Chick-fil-A vs Nothing Bundt Cakes: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Food & Restaurant Real Data Not Investment Advice
C

Chick-fil-A

Food & Restaurant
$343K – $2.4M
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VS
NB

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Food & Restaurant
$406K – $615K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Nothing Bundt Cakes wins on investment range ($1.8M less) vs Chick-fil-A.
Fee Burden
Nothing Bundt Cakes wins on royalty rate (10.0% lower) vs Chick-fil-A.
Unit Count
Chick-fil-A wins on total units (2,459 more) vs Nothing Bundt Cakes.
Satisfaction
Chick-fil-A wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Investment & Fees

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Min Investment $343K $406K
Max Investment $2.4M $615K
Franchise Fee $10K $35K
Royalty Rate 15.0% 5.0%
Ad Fund Rate 0.0% 2.0%

Unit Economics

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Avg Unit Revenue $8.4M $1.3M
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Total Units 3,059 600
Annual Growth 5.2% 14.0%
Failure Rate 0.5% 1.0%

Franchisee Performance

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Franchisee Satisfaction 92/100 85/100

Track Record

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Years in Business 57 27
Years Franchising 57 17

Financial Requirements

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Min Net Worth Required N/A $600K
Liquid Capital Required $10K $150K

Operations

Metric Chick-fil-A Nothing Bundt Cakes
Avg Employees 80 20
Training Weeks 12 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chick-fil-A or Nothing Bundt Cakes a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Chick-fil-A has 3,059 total units and a 92/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Nothing Bundt Cakes has 600 total units and a 85/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Chick-fil-A franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Chick-fil-A franchise requires an initial investment of $343K – $2.4M. The franchise fee is $10K, with ongoing royalties of 15.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise requires an initial investment of $406K – $615K. The franchise fee is $35K, with ongoing royalties of 5.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Chick-fil-A vs Nothing Bundt Cakes?

Chick-fil-A's royalty rate is 15.0%. Nothing Bundt Cakes's royalty rate is 5.0%. That means Chick-fil-A has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Chick-fil-A or Nothing Bundt Cakes?

Chick-fil-A has 3,059 total units. Nothing Bundt Cakes has 600 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Chick-fil-A or Nothing Bundt Cakes semi-absentee friendly?

Chick-fil-A is typically run as a owner-operator model. Nothing Bundt Cakes is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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