Huey Magoo’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

Huey Magoo's is a fast-casual restaurant chain that focuses on high-quality chicken tender meals, offering a varied menu that includes sandwiches, salads and wraps along with specialty dipping sauces. Its establishments are designed to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere in a fun, counter-service setting suitable for all ages.

1. What Is the Brand Overview for Huey Magoo’s?

About the Brand

Huey Magoo’s was founded in Oviedo, Florida, in November 2004 by Matt Armstrong and James Hudgens. It was established to offer a fast-casual dining experience specializing in high-quality chicken tender meals.

Mission: Huey Magoo's mission is to serve delicious, handcrafted chicken tenders right in your neighborhood.

Vision: Huey Magoo’s vision is to provide customers of all ages with high-quality chicken tender meals in a fun, casual setting.

Unique Selling Points (USPs)

Specialized fast-casual menu
Distinctive product quality
Targeted brand atmosphere
Unique proprietary recipes
Flexible service options
Digital integration

2. What Are the Franchise Opportunity Details?

Why Franchise With Huey Magoo’s?

Proven business system
Comprehensive training
Opening support
Site selection and development
Ongoing operational guidance
Marketing and advertising support
Established supply chain
Technological infrastructure
Financial incentives
Veteran discounts

Available Territories

Huey Magoo’s is currently offering franchise opportunities across the U.S. in all states except for Alaska, California and Hawaii.

Investment Overview

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Huey Magoo’s franchise ranges from $1,111,600 to $2,893,500 for a drive-thru/pickup restaurant, while an inline restaurant is $841,600 to $1,786,000 and an express restaurant is $810,600 to $1,571,700. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:

Type of Expenditure	Drive-Thru/Pickup		Inline		Express
Type of Expenditure	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000	$35,000	$35,000	$35,000	$35,000	$35,000
Grand Opening Advertising Program	$15,000	$20,000	$15,000	$20,000	$15,000	$20,000
Prepaid Rent & Security Deposit	$18,000	$45,000	$10,000	$37,500	$0	$0
Architectural, Engineering & Consultant	$35,000	$85,000	$18,000	$48,000	$16,500	$45,000
Leasehold Improvements	$470,000	$1,600,000	$340,000	$800,000	$340,000	$850,000
Equipment, Millwork, Trade Dress, Graphics	$305,000	$625,000	$305,000	$540,000	$305,000	$425,000
Computer, POS & Other Technology	$28,000	$30,000	$18,000	$20,000	$15,000	$18,000
Low Voltage Package	$22,000	$46,000	$20,000	$42,000	$12,000	$22,000
Signage & Canopies	$68,000	$136,500	$4,100	$58,500	$4,100	$13,700
Utility Deposits	$1,000	$7,000	$1,000	$5,000	$0	$1,000
Opening Inventory & Training Period	$20,000	$35,000	$10,000	$25,000	$10,000	$25,000
Smallwares & Restaurant Supplies	$11,600	$16,000	$10,500	$16,000	$9,600	$16,000
Insurance	$10,000	$19,000	$10,000	$19,000	$6,000	$15,000
Licenses & Permits	$3,000	$60,000	$3,000	$35,000	$500	$6,000
Attorney’s Fees	$2,000	$6,500	$2,000	$6,500	$2,000	$6,500
Accountant’s Fee	$1,500	$2,500	$1,500	$2,500	$1,500	$2,500
Initial Training Expenses	$24,000	$60,000	$16,000	$36,000	$16,000	$36,000
Advertising (3 Months)	$2,500	$5,000	$2,500	$5,000	$2,500	$5,000
Additional Funds (3 Months)	$40,000	$60,000	$20,000	$35,000	$20,000	$30,000

Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $35,000 and will be paid at the time of signing the franchise agreement.

Huey Magoo’s offers a $17,500 discount for qualifying U.S. military veterans and a $5,000 referral fee for each prospective franchisee introduced to the team by an existing franchisee.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Huey Magoo’s franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty Fee	5% of gross revenues/week
Local Advertising Expenditure Requirement	2% of gross revenues/month
Advertising Fund Contributions	2% of gross revenues/week

ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 66 Huey Magoo’s franchises operating for the entirety of 2025 reported the following average and median gross revenues:

Quartile	Average	Median	High	Low
Top 1/4 (16)	$2,827,362	$2,729,853	$3,826,698	$2,467,463
Second 1/4 (17)	$2,253,350	$2,271,756	$2,456,534	$2,025,391
Third 1/4 (16)	$1,844,839	$1,861,513	$2,016,832	$1,655,145
Bottom 1/4 (17)	$1,289,086	$1,284,305	$1,598,416	$608,118
Total (66)	$2,045,100	$2,021,112	$3,826,698	$608,118

3. What Franchisee Support Does Huey Magoo’s Provide?

Pre-Opening Support

Prior to opening, franchisees receive support for site selection and lease assistance, plans and specifications, comprehensive initial training, business systems and manuals, pre-opening inspections, on-site opening support and grand opening guidance.

