FREE Franchise Guide!
2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#133 Ranked #298 last year
See the Full List
Initial investment
$1.4M - $3.3M
Units as of 2024
960 Increase 5.7% over 3 years

Zaxby's is a casual restaurant that offers buffalo wings, sandwiches, chicken fingers, and salads. The chain is predominantly active in the Southern United States and has more than 900 outlets. Franchisees own the majority of Zaxby's restaurants, but the company maintains over 140 locations. 

A great candidate for a Zaxby's franchisee is someone who may provide opportunities for others and be an outstanding member of their community. Someone who maintains high standards and never compromises on quality, service, and effort may be valued as a franchisee. Zaxby's values loyalty, teamwork, and honesty from their franchisees.

Why You May Want to Start a Zaxby's Franchise

Consumers are looking for fresher, healthier fast-service restaurants, and, with their tenders, wings, and three-piece meals, a rising number of chicken franchises are ready and waiting. The segment is booming, and operators have many concepts to choose from. With its potential for a high return on investment, Zaxby's may stand out among the competition.

From 2014 to 2016, the Athens, Georgia-based Zaxby's, opened more than 180 restaurants.To be part of the Zaxby's team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees, including royalty fees, advertising fees, and potential renewal fees. It may be a good idea to speak with an attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you have the necessary finances to continue a Zaxby’s business. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. 

What Might Make Zaxby's a Good Choice?

As a Zaxby's franchisee, you can act as an individual business, but you may benefit from being part of a brand that has achieved success in a wide variety of markets. You may receive a detailed collection of operating manuals as well as comprehensive marketing materials. The franchisor usually holds an annual conference and assigns an operations consultant to each franchisee. Zaxby's franchise may include assistance that provides advice on real estate and architectural design and engineering.

As you decide if opening a Zaxby's franchise is the right decision for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a franchise location would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

How to Start a Zaxby's Franchise

To get started with your journey to becoming a Zaxby's franchisee, you may submit an inquiry about the franchise opportunity. If you are seen as a good fit, a Zaxby's franchise representative may contact you for further information and to begin the franchising process.

The Zaxby's franchise might have you travel to Athens, Georgia, to work in their store and determine if you are a good fit. Working for a few days while being supervised by a Zaxby's operations specialist may allow you to understand what is expected when partnering with the company. You may also have the chance to speak with current franchisees to get a feel for what it is like to be a franchisee with the brand. 

If all goes well during the franchising process, you may soon start construction on your own Zaxby's franchise location. 

Find Your Perfect Franchise

Company Overview

About Zaxby's

Industry Food
Related Categories Chicken
Founded 1990
Parent Company Zaxby's SPE Franchisor LLC
Leadership Mike Mettler, CDO
Corporate Address 1040 Founders Blvd.
Athens, GA 30606
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1994 (30 years)
# of employees at HQ 290
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

# of Units 960 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Zaxby's franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$1,406,700 - $3,323,200
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$750,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
20% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Information Circle
6%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
3%-4%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
Take Our Free Franchise Quiz!

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Zaxby's has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 288-432 hours
Classroom Training 51 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
Take our quick quiz to find your ideal franchise

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Zaxby's landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Zaxby's ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.

Related Franchises

Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Zaxby's.

Pet Supplies Plus

description
Pet food and supplies, bathing/grooming services

Schlotzsky's

description
Sandwiches, pizza, soups, salads

Angry Crab Shack

description
Seafood boil restaurants

McAlister's Deli

description
Sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes

Related Franchise Content

Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.

Franchise

IHOP and Applebee's Are Opening Their First Co-Branded Location in the U.S. — Find Out Where It Is

After announcing the collaboration last winter, the first co-branded location will open in early 2025.

Franchise

McAlister's Deli Franchisees Average Nearly $2MM in Net Sales

Through genuine Southern hospitality and friendly conversation, McAlister's Deli aims to make every guest feel special. A McAlister's Deli franchise doesn't require grills, fryers, or late nights, meaning owners can save on resources.

Franchise

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Names New CEO, Bringing a New Strategic Growth Vision to the Franchise

Max Wetzel, who previously served as Papa John's COO and chief customer officer, brings extensive experience in franchise growth, brand development and customer engagement.

Franchise

A McDonald's Favorite Is Making a Spicy Comeback — But Fans Want More

The wildly popular menu item is only available for a limited time, but fans are demanding the fast-food giant make it permanent.

Franchise

Curious Why Some Startups Fail? Here's Some Keys to Staying Ahead of the Curve

In the dynamic world of startups, making the right choices at the right time is crucial.

Franchise

Smoothie King Taps Into a Major Health Trend With Its 'GLP-1 Support Menu'

As GLP-1 medications gain popularity for weight management, this menu aims to fit users' unique dietary needs.

See more franchise content
Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022