1851

The chicken segment has become an increasingly popular choice for fast-food consumers in recent years, thanks in large part to low prices and near-ubiquitous consumer appeal. And franchise brands have dominated the chicken market. In fact, the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/920225/number-of-units-of-selected-leading-chicken-restaurant-chains-in-the-us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">top eight chicken restaurant chains</a> are nearly all franchises.&nbsp;If you are looking to get a piece of the action, here are five of our favorite chicken franchises for 2022.<h4><a href="https://buffalowildwingsfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buffalo Wild Wings</a></h4><ul><li>Startup costs: $2.5M–$4.6M</li><li>Unit count: 560&nbsp;</li></ul>Buffalo Wild Wings, which bills itself as the “Great American Sports Bar,” is one of the largest sports bar brands in the U.S., according to the Technomic Top 500. The concept launched in 1982 as Buffalo Wild Wings &amp; Weck, and it introduced wings with 21 seasonings and sauces to choose from while providing the perfect seat for sports fans in a neighborhood atmosphere. The concept has since seen tremendous growth, including steady new-unit growth for 16 consecutive years.<h4><a href="https://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wings and Rings*</a></h4><ul><li>Startup costs: $1,280,000–$2,412,000&nbsp;</li><li>Unit count: 85+</li></ul><a href="https://1851franchise.com/buffalowingsandrings/info">Wings and Rings</a> began in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1984 as a club-level sports restaurant and bar. With its chef-inspired recipes, wings and sandwiches, it’s become a go-to spot to connect with friends and family. With more than 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is aiming to change the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans.<h4><a href="https://www.churchs.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Church’s Chicken</a></h4><ul><li>Startup costs: $676,500–$1,603,300&nbsp;</li><li>Unit count: 1,625</li></ul>For almost 70 years, Church’s Chicken has been known for serving big portions and bold flavors. Since its first location in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas, Church’s has been known for its “down-home” recipes that give their customers a taste of the south.<h4><a href="https://www.layneschickenfingers.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Layne&#x2019;s Chicken Fingers*</a></h4><ul><li>Startup costs: $769,000–$1,320,000</li><li>Unit count: 8</li></ul><a href="https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers">Layne’s Chicken Fingers</a> opened its first location in 1994 in College Station, Texas, near Texas A&amp;M University. The chicken franchise quickly became known for its friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. Now, the company is planning to bring Layne’s Soon to be Famous™ Chicken Fingers to the rest of the world by partnering with franchisees to open 100 new locations by the end of 2022.<h4><a href="https://camperofranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-chicken-franchises-we-love-2717867" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pollo Compero</a></h4><ul><li>Startup costs: $750,000–$1,350,000</li><li>Unit count: 350</li></ul>Pollo Compero first opened in Guatemala in 1971 and quickly became a beloved Central American brand. Now, with more than 350 locations globally, the chicken franchise has been increasing its development efforts across the U.S. There are currently 77 locations across the country that have won the hearts of millions of Americans.

5 Chicken Franchises We Love

1851 Franchise

Our picks for some of the top concepts in a hot a segment.

5-chicken-franchises-we-love

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Express Employment Professionals

Betting on Himself: How Chris Brown Built an Express Employment Professionals Franchise From the Ground Up

betting-on-himself-how-chris-brown-built-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-from-the-ground-up

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers® Named One of America’s Best Home-Care Providers

comfort-keepers-named-one-of-americas-best-home-care-providers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Design with image of employee holding card reader and customer paying

How Smart Retail Franchises Are Winning Against Online Competition

retail-franchise-opportunities

How Network In Action Is Redefining the Franchise Model With Community, Connection and Fast ROI

network-in-action-franchise-scott-talley-interview

Club Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-club-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

5 Chicken Franchises We Love

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS