Restaurateurs, investors and wholesalers pay attention to news and trends about chicken restaurant chains for diverse reasons. Owners of chicken restaurant chains may want to know how a competitor handles negative customer reaction to price increases. Investors depend on reliable market data revealing what works and what doesn't work to boost sales. Wholesalers to the chicken restaurant industry want to identify the major players so they can generate sales leads.

There is a wide variety of online sources devoted to reporting chicken restaurant chains news and trends. Check out these websites so you can find the information you need to make your next business decision:

1. Read in-depth market reports on chicken restaurants to identify sales trends.

2. Find out how the food critics and the public react to popular chicken chains by reading noteworthy blogs.

3. Check out timely news releases on the websites of leading fried chicken restaurants.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research insightful industry reports on chicken franchises provided by trustworthy news agencies

Get the inside scoop on the chicken restaurant business from the leading market industry watchers. Find out trends in marketing and customer demand that the major players report are impacting sales growth.

I recommend: QSR Magazine gives you access to industry news, such as store openings, promotional events and successful advertising campaigns. Nation's Restaurant News provides insight on how some chicken franchises are using the Internet to boost brand recognition. The National Restaurant Association publishes reports showing results of menu analyses and price comparisons among the top selling chicken restaurant chains.

Review insightful commentaries on blogs discussing chicken chain restaurants

Making it a habit to read blogs by local food critics and customers of fried chicken chains gives you the best insight into the public's reactions to the quality of food and service.

I recommend: The News & Observer tracks blogs from professional food critics. Find readers' survey results of fast food chicken chains. Blogs at Fast Food News keep you informed of business opportunities and how customers are rating the nutritional value of menu items. Central Florida Restaurant Mom has blogs revealing customer reaction to new chicken fast food chains.

Get the latest news straight from the leading chain chicken restaurants

You may want to know how a major chicken restaurant franchise maintains its high level of customer satisfaction or what newer chains are doing to enhance brand recognition and loyalty.

I recommend: Broaster publishes newsletters with practical advice, such as how to offset costs and make the best use of your standard food products. Industry leader KFC archives articles on its News Room page, which show how the company boosts customer satisfaction levels. Chick-Fil-A's website reports news releases showing the latest product development strategies and recent menu changes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Market watchers of chicken restaurant chains pay careful attention to menu changes and the reasons prompting them.

Chicken restaurant chains are located in cities all over the country. Their menus offer a variety of home-type cooked meals including fried chicken, rotisserie chicken and salads. People like them because they can get a home cooked meal for a reasonable price without having to cook it themselves.

Cash in on chicken restaurant chains by opening your own in your city. Large conglomerates own these chains and franchise them out, so get the scoop on start up costs and other regulations. Decide if you will run it yourself or hire a management team. Look for the following when deciding on franchise terms for chicken restaurants:

1. Choose chicken franchises and serve healthier meals.

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 2. Decipher start up cost, initial investment and net worth requirements for fried chicken restaurants.

3. Determine other requirements to see if chicken restaurant franchise is right for you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check availability and pricing for local chicken chain restaurants

Not every franchise has openings in your area. Once you have decided on a chain, contact them to find out if you can open a store in your area. If they have no need in your local area, they will send you a list of close areas that need a local restaurant. You can also decide on a restaurant chain based on total price or down payment needed. You can check your state to see which restaurant chains have openings.

I recommend: Zaxby's spells out their terms on their website and lists what to do next if you meet the qualifications for their franchise owners. Chick-fil-A allows you to become an operator with only a modest upfront investment. There is a rigorous process in place to own a franchise but it is a systematic process.

Ask the chicken restaurant franchise about initial investment

Initial investments for restaurant chains is usually high however, some cost less than others cost. Before you decide, find out exactly what monetary commitments you will need to make upfront. Remember also, that the initial investment for the franchise fee only covers the franchise itself and you will still need working capital for such expenses as electricity, phone and payroll.

I recommend: Popeyes franchises require a net worth of $500,000 with $250,000 liquid to purchase their franchise. Kentucky Fried Chicken requires at least $360,000 in liquid assets however; if you are partnering with someone, you need that amount between the partners.

