What are the basic requirements for franchising with Popeyes?
Popeyes will require that you agree to build, open, and operate the number of restaurants determined reasonable for the territory. Popeyes will set the number of restaurants for the territory based upon an analysis of the market. Many factors are considered, including, but not limited to the following considerations: competition, economic, demographic, and geography. Popeyes will not grant any development agreements for territories that cannot justify a minimum of 5 restaurants.

If I cannot meet your financial requirements for franchising by myself, can I partner up with other people?
Absolutely. We have many franchisees that have partnered up with other interested parties to become franchisees.

Why does Popeyes require that you have US $200,000 in liquid assets per restaurant to financially qualify?
Popeyes has determined that in most cases these numbers are necessary in order for a franchisee to qualify for the loans that are required to build restaurants. We feel that these numbers represent the level of fiscal responsibility we would like our franchisees to have.

What are 'Liquid Assets'?
The most common forms are cash, stocks, bonds and inventory.

back to top

The following information is provided to you only as a guide. Following the process below does not guarantee you approval to become a Popeyes franchisee. This information is intended to give you an overview of the steps involved in being considered for franchising with Popeyes. Popeyes reserves the right to change the process and/or requirements without notice.

At any time during the process feel free to email Popeyes New Business Development for answers to any questions that you cannot find on our website.

1. Determine from the information on the website whether or not you can meet the minimum financial requirements to become a franchisee.

2. The process: Pre-qualification – Complete this short form on our web site and submit to Popeyes. Popeyes will then contact you. If we proceed together, then we will need the following additional forms: International Application Form – We will email this 2 page form for you to complete and return. It is basic information that tells us about the people or company interested in franchising Popeyes internationally.

Personal/Corporate Financial Statement Form - This form is to be filled out by the individual or company. This form is designed to give Popeyes a breakdown of your assets and liabilities. Note: If you are a group of individuals applying for a franchise each person in the group must complete all 3 of the above forms. Once all of the forms are completed, they should be submitted to Popeyes as a package so that they may be considered together. Incomplete packages cannot be considered.

Financial Verification Form – You or your corporation complete the top part of this form and the bottom part is completed by all financial institutions where you have assets/liabilities. Remember to print as many forms as you have financial institutions (i.e. you may have an account with one or more banks or brokerage houses, you are required to complete a form on each). We will also accept monthly/quarterly statements (that are no more than 3 months old) and tax returns.

3. Once Popeyes has received all the necessary forms we will review your information for creditworthiness.

4. Once it has been determined that you meet our financial requirements, and the area in which you wish to develop is available, you will then be considered an applicant for franchising with Popeyes. Whereupon, you will be contacted by a member of our New Business Development Team who will help guide you through the remainder of the process.

5. Once a member of our New Business Development Team has contacted you and approved you to move forward in the franchising process, you will need to complete the following items (it is not necessary to complete the following items until you have been approved to move forward). This list is not all-inclusive and is provided to potential franchisees as a guide. Completing the required steps does not guarantee acceptance into Popeyes franchising system.

• Company & Personal Financial Statements, Store Income Statements - (P&L) (Latest Annual & Interim)
• Business Operating Plan, Resume/Brief Biography
• Tax Returns for the Past Two Years

back to top

1.  Can you develop in convenience stores or gasoline stations? 
Popeyes no longer signs new Development Agreements with new franchisees in these types of venues. You may see Popeyes continue to build these venues, but only under agreements that were in place prior to our decision to discontinue development in these venues. 

2.  In what types of venues will Popeyes build?
Our two most common venues are "free-standing" (alone on its own real estate) and "in-line," as part of a shopping center or row of businesses. We also develop in other venues such as airports, shopping malls, stadiums, grocery stores, campuses and many others. 

3.  Who determines whether or not I can build a restaurant on a particular piece of real estate?
Popeyes retains final acceptance authority in all site selections. Once you have submitted the site to Popeyes, we conduct an analysis and, when necessary, we visit your location to determine whether or not the location fits the established criteria for development. 

