​Franchise​

The Only Thing Better Than Enjoying A Piece
Of Lee’s Chicken Is Owning A Piece.

Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken is offering single and multi-unit restaurant operations the opportunity to become a part of one of the most historic chicken franchises in the nation.

If you’re a financially qualified entrepreneur who has a passion to open their own business – especially if you have experience in the QSR industry and are prepared to open single or multiple locations – please complete our preliminary application today.

 

Famous Since 1966

  • 1966:

    America’s First Taste of Fame

    Lee Cummings and Harold Omer open “Harold’s Take Home” restaurant in Lima, Ohio where Lee introduces his Famous Recipe chicken.

  • 1967:

    Up & Running

    Lee’s opens new stores in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio and Kalamazoo, Michigan.

  • 1972:

    The Great Taste Grows

    Company pilot and director of operations Jerry Sullivan helps open 55 new restaurants for the company and becomes the franchisee for store number 100 in Sanford, Florida.

  • 1981:

    Fifteen Years & Going Strong

    Lee’s Famous Recipe marks its 15th anniversary the same year Shoney’s Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee purchases the rights to the company.

  • 1982:

    Famous Recipe’s First Farmhouse

    Lee’s introduces its new farmhouse store design in Jacksonville, Florida.

  • 1991:

    Quarter-Century of Chicken

    Lee’s celebrates its 25th anniversary with Lee Cummings as its national spokesman.

  • The 2000s:

    Expanded Menu Offerings

    The Lee’s Brand stays strong through several ownership changes, introduces Spicy Jumbo Dippers, and strategically focuses on breast strips and new sides to enhance our customers’ experience.

  • The 2010s:

    Focused on Franchising

    Lee’s re-engineers itself to better support its licensing and franchising efforts across the US, and internationally. New stores are opened or built in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Canada. The brand continues to see sales growth outpacing the industry.

  • 2016:

    Fifty Years of Famous Flavor

    Lee’s celebrates 50 years of being FAMOUS FOR CHICKEN.

  • 2021:

    The Future is Famous

    The Lee’s Famous Recipe brand is purchased by affiliates of Artemis Lane Partners with plans to reinvest in the brand to support a new phase of growth. Lee’s sets its highest sales year on record with over $200 million in system-wide sales.

Franchisee Benefits

  • Assistance with site selection
  • Access to store plan specifications and approved vendors
  • Management training
  • Support for grand opening
  • Operational support
  • Volume purchase pricing for product and packaging
  • Use of Lee’s logo, brand and famous recipes

Steps to Franchising Fame

Ready to be a part of our proven system of operations that’s been a success since 1966? Just follow these steps:

  • Complete a Preliminary Application and submit it for review.
  • Speak with our New Franchise Development team and request a copy of the Lee’s FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document).
  • Review Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken FDD and complete Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken’s Financial Application Form.
  • Sign your Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken franchise documents and make your initial franchise fee payment.
  • Secure financing (if needed) and identify the equity requirements necessary and select your store site for approval.
  • Finalize real estate and begin the store design selection, permitting and construction process.
  • Complete the Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken training course at one of our Certified Training Centers.
  • Begin the pre-opening process to celebrate the grand opening of your new Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken location.

Let’s get started!

Ready to be a part of our proven system of operations that’s been a success since 1966? Great! Choose your level of readiness:

I would like more information.

Fill out the Preliminary Application.

Contact Us

If you think you fit the description and want more information on becoming a Lee's franchisee, including being the first to know when franchising opportunities become available, get in touch with us!

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This advertising is not an offering. The offer of a Lee’s Famous Recipe® franchise may take place only through the delivery of a current Franchise Disclosure Document or prospectus. No franchises are sold until a prospectus has been registered and declared effective, and an offering document has been delivered to the purchaser prior to the sale in compliance with applicable laws.