| ||||
Updated RecentlyEl Pollo Loco Cost Comparisons
About El Pollo Loco
In 1975, Juan Ochoa opened a roadside chicken stand in Guasace, Mexico, he called El Pollo Loco. Ochoa served chicken the same way his mother did, hand-marinating using an old family recipe and flame-broiling. The stand quickly grew in popularity, and over the next four years, Ochoa's family opened 85 restaurants in Northern Mexico. The chain moved into the United States in 1980 with the first restaurant opening on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, California. El Pollo Loco featured an authentic recipe of fresh chicken marinated in
special herbs, spices and citrus juices, and then fire-grilled to
perfection. The restaurant quickly became a local favorite. Over the years, El Pollo Loco has added tacos, burritos and salads to its menu, all featuring the Ochoa family's chicken. In 1995, the chain entered into a joint venture with Foster's Freeze to offer soft-serve treats at El Pollo Loco restaurants. Today, the tradition continues with signature dishes that satisfy
consumers’ desire for flavorful food that fits well with today's active
lifestyles. We're currently fire-grilling marinated chicken in about 400
company and franchise-owned El Pollo Loco restaurants.
Franchise fees apply to new and existing franchisees with
multi-unit development agreements in new markets through March 31, 2018.
The initial franchise fee has been cut to $30,000 for the first
restaurant and $20,000 for each additional restaurant. The standard
franchise fee is $40,000, and $30,000 for secondary units. The initial
franchise fee for any restaurant opened in the calendar year ahead of
the year in their development schedule will be cut by 50%. And any
restaurants opened beyond the multi-development agreement will be
eligible for a zero dollar initial franchise fee. Royalty fees have also
been reduced for the first time in three years: 2% for the first year,
3% in the second year, and 4% in the third year. The standard royalty
fee is 5%.
Chicken/Wings Franchise Opportunities
Below is a quick comparison of El Pollo Loco against other Chicken/Wings franchises and business opportunities. For an in depth comparison of El Pollo Loco with another opportunity including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options click on the name of the company to view the detailed comparison.
| Franchise | Franchise Fee | Royalty | Advertising Fee | Development Costs |
| AllStar Wings & Ribs | $45,000 | $772,500-$1,093,286 | ||
| Atomic Wings | $35,000-$160,500 | 5% | $170,400-$404,855 | |
| bb.q Chicken | $35,000 | $251,500-$809,875 | ||
| Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits | $25,000 | 4% | 1% | $1,519,600-$2,512,500 |
| Bonchon | $40,000 | 3.75%- 4.75% | $503,879-$1,099,004 | |
| Boneheads | $25,000 | 5% | 2% | $387,000-$668,000 |
| Brewster's Chicken | $8,500 | $850/mo. | $125/mo. | $99,000-$2,400,000 |
| Brown's Chicken & Pasta | $25,000 | $155,000-$2,699,000 | ||
| Buffalo Philly's | $18,000 | 4% | $215,200-$376,100 | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | $25,000 | 5% | 3.25% | $2,695,100-$4,244,300 |
| Buffalo Wings & Rings | $40,000 | 5% | 2%-4% | $1,280,000-$2,412,000 |
| Buffalo's Southwest Cafe | $50,000 | 6% | 2% | $491,500-$1,464,000 |
| Carl's Jr | $25,000-$35,000 | 4% | 6% | $1,603,000-$2,168,000 |
| Charo Chicken | $25,000 | $518,350-$632,600 | ||
| Chester's | $3,500 | $12,385-$277,313 | ||
| Chick 'n' Chick | $30,000-$50,000 | $450,000-$550,000 | ||
| Chick'nCone | $30,000 | $102,725-$255,200 | ||
| Chick-fil-A | $10,000 | $582,360-$2,025,400 | ||
| Chicken Delight | $20,000 | 5% | 4% | $428,900-$603,100 |
| Chicken Dijon | $25,000 | $172,000-$329,000 | ||
