CHESTER'S

Item 7 lays out a broad initial investment spectrum of $27,500 to $306,500, reflecting setups from compact store-within-a-store to food courts or arenas—the low end suits budget-conscious operators leveraging existing retail space. Franchise fee hits just $3,500, far below fast-food norms of $25,000+, and ongoing costs stay lean with zero royalties or ad fund, plus only $250-$325/month POS tech fee for store-in-store/non-trad and $200/quarter marketing support. No Item 19 disclosure means no validated revenue or profit figures, forcing reliance on system vitals like low terminations (11) and non-renewals (33) amid 918 units, pointing to decent retention versus expansion.

Since 2004, Chester's has scaled to 918 spots with 15 transfers showing moderate reshuffling and a promising 183 projected new units—strong growth for a niche QSR player. SBA stats reveal 9 loans averaging $1,770,544, suggesting few but ambitious larger-scale franchisees comfortable with seven-figure financing, not small mom-and-pops. For retail vets targeting high-traffic venues, this model's fee structure and growth trajectory make it a compelling low-overhead bet, though opaque earnings demand direct operator outreach to gauge real returns.