Open chain chicken restaurants for immediate business

When you open a chain store, you are cashing in on the name of the franchise. People know that whether your store is in Maine or California they will get the same menu and service and they stop at a familiar place. This is why you buy a franchise but the down side is there are tight regulations on franchises. You will get your operating schedule, menu and décor from the company. If you fail to meet your obligations, which usually include buying all of your supplies from them, you will lose your franchise.

I recommend: Food Franchise provides franchises available in every state. You can also check franchise availability based on total price. Make sure to check all requirements for that franchise before making your final decision. Franchise Advantage lists all restaurant chains available at the current time. Click on the restaurant of your choice and then check requirements before making your decision.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Obtaining financing to start your chicken restaurant business can be a difficult process since many financial institutions consider restaurant franchises high-risk. Improve your loan chances by putting down as much upfront cash as possible. When the bank sees you taking part of the risk, they will give your loan application closer scrutiny.

Whether you want to break into the chicken restaurant chains business in management, or own/operate an independent chicken fastfood restaurant or a chicken restaurant franchise, chicken restaurant chains management education and training will help your business reach its potential. Customers can find plenty of chicken chains in any city. The quality of food they produce definitely impacts the amount of customer traffic, but management training/education can set your chicken restaurant apart from all your competition in the chicken restaurant industry.

Education/training can improve your credibility, efficiency, profits and the overall success of your business. Many chicken restaurants don't demand a strong educational background for new owners and restaurant managers, so strong franchise training programs will help management staff better lead employees, bring in more customers and make more sales. This guide hones in on management training offered for chicken restaurants:

1. Food safety certification programs important to any chicken restaurant business.

2. Training for owner/managers of fried chicken chains.

3. Grilled or rotisserie chicken restaurant management training.

4. Training for the owner/management staff of other types of chicken chain restaurants.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for food safety certification programs to help your chicken restaurant business thrive

Because of the danger of cross contamination when working with poultry, ensure your managers/employees receive initial and continuing training in proper food handling techniques.

I recommend: Start your management training with the Food Protection Manager Certification, a nationally recognized and accredited program, from sources like ServSafe and SuperSafeMark training programs. Find out the food safety training requirements for your location by using the Food Marketing Institute's guide to State Food Safety Training Requirements found on the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals.

Choose from among fried chicken restaurants that provide management training/education

When choosing among fried chicken restaurant chains, look for one that at least provides thorough training for franchise owners/general managers.

I recommend: Big Chic, a franchise with opportunities in smaller communities throughout Georgia and neighboring states, provides a 30-day training program in an existing restaurant and 10 days of training just prior to and through the grand opening. Popeyes franchisee management teams go through its restaurant management training program, and a team of trainers helps new franchises during grand openings. It also operates a support center that assists franchises with training, operations and development services. Bojangles' conducts an initial six-week training program for each new management team.

Check out management training offered by rotisserie or grilled chicken chains

While people eat more chicken in this increasingly health-conscious country, research also shows a 15% decrease in the purchasing of deep-fried foods over the last several years. So, if your interest (and/or taste buds) lies in rotisserie/grilled chicken, look for those types of chicken franchises with solid support and management training.

I recommend: The management teams of Koo Koo Roo, a Southern California rotisserie and flame-broiled chicken chain owned by Fuddruckers, complete a six-week training program. El Pollo Loco, a flame-grilled chicken franchise, includes six weeks of pre-opening training for new owners/general managers and ongoing management training programs.

Consider management training in a different type of quick-service chicken restaurant chain

Besides basic fried chicken or grilled/rotisserie chicken, other franchises brand themselves with a specific specialty such as wings or chicken fingers.

I recommend: For a quick-service chicken restaurant chain with a strong training program, read more about the franchisee training program for Zaxby's, a chain specializing in chicken wings and fingers. Besides an intensive initial training program, the chain operates a learning center that houses online courses, a library with job aids and discussion forums. Wingstop, a franchise focusing on wings, requires franchise owners/general managers to attend an intensive, interactive four-week initial training session. New franchises also receive pre-opening training and then ongoing training via different resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your local, county or state health department for the most accurate information on food manager certification requirements in your area before opening a chicken restaurant business.