| Chicken Guy! | $20,000 | $509,000-$978,500 | ||
| Chicken Kitchen | $30,000 | 5% | 2%local+1%Nat'l | $300,000-$500,000 |
| Chickery (Canada), The | $30,000 | $235,500-$510,500 | ||
| Chickery, The | $30,000 | 6% | 2% | $250,000-$512,500 |
| CHOOKS | $52,500 | 4% | 4% + 1% local | $300,615 |
| Church's Chicken | $15,000 | 5% | 5% | $348,300-$1,826,300 |
| Cluck-u Chicken | $25,000 | $125,000-$225,000 | ||
| Commercial Capital Training Group | N/A | 4% local | $25,000-$100,000 | |
| Cowboy Chicken | $15,000 | $511,996-$844,907 | ||
| Culver | $55,000 | 4% | 2.5% | $2,349,000-$5,356,000 |
| Dave's Hot Chicken | N/A | $419,800-$2,386,500 | ||
| Dick's Wings | $35,000 | $229,500-$772,500 | ||
| Dixie Lee | $30,000 | 6% | $160,000-$369,000 | |
| East Coast Wings | $40,000 | 5% | 2% | $661,375-$1,098,570 |
| Ezell's Chicken | $20,000 | 5% | $400,000-$600,000 | |
| Flame Broiler Restaurant, The | $35,000 | 5% | 3% | $380,116-$609,763 |
| Flamer's Grill | $30,000 | 5% | 2% | $171,500-$345,500 |
| Fried Chicken Master | $220,000 | $399,000-$513,000 | ||
| Golden Chick | $30,000 | 4% | 1% | $440,950-$1,348,500 |
| Ground Pat'i Grille & Bar, The | $22,000-$35,000 | 4% | $359,800-$1,600,000 | |
| Gus's Fried Chicken | $75,000 | $409,300-$1,037,300 | ||
| Hartz Chicken | $20,000 | $288,000-$993,600 | ||
| Houston Restaurants | $50,000 | $1,350,000 | ||
| Hurricane Grill & Wings | $50,000 | 6% | 4% | $491,500-$1,464,000 |
| KFC US LLC | $45,000 | 4-5% | 5% | $1,008,550-$2,771,500 |
| Mary Brown's | $25,000 | 5% | 4% | $500,000-$600,000 |
| MD Plucker's Wing Factory | $18,000 | $70,000-$225,000 | ||
| Mo-joe's | $20,000-$25,000 | $125,000-$350,000 | ||
| Naked Chicken | $25,000 | 5% | 2% | $233,500-$624,000 |
| Nando's Chickenland (West) Ltd | $35,000 | 6% | 3% | $550,000-$650,000 |
| Native Grill & Wings | $35,000 | 6% | 1% | $989,500-$2,612,000 |
| Otter's Chicken Tenders | $30,000 | 5% | $291,500-$429,000 | |
| Pappas Roasters | $25,000 | $230,000-$295,000 | ||
| Pluckers Wing Bar | $18,000 | $70,000-$225,000 | ||
| Pollo Campero | $40,000 | 5% | 5% | $887,250-$2,126,500 |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen | $50,000 | 5% | 4% | $383,500-$2,620,800 |
| Port of Peri Peri, The | N/A | $121,400-$461,000 | ||
| Pudgie's Famous Chicken | $30,000 | 5% | $197,000-$379,000 | |
| Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers | $0-$45,000 | $768,100-$1,937,500 | ||
| Ranch One | $30,000 | 6% | 4% | $170,400-$461,000 |
| Red Rooster | $50,000 | $370,000-$900,000 | ||
| Rex's Chicken | $25,000 | 6% | $196,000-$593,000 | |
| Scores Restaurants | $45,000 | 6% | 2% | $537,000-$737,000 |
| Slim Chickens | $15,000 | 5% | 1.5% | $841,900-$1,739,000 |
| Sonoma Chicken Coop | N/A | $709,000-$1,919,000 | ||
| St. Louis Bar and Grill | $45,000 | 6% | 1% | $200,000-$850,000 |
| Steaks To Go | $24,500 | $250/wk. or 3% | $110,000-$150,000 | |
| Wild Wing Cafe | $50,000 | 4% | 3.5% | $1,054,242-$2,238,925 |
| Wild Wings n Things | N/A | $85,000-$125,000 | ||
| Williams Fried Chicken | $12,000-$25,000 | $290,000-And Up | ||
| Wing Machine | $20,000 | $102,000-$204,000 | ||
| Wing Nutz | $30,000 | $195,000-$380,000 | ||
| Wing Zone | $30,000-$40,000 | 5% | 2% | $342,800-$566,000 |
| WingHouse | $50,000-$135,000 | $928,000-$1,926,000 | ||
| WINGMAN WINGS | $25,000-$83,750 | 4% | 1% | $250,000 |
| Wings Etc. | $39,500 | 5% | 1% | $351,200-$1,669,369 |
| Wings Over... | $20,000 | 4% | $207,875-$493,875 | |
| Wingstop | $30,000 | 6% | 4% | $376,300-$724,200 |
| WingsUp! | $35,000 | $220,000-$280,000 | ||
| WOW Cafe & Wingery | $15,000-$35,000 | 3%-8% | t0 2% | $234,400-$757,000 |
| Yaya's Flame Broiled Chicken | $15,000 | 4% | 3% | $338,000-$460,000 |