4.  Can I buy an existing building and convert it to a Popeyes restaurant?
Yes, if the image elements of Popeyes can be incorporated into the building being converted. As with any site, the location must first be accepted by Popeyes. 

5.  What does Popeyes look for in a restaurant location or site?
Our ideal site would be a corner lot, at a traffic light with convenient ingress & egress on the "going home" side of the street. For free-standing restaurants, the lot size would be a minimum of 2,000+ square meters. Keep in mind this is not an absolute criteria; specific sites are evaluated on their individual merits.

6.  Does Popeyes provide facility and equipment specifications?
Popeyes provides facility and equipment specifications.  All architectural drawings are to be approved by Popeyes Development Services department. Popeyes specifies all equipment to perform to expected standards. Only approved equipment is to be used in Popeyes restaurants.

back to top

1.  What type of support do you offer to new franchisees?
Popeyes offers a wide variety of services including support in real estate selection, restaurant design and layout, equipment drawings, purchasing support, training and opening support. We also offer ongoing assistance through additional training, operation advisory assistance, marketing assistance, operation manuals and revisions, supplier relations and periodic  evaluations of your restaurants and operating systems. Popeyes delivers support via highly trained professionals and via technology resources such as password protected web sites.

2.  How do I get the appropriate Popeyes training for myself and/or
my managers?
Popeyes requires that you send the entire management team to Atlanta, GA to train in our state-of-the-art training facility. The program lasts approximately 4 weeks and covers food preparation, equipment, food safety and sanitation, inventory, service, management controls and functions, operations compliance, safety and security and many other topics. At the end of the program you will be a Certified Manager for Popeyes. You will be required to send all members of management to Atlanta until you have established one of your restaurants as a "Certified" Training Restaurant. 

3.  What type of support does Popeyes offer after I open?
One of the unique aspects of being a Popeyes franchisee is that you get personalized service from one of our International Director’s Of Operations (IDO’s). Your IDO is your one point of contact with Popeyes; you have only one number to call to get answers on training, operations, marketing, etc. This allows you to build a business relationship with someone who knows you and your business. Popeyes also offers ongoing support in many other areas, including development, restaurant construction and opening, marketing, training, and sales-building. 

back to top

1.  What is the average profit from a Popeyes Restaurant?
Each market, especially internationally, are unique and consequently have different levels of costs. During your business planning, you are encouraged to conduct as much research as you feel necessary to be confident with your financial estimates.

2.  What is the average unit volume (sales) of a Popeyes restaurant?
As for profit, each market has different sales potential. During your business planning, you are encouraged to conduct as much research as you feel necessary to be confident with your financial estimates. Be sure to evaluate other similar multi-unit branded restaurant concepts.

3. What other sales & earnings numbers can you share with a potential franchisee?
Popeyes does not furnish or authorize our employees to furnish any oral or written information concerning the actual, average, projected or forecasted sales, costs, income or profits (the "earning capability") of a restaurant.   

back to top

1.  Why do you have the area I'm interested in listed as sold out, when I don't see a Popeyes restaurant near me?
Popeyes sells franchises through what we call a "Development Agreement" which assigns the franchisees a particular area in which to franchise and gives them a timetable in which the franchisee must build the restaurants. Your area may have a Development Agreement for the entire city or county and the franchisee just hasn't developed in that area yet, but will by the end of the agreement. 

2.  Why do you have to build a minimum of 5 restaurants?
We use this minimum to keep our franchise community active and aggressive. The number also requires that you are financially sound enough to continue to grow the Popeyes System. 

3.  Do you have to build all restaurants for your development agreement at once or over a period of time?
Popeyes negotiates each deal separately. Development schedules are set through the negotiations and will vary widely by the number of restaurants you agree to develop and the development challenges in a particular area.

