Popeyes franchise
Popeyes is a quick-service chicken chain with a Louisiana-style menu of bone-in fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, tenders and Cajun sides. Restaurants can be walk-in, drive-thru, sit-down or delivery formats, and some serve breakfast. At the end of 2025 there were 3,229 Popeyes locations in the US, 3,134 franchised and 95 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $1.22M–$3.92M
- Franchise fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5%
- Locations, 2025
- 3,229+229 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1976
- Franchisor based in
- Miami, Florida
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Popeyes franchise costs
Opening a new free-standing Popeyes, excluding real estate costs an estimated $1,222,045 to $3,923,245. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc, 2026 filing, page 40
Popeyes franchise fee
The franchise fee is $50,000, per restaurant (reduced to $27,500 under some development incentive programs). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc, 2026 filing, page 25
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 4.6% to 5.0% of gross sales (5% for new franchisees), plus 0.5% to 1.75% to local co-ops. |
Source: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc, 2026 filing, page 29
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Popeyes publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: 2,248 franchised free-standing restaurants averaged $1,893,675 in 2025 sales. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc, 2026 filing, page 89
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,035 (+130) | 41 | 35 |
| 2024 | 3,079 (+44) | 98 | 92 |
| 2025 | 3,134 (+55) | 95 | 49 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc, 2026 filing, page 104
How Popeyes compares
Of the 11 chicken franchises on this site, Popeyes is the 4th cheapest to open and the 2nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Popeyes | Typical chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $1.22M | $1.45M |
| Royalty | 5% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +7.9% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in chicken franchises.
Other chicken franchises
Popeyes franchise questions
Does Popeyes help with financing?
No. Popeyes does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Popeyes franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Popeyes grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Popeyes can open nearby.
Is Popeyes growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 405 franchised locations opened and 176 closed or left, a net change of +7.9%. About 1.9% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 1.9% typical for chicken franchises.
How does Popeyes compare with other chicken franchises?
Of the 11 chicken franchises here, Popeyes is the 4th cheapest to open (low end $1.22M against a $1.45M median) and the 2nd largest by number of locations. Its 5% royalty is in line with the 5% median.
Does Popeyes say how much franchisees make?
Yes: 2,248 franchised free-standing restaurants averaged $1,893,675 in 2025 sales. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Popeyes based?
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc is based in Miami, Florida and the brand has sold franchises since 1976.