Chick-fil-A vs Cookout Franchise Cost 2026
Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. The gap at midpoint: $436K.
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$436K
Cookout costs less
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Chick-fil-A | Cookout | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $342K–$2.2M | $500K–$1.2M | Cookout |
| Franchise Fee | $10,000 | $0 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $0 | $500K | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $10K | $250K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.3 yr | 2.8 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
Bottom Line
Cookout costs $436K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.