Part 5/10:
Chick-fil-A operators are expected to be highly involved in the day-to-day running of the restaurant. I know firsthand that successful operators work extremely hard—slinging fries, managing staff, engaging with the community, and embodying the brand’s values both on and off the clock.
While I have no issue with hard work—it's a vital component of any successful business—I’m also looking for long-term scalability and freedom. Chick-fil-A’s model doesn’t provide this:
- Limited to one store initially: While they have started allowing some operators to own multiple locations, the rule is still generally limited to one. The idea of scaling across multiple units or markets is constrained.