EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
El Pollo Loco franchises operate quick-service restaurants that specialize in fire-grilled, Mexican-style chicken and related food products and services. The business model involves licensing the company's proprietary System, including trademarks, recipes, building designs, and operational standards, to franchisees who pay initial fees, royalties, and advertising contributions. The target market is consumers in the competitive fast-food and quick-service restaurant industry seeking flavorful, grilled meals.
Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.
Overview
Financial Requirements
5% royalty + 5% ad fund + $1,050/mo IT support + $19/mo LMS + ~$100/mo digital boards + $75/mo security (~$1,200-$1,500/mo total fixed)
Franchise Stats
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: EPL Restaurants that were operating during the entire 2024 fiscal year (which started on December 28, 2023 and ended on December 25, 2024) excluding EPL Restaurants that were temporarily closed for seven or more days and that opened during 2024.
* Calculated weighted average gross revenue for Franchised Restaurants (All EPL Restaurants category) from segmented data: (80 units × $3258264 + 79 units × $2325085 + 79 units × $1842616 + 80 units × $1278610) / 318 total units = $2176724.21. Median gross revenue, top quartile, and bottom quartile revenues are directly extracted from the 'All EPL Restaurants' table for 'Franchised Restaurants'.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT Compares to Other Fast Casual Franchises
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 84% of Fast Casual franchises
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT Current | $794K - $2.7M | $40K | 5.0% | 7 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $300K - $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K - $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $379K - $1.4M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,248 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M - $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K - $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 107 franchises | $532K - $1.2M | $39K | 5.6% | - |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchisees (2010 - 2025)
Loans by Year
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Territorial development disputes, breach of non-solicitation provisions, and unauthorized use of marks by former franchisee.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
Roadhouse Holding, Inc. filed Chapter 11 on August 8, 2016, emerged December 1, 2016. Samuel Borgese, a current Board of Directors member, was CEO of Roadhouse Holding, Inc. from October 2014 to August 2016.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise?
The total initial investment to open a EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise ranges from $793,750 to $2,685,500. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
How much revenue does a EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise make?
According to the 2024 FDD, the average gross revenue for a EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise is $2,176,724.21. The median revenue is $2,062,881.
How many EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise locations are there?
As of the 2024 FDD, EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT has 7 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1980.
Can you get an SBA loan for a EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchise?
Yes, SBA loans are available for EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchises. Historical data shows 23 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT franchisees, with an average loan amount of $712,709. The historical default rate is 0.0%.
Is EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT a good franchise to buy?
EL POLLO LOCO INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT shows several positive indicators: transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.
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