The best advice I can give someone pursuing a Chick-fil-A franchise is to do their due diligence in the process. Take the time to visit Chick-fil-A's and observe the operations from an Owner's perspective. Try to contact your local Operator and see if they will be willing to spend some time sharing their story or better yet try getting a job at a Chick-fil-A to see if the day-to-day operations is something that would excite you. It is a long selection process and the Operator opportunity is often a lot more difficult than it may seem on the outside. The more information you can learn first-hand, the better it will serve you as you decide whether this may be the right opportunity for you.

Chick-fil-A Operators come from all different backgrounds. Many have grown up or worked in a Chick-fil-A restaurant, although, that is not necessarily a requirement. For those who have spent time working in a Chick-fil-A restaurant, many have gone through the Leadership Development Program which is a 24-36 month program where individuals travel across the country supporting Chick-fil-A Grand Openings and Corporate Owned Restaurants to help fine tune their leadership, business, and entrepreneurial skills. There are some candidates who get selected straight out of a Chick-fil-A restaurant and there are also several candidates who are selected who bring substantial experience from different industries. For those who have never worked in a Chick-fil-A, they often find it beneficial to spend some time working in a Chick-fil-A if possible, to get a better understanding of the day-to-day expectations.

The Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a great place for candidates with Chick-fil-A experience to grow and find tune their skillset. I often use the comparison of becoming an Operator like playing in the NBA. Restaurant Team Leaders are like basketball players in high school. There can be a lot of talent and potential, but often times it needs to be developed to move into an ownership mentality. Just like the NBA, there are some high school players (or Chick-fil-A Team Members) who can make the jump straight into the NBA (or becoming a Chick-fil-A franchisee), but it usually takes someone with a special talent and an extremely strong understanding of business. Most high school players will go on to play college ball where they can develop their skills to prepare for the NBA. Similarly, the LDP program provides that type of training. Of course, there is no guarantee that getting into the LDP will make you an Operator, however, it just gives Chick-fil-A Leaders the most direct exposure to growth and development for the Operator opportunity.

It is usually expected that an Operator candidate either have a college degree or equivalent work experience to become competitive for an Operator opportunity. Having a college degree shows commitment and perseverance to finish through a degree program and all the challenges of college life. That being said, college is also not for everyone and if someone has built up a significant amount of work experience without college that demonstrates that same commitment and perseverance, then that can also be articulated through the interview process.

Chick-fil-A does not require a specific net worth to become competitive for a Chick-fil-A franchise. However, Operators are tasked with being good stewards of their Chick-fil-A franchises and that is often demonstrated in how they have handled their finances prior to becoming an Operator. Though there is not a required net worth, candidates should usually have over 6 months of liquid savings and minimum debt as they prepare for this opportunity. If a candidate is selected as a franchisee, there is an initial franchise fee of $10,000 that a potential franchisee will pay upon entering their Operator training which is usually about 6 months prior to their grand opening or transition into an existing restaurant. At that point, Chick-fil-A can be the only sole source of income for an Operator so an Operator and their family must have enough savings to live for 6 or more months until they begin actual operations of their business. Additionally, the first few months of a business can be more difficult from a profitability standpoint as there are many expenses including training, uniforms, marketing, and other business startup costs that will be incurred.

Chick-fil-A franchisees earn income directly from the profits of their business. Each month, Operators will take their total revenue and subtract all normal business expenses including costs such as food, labor, utilities, rent, and marketing amongst other expenses. Operators will also pay 15% of their total gross revenue to Chick-fil-A as part of their monthly franchise fees. Once all expenses have been accounted for franchisees then pay an additional 50% of net profits to Chick-fil-A while keeping 50% of net profits as their own income. The income potential of an Operator depends on many factors including their ability to grow sales and manage costs of the business.

What makes Chick-fil-A locations so successful is usually the partnership of a meaningful brand with local ownership. Operators who are bought into their team, their business, and community often thrive and acclimate into their businesses better than those who are disconnected. This often starts with an Operator's connection to the town or area their Chick-fil-A restaurant is located. Therefore, it is important for candidates to identify areas that they have connections whether it is family, friends, or a meaningful connection to an area. Just enjoying the beach and warm weather is not a strong enough reason to open a Chick-fil-A in Florida or liking the outdoors is not compelling enough to be competitive for an opportunity in Colorado. Likewise, wanting to be a journeyman for Chick-fil-A to a new area does not put you at the front of the list to open a Chick-fil-A in Hawaii. Understanding your deeper connections to geographical areas will better help you build situational circumstances for your candidacy.

There have definitely been Operators who have been selected in their mid 20's to open a Chick-fil-A franchise, however, the average candidate usually brings a significant amount of work experience before becoming competitive to become a Chick-fil-A Operator. Chick-fil-A Operators are expected to have experience leading large teams including having hiring, firing, and people strategy experience. They are also expected to have experience managing P&L's, creating business systems and processes, and having a strong foundation of business acumen and experience. Having a proven track record of results, growth, and development takes time which is why many competitive Operator candidates are sometimes further in their careers.