313$841,900 - $1,739,000
Franchise Fee $3,500$15,000
Royalty Fee -5%
Advertising Fee -1.5%
Year Founded 19522003
Year Franchised 20042011
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Chester's Franchise
Slim Chickens Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Chester's Franchise
    Slim Chickens Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Chester's Franchise
    Slim Chickens Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 30 hours Classroom Training: 3 hours Ongoing training as required -
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform-
    Marketing Ad Templates Social media-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Chester's Franchise
    Slim Chickens Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Chester's

    Chester’s serves Great Tasting Fresh Fried Chicken that’s cooked to perfection, with a unique taste and style. Our secret is a family recipe and process that’s been successful for over 40 years. Chester’s brings you delicious fried chicken, tempting tenders, sandwiches, wraps, salads, breakfast items and more. And that’s not all we’re known for! Our chicken is complimented by our signature Potato Wedges, Chester’s Original Sauce and delicious biscuits and sides. We offer a great deal of flexibility in the placement of Chester’s including restaurant-in-store (convenience stores, truck stops, supermarkets), co-branded with other national brands, malls and food-courts, and in-line shopping center locations. And there is variety in our menu formats, including take-out only, take-out and dine-in. We can tailor the restaurant to meet your needs and to properly position Chester’s in your market.

    "Entrepreneur

    #180 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #112 in Franchise 500 for 2021.


    About Slim Chickens

    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.