The Franchise Disclosure Document is a comprehensive legal document required by the Federal Trade Commission, and it’s intended to provide prospective franchisees with information about the franchisor, the system and their commitments should they sign a franchise agreement. Reviewing the FDD is an absolutely crucial step in the due diligence process as it allows franchisees to get a more transparent look at the opportunity as they work to make an educated investment decision.
For entrepreneurs looking into Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the FDD provides a robust overview, covering everything a new franchisee should know about the Soon to be FamousTM chicken finger franchise.
“We pride ourselves on being transparent,” said CEO Garrett Reed. “We want to make sure that we’re a great fit for the franchisee as much as we’re evaluating whether they’re a great fit for us. Forging strong relationships on this foundation requires honest, direct conversations. In addition to the talks prospective Layne’s franchisees have with our existing owners and our leadership team, we really encourage them to dig into the FDD to learn more about the brand and start to evaluate whether we’re aligned.”
The Who: Items 1 Through 4
The FDD starts off with an overview of Layne’s as an organization, its predecessor, the franchise itself, potential competition, and industry regulations. This is to give an idea of what a Layne’s franchise looks like and some of the unique requirements or considerations associated with the operation.
Item 2, Business Experience, outlines the people at the leadership level and their prior business experience.
“We recognize that the success of our brand hinges on the success and satisfaction of our franchisees,” said Franchisee Liaison Matt O’Reilly. “We have an incredible leadership team in place, and we’re dedicated to consistently growing our network to ensure the infrastructure is in place before our franchisees need it.”
Items 3 and 4 outline relevant litigation and bankruptcy proceedings to give prospective franchisees a clearer picture of who they will be going into business with and any prior challenges they should be aware of. Layne’s has no litigation or bankruptcy proceedings to disclose.
The Numbers: Items 5 Through 7, 19, and 20
As is the case with any investment, it’s important to understand the financial details. Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD outline initial fees, other ongoing fees and a breakdown of the estimated initial investment, respectively.
The most notable initial fee is the franchise fee of $45,000, due at the time the franchise agreement is signed. Layne’s also notes costs associated with the initial opening support, including a team of experts sent to provide support starting seven days before the opening.
Other ongoing fees reported include the royalty fee (5% of gross revenues), brand development fee (2% of gross revenues), contributions to a local or regional advertising cooperative (up to 5% of gross revenues) and local marketing expenditure (1% of gross revenues).
Item 7 offers a comprehensive breakdown of the estimated initial investment ($451,500 to
$1,050,000), noting cost ranges for specific aspects of development like leasehold improvements, furniture, initial inventory, and grand opening advertising. This helps franchisees better understand which costs will be associated with the investment, who they will be paying, and when the funds will be due.
Items 19 and 20 address other key figures.
The Item 19 is where a franchisor can make financial representations, should they choose. Anything disclosed in the Item 19 is not a performance guarantee, but this data, coupled with conversations with existing franchisees, can paint a very helpful picture and provide context regarding the return on investment. In the 2025 FDD, Layne’s shares information regarding the gross revenue of 10 franchised locations operating for the entirety of 2024. For traditional restaurants, the average gross revenue was $1,983,256; for non-traditional restaurants, the average gross revenue was $1,604,953.
Item 20 covers outlets and franchisee data. This includes information about how many units are open, year-over-year unit growth, and data on restaurants awarded but not yet opened.
“We’re growing quickly, and our franchisees are satisfied with the performance of their restaurants,” said Chief Operating Officer Samir Wattar. “Many are exceeding their development schedules, and they wouldn’t do that if they weren’t excited to be growing with us. The numbers in Items 19 and 20 back this up, and the franchisee information in Item 20 gives candidates the resources they need to verify directly with individual owners.”
The Details: Items 9, 11, 13 and 14
Items 9 and 11 outline the franchisee’s obligations and the franchisor’s support responsibilities, respectively. While the Layne’s team is consistently available for its franchisees, understanding exactly what is expected of each party both in the development process and throughout the business relationship ensures ownership and smooth growth.
Items 13 and 14 disclose applicable trademarks and other patents, copyrights or proprietary information. These rights and associated information are a big part of what elevates Layne’s above other chicken concepts — the branding, the guest loyalty, and the unique approach to service and the guest experience. Understanding what you’ll have access to and how you should manage it provides important context about the investment.
The FDD and Due Diligence
Reviewing the FDD is just one facet of a thorough due diligence process, but it’s an important one. Franchisees should carefully review all 200-plus pages to ensure they have a complete understanding of the opportunity, and even consult legal and financial experts along the way. Still, though, the document review is just part of the process. Combining the information in the FDD with insights gained through conversations with the leadership team and other franchisees helps candidates develop a complete understanding of the opportunity and decide whether they’re ready to join the fast-growing brand.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/layneschickenfingers.