Franchise Empire Articles

Franchise of the Week: KFC & a $200k Recession Resistant Resale

Written by Tariq Johnson | Nov 30, 2025 1:00:01 PM

Hey Empire Builders, Welcome to this week’s Franchise Empire Newsletter, where we share specific franchise opportunities that we think are interesting and examples of everyday folks building their empires.

Today, in 5 minutes or less:

✔ Recession-Resistant Resale for $200k

 A Family Business with a Future: Kevin & Ben’s Franchise Story

 Is opening a KFC worth it? (Costs, Sales, & Fees)

 Can You Keep Your Job and Still Own a Franchise?

**Sales are non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the source; they should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Attention Franchise Buyers:

For those of you who are struggling to find the right franchise, or maybe you’ve worked with a broker or consultant and haven’t had success…

We now offer complimentary access to our proprietary Zero to Profitable Franchise™ system to help you get access to the most proven franchises and reduce your risk, so that you can buy a money-making franchise with confidence and PROTECT YOUR ASSETS. 

This is exclusively available for franchise buyers that want to work with our team in a brokerage capacity to find, vet, and launch a money-making franchise.

You can schedule a free consultation with our team to see if you qualify and if we are the right fit to work with each other.

You can do that here https://www.franchiseempire.com/ztpf

FEATURED RESALE

Franchise resales possess many benefits for aspiring business owners – established cash flow, experienced employees, systems in place, and brand awareness, to name a few. 

CONFIDENTIAL - For Qualified Buyers 

Dallas, Texas (CONFIDENTIAL: Brand & Location available upon request)
  • Service business for residential and commercial
  • Asking Price: $200,000
  • Prior year Gross Sales: $493,000**
  • Years in Business: 3
  • Territories available: 3

**Revenue, or any financial numbers, is non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the franchisor. You should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Franchise Empire’s Take:

  • This Franchisor is part of an established brand with proven systems, a long track record of franchisee success

  • Recession resistant

  • Opportunity to further grow this territory and scale by acquiring a neighboring franchisee

Curious to learn more about this particular franchise resale, or other resales available in your area?

We have a list of over 100+ resales with various brands spanning the United States and Canada. Click the link below to find out what specific opportunities are available in your area.

🎉 New Franchise Owner through Franchise Empire 🎉

After a long and successful career in sales, Kevin was ready for something more meaningful, a business he could build with his son, Ben, right in their hometown of Oklahoma City. They weren’t just looking for income. They were looking for a path to long-term freedom, where Kevin could guide the business early on, and Ben could eventually take over full-time.

Home services quickly became the focus, thanks to the simple operations, scalability, and strong market demand. After working through our process and evaluating several options, Kevin and Ben found the perfect fit.

Now, they’re officially stepping into business ownership with 1 territory locked in. They are ready to grow together, build something lasting, and create a legacy rooted in family. Congrats, Kevin and Ben, your journey is just getting started!

FRANCHISE OF THE WEEK

Description & History:

It started back in 1930, when Harland Sanders, at age 40, began selling fried chicken out of a Shell oil service station in Corbin, Kentucky. What began as a small roadside hustle grew into Sanders Court & Café, a combined motel and restaurant that served travelers homemade comfort food. By 1940, Sanders perfected his now-famous blend of 11 herbs and spices and paired it with a pressure-cooking method that cut chicken-cooking time from 30 minutes to a fraction, the breakthrough that made scaling possible.

In 1952, Sanders partnered with Pete Harmon in Salt Lake City to open the first official KFC franchise, and Harmon later coined the iconic slogan “Finger Lickin’ Good.” The legend says Sanders was rejected 1,009 times while pitching his recipe, a story that may be dramatized, but it underscores his grit. In 1964, Sanders sold KFC for about $2 million (roughly $20M today) but stayed on as the brand ambassador for life.

By 1970, KFC had exploded to 3,000 restaurants across 48 countries, becoming one of America’s earliest globally franchised fast-food chains. Today, the brand has 24,000+ locations worldwide, and incredibly, KFC is the #1 fast-food chain in China with over 9,000 locations, more than triple the U.S. count. What started as one man cooking chicken in a gas station has become one of the most recognizable restaurant brands on Earth. So, let's see what it takes to own a KFC of your own.👇

*You should treat the values as approximated values. These values were found online through research.

Numbers*:

  • Total Units Worldwide: 24,000+
  • Initial Investment: $1.8M - $3.7M
  • Franchise Fee: $45,000 
  • Royalty Fee: 4%
  • Advertising Fee: 4.5%
  • Ownership Mix: 99% franchised, 1% corporate 
*Numbers according to their FDD, released in 2025, and their updated website.
 

Ideal Franchise Candidate:

  • Multi-Unit Food Operator: Someone already operating restaurant brands and comfortable with high-volume, low-margin businesses.

  • Financially Strong Investor: Able to fund $1.8M-$3.7M builds and support long-term operations before reaching scale.

  • People-Focused Leader: Experienced in managing large teams of hourly staff across multiple shifts.

  • Operationally Disciplined: Comfortable running tight cost controls in a business where margins require precision.

  • Growth-Driven Owner: Interested in multi-unit development, as profitability in food often comes from scale.

Financial Data*:

*Information below taken from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document – Item 19 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits for the Franchisee:

  • Strong Global Brand: KFC’s name, product, and reputation are instantly recognized around the world, giving owners built-in customer trust.

  • Proven Operating System: Franchisees get access to decades of tested processes, training, and support that make running the business more structured and predictable.

  • Powerful Marketing & Advertising: KFC benefits from national and global marketing campaigns that individual owners don’t have to create themselves.

  • Large Support Network: Owners are part of a massive franchise system with resources for supply chain, operations, technology, and ongoing improvements.

  • Scalable Model: KFC supports multi-unit development, which is useful for groups looking to grow beyond a single location.

To see if this franchise is available in your territory OR Check the availability of ALL franchises in your area

Episode #152: Can You Keep Your Job and Still Own a Franchise?

Thinking about buying a franchise in 2025? Wondering if you can keep your job and still make passive income from a semi-absentee franchise? In this video, we reveal the hard truth about passive franchise ownership and break down the biggest mistakes people make when choosing a franchise business model. Whether you're researching the best franchises to own or comparing business ideas that make real money, this episode will help you avoid costly errors and choose the right path.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platform

That’s a wrap for this week’s Franchise Empire newsletter. 

Feel free to reply with any questions, or feedback. I appreciate and value your time and attention.

I’ll see you at the same time next week!

-Tariq and The Franchise Empire Team