Become a Williams Chicken Franchise Owner
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What types of franchise offerings are available?
Williams Chicken® offers the opportunity to operate one (1) standard Williams Chicken® restaurant (“Standard Restaurant”) or one (1) Williams Chicken® restaurant operating inside a service station or convenience store (“C-Store”). You must have sufficient financial resources to develop and operate a Standard Restaurant or C-Store. Your operating principal must be able to demonstrate previous management responsibilities comparable to operating a quick service restaurant. You may qualify for additional franchise units after you have proven successful operation of the Standard Restaurant or C-Store.
How much are the initial franchise fees and royalty fees for a Williams Chicken® unit?
Currently, the initial franchise fee for a Standard Restaurant is $25,000.00 and $12,500.00 for a C-Store. The initial franchise fee amount is due in full when you sign our franchise agreement. Please note that in addition to initial franchise fee, you will have to pay other fees and costs to us (e.g. site review fees and grand opening promotion fees) before opening the unit. The current weekly royalty fees for a Standard Restaurant or C-Store is the greater of $500 or 3% of gross revenues of the franchise unit. Your royalty fees will be due every Wednesday.
How long is the term of the franchise agreement?
If you are in full compliance with the franchise agreement, the initial term of the franchise agreement is typically ten (10) years for both a Standard Restaurant and C-Store. If you comply with the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement (including the renewal requirements), you will receive one (1) additional ten-year renewal term.
What is the estimated initial investment requirements for opening and operating for the first three (3) months, how much of the total investment can be financed, and does Williams Chicken® offer any financial assistance?
Currently, the estimated initial investment for operating a single (a) Standard Restaurant ranges from $288,800 to $602,400 (excluding real estate purchase and construction costs) and (b) C-Store ranges from $77,300 to $227,900 (excluding real estate purchase and construction costs). Your initial investment may be materially higher than these estimates. You should have sufficient financial resources and be adequately capitalized in order to develop and operate a franchise unit. Accordingly, you should have a net worth of at least [$500,000] and non-borrowed liquid assets of at least [$300,000]. We will not offer any direct or indirect financing to you, but we may make available to your information about lenders that may offer financing directly to you, depending on your financial situation and their lending polices. We make no promises that you will receive financing from any lender or under any loan program.
What type of training do I receive?
Because of our commitment to you, Williams Chicken® has designed a thorough initial franchisee-training program. This program consists of both classroom training at our corporate training center and on-the-job training at one of our corporate owned restaurants. We also provide on-location opening assistance at the restaurant for five (5) days. The initial training for your operating principal, manager and assistants is included in your initial franchise fee. However, you are responsible for any expenses incurred for transportation, food, lodging and employee salaries, if applicable and additional training requirements.
What form of continuing operational guidance will receive for Williams Chicken®?
During your initial training you will receive one complete set of our confidential operations manuals, which will serve as your daily reference library for operating your business. In addition, periodic visits will be made to your store(s) by our experience field representatives who are available to consult with you and your staff regarding operational procedures, customer relations, purchasing, merchandising, inventory control, advertising and any other area in which you need assistance. We may also require that you attend additional training programs. And of course, our entire staff, from field representatives to the President of the company, is only a telephone call away.
Can I sell my Williams Chicken® franchise?
In general, the answer is yes provided that we approve the sale and you are in full compliance with the franchise agreement (including satisfying the transfer requirements set forth in the franchise agreement).
What are the estimated expenditures for furniture, fixtures, equipment (“FF&E”) and signage for the first three (3) months of operations?
The estimated FF&E for operating a single (a) Standard Restaurant ranges from $75,000 to $150,000 and (b) C-Store ranges from $2,000 to $20,000. The estimated signage for operating a single (a) Standard Restaurant ranges from $25,000 to $80,000 and (b) C-Store ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Your initial expenditures may be materially higher than these estimates. It is worth noting that our approved and designated suppliers (including suppliers of FF&E and signage) are selected in part based on their ability to offer competitive pricing, service and support for our corporate owned locations as well our franchisees.
What are the estimated leasehold improvements and typical size of a Standard Restaurant and C-Store?
Leasehold improvements will, of course, vary with each location. Based on our experience and data provided from our franchise partners, the estimated leasehold improvements for a single (a) Standard Restaurant ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 and (b) C-Store ranges from $10,000 to $40,000. These estimates do not include costs related to the purchase of land for or construction of the franchise unit. These leasehold improvements were based on a Standard Restaurant of approximately 1,100 to 2,000 square feet and C-Store of 800 to 1,000 square feet and assume conversion or finish-out costs of approximately $100 to 135 per square foot. Your leasehold improvement costs may be materially higher than these estimates. Additionally, your costs may differ depending on whether your landlord will absorb some or all of the leasehold improvement costs.
How do I obtain my inventory for operating my franchise unit?
To ensure the quality and uniformity of providing goods and services from the Williams Chicken® franchise system, we have established relationships with suppliers that satisfy the franchise system requirements of Williams Chicken®. You will order your inventory from our approved and designated suppliers. During your initial training program, you will be introduced to your supplier representatives and they will make arrangements for you to receive inventory.
What type of inventory controls, business and management aids does Williams Chicken® provide its franchisees?
As a Williams Chicken® franchisee, you will receive training, sales reporting forms and templates, our then-current confidential operation manuals, and other related operational tools to help with the to assist with your business operations. We may also provide you with a license to use our custom designed computer software.
How do I select a location?
The site for the franchise unit will by selected by you, subject to the approval of us. Once your site has been approved, you will have access to our site selection guidelines and such site selection counseling and assistance as we deemed advisable. Our guidelines for site selection require an evaluation of the demographics by you of the market area for the location, size and other physical attributes of the location, proximity to residential neighborhoods and proximity to shopping centers, entertainment facilities and other businesses that attract consumers and generate traffic. You understand that site selection is a difficult and risky proposition, and we will not give any representation, warranty, promise, projection regarding a location’s prospects for success or the contents of any lease.
Am I given any territorial protection?
Territorial protection depends on whether you will operate a Standard Restaurant or a C-Store. For a Standard Restaurant, you will not receive an exclusive territory, but we will not establish or allow others to operate Standard Restaurant in your assigned area. The size of your assigned area will be determined prior to the signing of the franchise agreement, and the size will vary depending on the population densities and other factors of the area. For a C-Store, you will not receive an exclusive territory, and you will also not receive an assigned area.
How soon can I begin operating once I have been pre-selected by Williams as a franchise prospect?
When you can begin operating depends on the following factors, among others: full-execution franchise agreement, payment of all initial fees, location selection and build-out, execution of the lease agreement between you and the landlord, and the time to successfully complete our training program. We estimate that the time from signing the Franchise Agreement to the commencement of operations will be approximately three (3) to six (6) months. This time may be shorter or longer depending on your specific situation.
I’m interested in learning more about a Williams Chicken® franchise, what is the next step?
Please contact the Franchise Development Department of Williams Chicken® at: (214) 371-1430