For over 25 successful years Petro’s Chili & Chips has been operating company stores and offering franchises in both traditional and non-traditional venues. Introduced at the World’s Fair in 1982 with rave reviews, the Petro’s concept continues to enjoy a unique niche today. The most desirable locations are free standing drive thru units and also end-caps on strip centers with drive-thru capabilities. The concept is adaptable and can do well in strong regional malls, theme parks, campuses, airports and sports venues. Petro’s Chili & Chips continues to wow and gain new customers, create raving fans and stand behinds it’ ongoing “Love at First Bite–Guaranteed!” offer.
Petro’s Chili & Chips desires to partner with qualified, enthusiastic people to become franchisees of this growing, exciting concept. Our franchise partners are dedicated to setting the top standard of guest experience. From the preparation and taste of the food, to the speed and accuracy of the order, the power of our people to make decisions, the friendly face at the counter and the cleanliness of the restaurant, our Petro’s Chili & Chips franchise partners proudly strive to deliver a great guest experience every time.
Now is your chance to join the successful team of Petro’s Chili & Chip’s franchisees and become your own boss.
How to Apply for A Petro’s Franchise
Online Franchise Application Form: Apply for a Franchise Online
Download Printable Franchise Application Form: Franchise Application PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
The average initial investment to open a single Petro’s® Chili & Chips restaurant ranges from $180,000 – $550,000. These costs include franchise fee, lease deposits, leasehold improvements, fixtures and equipment, miscellaneous suppliers, opening inventory, initial advertising, signs and working capital.
Petro’s® Chili & Chips does not offer financing. Bank and SBA loan finance programs have been utilized by financially qualified franchises to finance their restaurants.
Each location is different, depending on a variety of factors, including site selection, build-out requirements and training. However, it typically takes approximately ten months from signing the franchise agreement to opening day at your Petro’s® restaurant.
The monthly royalty is 5% of net sales (gross sales less sales tax). Building regional and national recognition of the Petros Chili & Chips® name and reputation is an essential objective of the system. Each store expends a minimum of 4.5% Marketing fee of which 3.5% is for local advertising in their local markets using approved materials and 1% is for national advertising.
The Federal Trade Commission, through the Franchise Disclosure Document contract, prohibits Petro’s® Chili & Chips from making specific profit projections. We encourage you to learn more about our restaurants by speaking with our franchisees. Our franchisees were once in your position of investigating our franchise program and had many of the same questions you probably have now.
Prior to your restaurant opening, we will furnish initial training on the operation of a Petros Chili & Chips ® restaurant. The training takes place in Knoxville, Tennessee and lasts three to four weeks: consisting both of classroom content and in-restaurant, hands on training and developmental activities. We require that two people who will be working full time attend training prior to the store opening. If the franchise owner will not be full time in the store, they are at minimum required to go through one week of training in order to understand the Petro’s operation and know what to look for in running a successful food operaton.
The first step is to return the online application to us. This does not obligate you or Petros Chili & Chips® in any way. Upon receipt and review, we will contact you in order to address your questions. The next step would be to send you the Petro’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) which contains information required by the Federal Trade Commission and the particular state in which your Petros Chili & Chips® restaurant will be located. A copy of our franchise agreement is contained in this document, and if applicable, our Area Development and Master Franchise agreements. The FDD will enable you to diligently investigate our franchise program.
No. While it does help to have prior food or restaurant experience, Petros does not require it. We will recommend you bring on a management team that does have some experience. We have franchisees from all walks of life, and what is most important to us is that we have franchisees with a willingness to work hard, run the proven Petro’s “play” and have a passion for their business.
Our competitive advantage! Petro’s offers a unique, one-of-a-kind menu; there’s nowhere else where you can get a Petro® nor our signature Hint-of-Orange Iced Tea®. The operation and equipment requirements are relatively simple compared to most other Quick Service Restaurants.
Absolutely. We are staffed with a team of well-qualified professionals who are here to help you feel comfortable in every step you take with Petro’s. Beginning with your site selection and continuing with construction drawings, equipment purchases, operational needs including a 90 day countdown that gets you to opening day, our professional staff will lead and guide you through the process until your doors open for business. Our entire staff works hard to ensure that you have a successful opening and is always available for you to help insure the success of your store.
The week of your grand opening, you will have at least one corporate trainer in your store in addition to possible other members of our team to help you start off on the right foot. The corporate trainer will stay with you for two weeks during your grand opening. Your store will be visited ongoing in order to guide, coach and inspect your store after opening. We will also help you organize and execute your training and hiring process, along with overcoming any obstacles that may arise in the days prior to opening.
| Preopening Budget |
Cost |
| Initial Franchise Fee |
$20,000 |
| Travel & Living Expenses While Training |
$1,000 – $5,000 |
| Opening Advertising |
$2,000 – $5,000 |
| Real Properties |
$1,800 – $3,800 |
| Equipment, Fixtures & Decor |
$25,000 – $151,000 |
| Signage |
$5,000 -$12,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements |
$100,000 – $300,000* |
| Opening Inventory |
$5,000 – $8,000 |
| Deposits & Pre-Paid Expenses |
$1,000 – $2,000 |
| Business Licenses |
$1,000 -$2,000 |
| Insurance |
$2,000 -$10,000 |
| Accounting System |
$1,200 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses |
$0 – $5,000 |
| Two Months Operating Capital |
15,000 |
| TOTAL |
$180,000 – $550,000 |
* Does not include the purchase of land nor the site prep of land, should you decide not to a ground lease or have landlord not include any site prep needed.
