Is The Budlong a good franchise to buy?

Whether The Budlong is a good franchise investment depends on your personal goals, available capital, and local market conditions. We recommend reviewing the full FDD, speaking with existing franchisees listed in Item 20, and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

The Budlong

The Budlong is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in specialty spicy fried chicken, sandwiches, sides, desserts, beverages, and related food items. Franchisees operate under the The Budlong brand, adhering to the franchisor's standards, methods, and procedures for a consistent customer experience. It targets consumers in the competitive fast-food chicken market, competing with national chains and independents seeking flavorful, spicy chicken options.

$135K–$828K

Investment

Since 2023

Franchising

Food & BeverageSouth Elgin, ILCraveworthy LLCthebudlong.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$35,000

Item 5 of FDD

Initial Investment Range

$134,650 – $828,000

Low: $134,650High: $828,000

Item 7 of FDD

Royalty Rate

6.00%

of gross sales

Brand Fund

2.50%

Item 6 of FDD

6% royalty + 2.5% marketing fund

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.

Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.

Extracted Item 19 Section

How The Budlong Compares

Key Insights

Lower investment than 89% of Fast Food franchises

Franchise	Investment	Fee	Royalty	Locations
The Budlong Current	$135K – $828K	$35K	6.0%	0
MCDONALD'S	$1.5M – $2.6M	$45K	N/A	12,772
AFC	$45K – $151K	$6K	9.5%	3,572
SONIC DRIVE-IN	$1.7M – $3.1M	$15K	5.0%	3,441
JIMMY JOHN'S	$366K – $728K	$35K	6.0%	2,647
ARBY'S	$645K – $2.5M	$38K	4.0%	2,316
Fast Food Average 126 franchises	$594K – $1.5M	$35K	6.1%	–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 126 Fast Food 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

Top States

1IL

2TX

Franchisee Contacts

1 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

Name	Address	Phone	Email	SBA Loan
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active

1 Contacts Available

Unlock all The Budlong franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases1

Breach of contract, breach of personal guarantees, and interference with contractual relations against a former franchisee for failing to timely open restaurants per development and license agreements; includes counterclaim against franchisor officer.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryYes

Roti Restaurants, LLC filed Chapter 11 (subchapter 5a) on August 23, 2024; Christopher Gumprecht (VP of Big Chicken’s and Craveworthy’s) was VP of Technology at Roti at the time. Plan confirmed February 26, 2025.

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations

Non-Renewals

Reacquired

Ceased Ops

Transfers

Sold to Franchisees

Projected New

Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a The Budlong franchise ranges from $134,650 to $828,000. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.