4.  I am interested in owning the development rights for an entire area so that I am the only one who can build Popeyes in that area. How can I do this?
You would enter into what we call an "exclusive agreement" which grants "exclusivity" for the area in which you are interested. The number of options you would need to develop is determined by the total capacity of the area as determined by Popeyes. The area can be defined by many geographic boundaries, but normally it is defined by counties or Designated Marketing Areas.  Keep in mind that Popeyes could already be in negotiations with other parties for that territory. 

5.  I am a student and I am doing a project on Popeyes. Who should I contact?
You should find all the information necessary on this website, but if not, please feel free to contact us by email from this site and we will contact you or send you the information you request.

6.  Does Popeyes own the real estate and the building or must the franchisee buy them?
The franchisee is responsible for buying or leasing the real estate and for the cost of building the restaurant. We will offer assistance in site selection, architectural design and other areas of construction, but Popeyes does not own the real estate or the building. 

7.  How do I get financing? Does Popeyes provide financing or guarantees?
The franchisee is responsible for arranging financing for their deal. Popeyes does not offering financing or any type of guarantees.

8.  How long does it normally take to get approved to become a franchisee?
Normally the franchising process takes between 90 and 120 days, although we have had deals that have taken less that 45 days and longer than 3 years. Many things determine the length of time, such as how quickly the franchise candidate returns the required material to Popeyes and the amount of time it takes the franchisee to arrange financing. 

10.  Once I am approved to become a franchisee, how long until I can actually open a Popeyes?
You agree to the opening date of your first restaurant in the development agreement, but as a rule most people open their first restaurant within 6 months. 

11.  What are our Market Launch Activities?
Before your first Popeyes opens we will undertake several activities to prepare you and Popeyes to be successful in your specific marketplace.  We will work together to understand what consumers think of the Popeyes brand through the completion of a Brand Positioning Study. In addition, to ensure the unit economics related to food costs are optimized, we will build the best possible Supply Chain from chicken to packaging.  Then, we need a Market Development Plan.  We will identify priorities for locations and venues.

12.  What is received for the ad fund monies that I pay?
All new international franchisees' contribution to the ad fund represents an access fee that is used to update and maintain Popeyes' extensive library of marketing support materials.  This fee entitles all international franchisees full access to these marketing materials and programs that are developed quarterly by the Popeyes Domestic Marketing Department. 

13. As a new international franchisee what ongoing marketing support will I receive from Popeyes?
In addition to providing a grand opening plan to establish brand identity in your country, Popeyes International provides various marketing manuals, quarterly advertising / merchandising programs and materials, corporate domestic marketing promotions and quarterly updates. 

14. Should I hire a marketing professional locally to work with Popeyes Corporate?
Popeyes International recommends that you hire a marketing professional and / or agency locally to work directly with Popeyes International Marketing to assist in development and execution of the Popeyes Corporate Marketing Programs n your region.

15. Should I do a trade area analysis for my region prior to choosing a site for Popeyes'?
Yes, a complete trading area audit should be done to learn where the potential source of the business exists. Obtain local Quick Service Restaurant research by contacting a beverage supplier, local newspaper, TV & radio research departments, local governmental agencies and libraries.

16. Once I become a Popeyes Franchisee where do I purchase the products to run my business?
Popeyes International Product and Menu Development will provide a list of authorized suppliers/distributors you can purchase you ingredients and supplies from.

17. How do I know which menu items will work in my country?
Popeyes has a standard menu policy that is used around the world which can be supplemented as necessary from a long list of optional menu items.  The results of your Brand Positioning Study will help you and Popeyes make many decisions, including those related to menu.

18. Can I add items to the menu that are not standard in the US?
Popeyes does allow some variance but they are considered from market to market.

19. Can I buy local items to supply my restaurant?
Popeyes will try to help you source as much product locally that meets Popeyes specifications.

back to top