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Franchising Franchise Process Franchise Territories Franchise Support Site Submittal

How It Works

  • STEP 1. ONLINE INQUIRY
    • If you meet or exceed our financial and operational minimum requirements, and you are interested in opening multiple units in an open territory (see Territories tab), complete the online Franchise Application form and submit for review.

      We are not currently accepting applications for international and Southern California locations.
  • STEP 2. PRE-QUALIFICATION INTERVIEW
    • Once we receive your online inquiry form, one of our franchise development team members will schedule a phone interview with you to further discuss your interest in franchising, qualifications and markets desired. Your information provided may also require verification during this phase. Approval is subject to verification, overall qualification and availability.
  • STEP 3. FULL FRANCHISE APPLICATION & FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
    • Following the pre-qualification interview, approved prospects will be asked to complete our full franchise application and will receive a copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Notice Form. Once completed and returned in its entirety with all required documentation, the FDD will be sent to you either electronically via download or hard copy via US Mail. We will schedule a follow-up meeting to review your documents for submittal and FDD details. Financial verification and background checks will also be required prior to the scheduled meeting.
  • STEP 4. OPERATIONAL & FINANCIAL APPROVAL
    • Your application will be reviewed internally and an operational assessment will be set up with one of our team members.
  • STEP 5. DISCOVERY DAY
    • Attend a discovery day at our Support Center to meet with our management team. If approved, a Franchise Development Agreement will be prepared and provided to you for finalization.

Start Your Application Today

If you believe you're qualified and are interested in joining the El Pollo Loco family, please click below to complete a Franchise Application form.

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FAQ

  • Toggle FAQs
    • What areas are available for franchising?
      • Please refer to the Territories tab for areas that are currently open for development.
    • What is my initial investment?
      • Based on the amounts listed in our current FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), you can estimate between $770,000 and $2,097,000 per unit. This does not include real estate estimates, which vary by area. Our franchise fee is $40,000 per unit.
    • What are the financial requirements?
      • Our minimum financial requirements are $1.5 million total net worth and $600K liquid assets per unit.
    • What are the operational requirements?
      • We require a minimum of five years of experience as an owner/operator within the restaurant industry. You must also live in the area of development in order to manage the restaurant on a daily basis.
    • What is El Pollo Loco's approval process?

      • Step 1–Online Inquiry
        If you meet or exceed our financial and operational minimum requirements as stated above, and you are interested in an open territory (see Territories tab), complete the online inquiry form.

        Step 2–Phone Conference
        Once we receive your online inquiry form, one of our franchise development team members will set up a phone interview with you to further discuss your interest in franchising. If both parties are in agreement, you will be directed to Step 3.

        Step 3–Franchise Application & FDD
        You will be sent the El Pollo Loco Franchise Application and Franchise Disclosure Document Notice Form. Once completed and returned in its entirety with all required documentation, the FDD will be sent to you either electronically via download or hard copy via US Mail.

        Step 4–Operational & Financial Approval
        Your application will be reviewed internally and an operational assessment will be set up with one of our team members.

        Step 5–El Pollo Loco Management Approval
        Your application and business plan will be presented to our management team for review and approval. If approved, a Development Agreement will be prepared and sent to you.

    • How long does the approval process take?
      • Based on a completed application and all required documentation, the approval process typically takes between 6 and 9 months.
    • Do I have to find my own restaurant?
      • Yes, you are required to locate a site within your prescribed area of development with the assistance and guidance of our well qualified real estate staff.
    • Do I have to build my own restaurant?
      • Yes, you are required to build your restaurant, however, we do have project managers available to help guide you through every step of the process.
    • How long will it take to open for business?
      • Each area of development has different permit timelines and city requirements, however, we estimate 12-18 months for a free-standing building and 6–12 months for an endcap unit.
    • How much profit can I expect to make?
      • We do not make profit claims. There are strict regulations in the franchise industry that limit our ability to estimate how successful your restaurant will be.

Site Submittal

Franchise Inquiry