Training Programs

Training occurs at the corporate headquarters in Oviedo and one designated training restaurant in the Orlando area. The base program consists of 192 hours over 21 days. It covers both classroom and on-the-job instruction in areas such as operations, food preparation, guest services, POS systems, financial control and marketing techniques. Trainees are required to pass a written exam for each position and a comprehensive final.

Operational Support

Franchisees receive advertising funds, access to a marketing portal, website presence, and cooperative advertising. Ongoing support includes field visits and audits periodically with minimum quarterly Quality Service and Cleanliness (QSC) audits. Each franchisee gets assigned a franchise success coach as a point of contact to lean on.

Technology and Tools

Huey Magoo’s equips franchisees with the Qu point-of-sale system to help streamline ordering, reporting and day-to-day operations.

4. What Are the Franchisee Requirements for Huey Magoo’s?

Eligibility Criteria

Liquid Assets: $500,000
Net Worth: $750,000

Restaurant experience is helpful but not required. Huey Magoo’s is looking for franchisees with business leadership experience, strong people-management skills and the ability to follow established systems.

Operational Commitments

Owners should be actively involved in operations, but they do not have to be on-site if they hire a trained manager. Either the owner or a designated representative must commit at least 40 hours per week to the restaurant’s day-to-day operations.

Funding Assistance

There is no direct financing through Huey Magoo’s.

5. Are There Franchisee Success Stories?

“I was fairly far along with another, larger competitor in the space, but ultimately chose to partner with Huey Magoo’s because of the flexibility of its store formats — including inline, drive-thru and pickup window options — along with a menu that appeals to a broader range of guests. Huey Magoo’s culture is family-forward with a strong sense of Southern Hospitality, which creates a welcoming and memorable experience for customers. I would absolutely recommend Huey Magoo’s to other potential franchisees. The brand offers significant flexibility for experienced developers and operators, especially in its ability to pursue a variety of build types — from ground-up and inline end-cap locations to smaller shop spaces — which truly set it apart from the competition.”

- Michael Phillips, Multi-Unit Franchisee — Florida

“After almost 40 years in the restaurant industry, I was searching for the right business to own. After months of searching, I realized the “chicken tender” restaurant concept was the perfect fit for me. The chicken tender business was growing across all age groups, especially among 18- to 40-year-olds. The menu was simple and easy to execute, and I just needed to find the right franchise partner. A friend of mine, who lived in the Gwinnett County, Georgia, area (northeast of Atlanta), told me, ‘You have to try Huey Magoo’s…they have the best tenders.’ After hours of online research and visiting several Huey Magoo’s locations, I knew I had found the right franchise partner.”

- Matt Parmer, Franchisee — Georgia

6. What Is the Market Potential for Fast-Casual Chicken Restaurants?

Fast-casual chicken restaurants continue to outperform much of the broader restaurant industry as consumers prioritize value, convenience and protein-focused menu options. U.S. fast-food chicken restaurants generated more than $63 billion in annual revenue in 2025, with the category continuing to gain market share against burger-focused competitors. Industry traffic data also showed chicken chains posting year-over-year visit growth while several other major quick-service categories declined. Growth has been fueled by drive-thru demand, delivery expansion and consumer interest in simplified, high-quality menus that translate well to off-premise dining.

Competitor Analysis

Huey Magoo’s primary competitors include Raising Cane’s, Zaxby’s, Slim Chickens, PDQ, Chicken Salad Chick, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Bojangles and Chick-fil-A.

The brand distinguishes itself from competitors with a specialized focus on high-quality chicken tender meals, wraps, salads and sandwiches by utilizing unique proprietary recipes and specialty dipping sauces.

7. What Is the Application Process for Huey Magoo’s Franchisees?

Complete Request for Consideration: Prospective franchisees submit an initial inquiry form to provide background information and express interest in the Huey Magoo’s franchise opportunity.
Introductory Call With the Franchise Development Team: Candidates speak with a member of the franchise development team to discuss their goals, qualifications and the basics of the Huey Magoo’s business model.
Application and FDD Review: Qualified candidates complete the franchise application process and review the Franchise Disclosure Document to better understand the investment, obligations and support structure.
Define Area of Interest: Candidates identify the market or territory they would like to develop and discuss availability and growth opportunities with the franchise team.
Discovery Day: Prospective franchisees visit with the leadership team to learn more about the business, ask questions and evaluate whether the partnership is the right fit for both parties.
Sign Franchise Agreement: Approved candidates finalize the process by signing the franchise agreement and beginning the onboarding and development process.

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