Dixy Chicken Info is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or partnered with Dixy Chicken or Dixy Group Holdings Limited, and nothing on this page is financial advice.
Short version: a Dixy Chicken franchise is one of the cheapest ways into the UK fried chicken business. Third-party franchise directories put the total set-up cost at around £120,000, with a royalty of 4% of turnover, which is low next to the big American chains. The catch is that Dixy does not publish an official UK fee schedule, so every figure below is an estimate until the company confirms it in writing. Read the numbers as a starting point for a conversation, not as a quote.
Who you would be franchising from
Dixy Chicken was founded in 1986 in Solihull by Mohammed “Mo” Chowdhury and Samuel Jackson, and it grew from a single shop into a chain of more than 100 UK branches, almost all of them franchised. The brand now sits under Dixy Group Holdings Limited, which was acquired in 2022 by Mohammed Ali Bhatti, and the head office is in Bury, Greater Manchester. Our history of the brand covers the full story.
That background matters if you are putting money in. You are not buying into a giant corporation with a listed share price and a franchise disclosure document the size of a phone book. You are dealing with a mid-sized, privately run British chain whose strength is exactly what made it popular: a halal menu, keen prices and a loyal local following. The trade-off is less public information. You will have to ask more questions yourself, and this guide is built to help you ask the right ones.
How much does a Dixy Chicken franchise cost?
Dixy does not publish its UK franchise fees on its website, so the figures in circulation come from franchise directories and recruitment listings. They are consistent with each other, which makes them worth taking seriously as estimates, but they are still estimates. Always get the current figures confirmed by Dixy Group Holdings before you commit to anything.
| Cost | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total set-up cost | Around £120,000 | Third-party estimate covering fit-out, equipment, signage, initial stock and fees |
| Initial franchise fee | Not published | Included in the set-up estimate above; Dixy confirms the exact fee during application |
| Royalty | 4% of turnover | Payable monthly, according to franchise directory listings |
| Marketing levy | Not published | Ask whether a separate advertising contribution applies |
The 4% royalty is the number that jumps out. KFC charges 6% of turnover plus a further 5% for advertising. A Dixy franchisee keeps a noticeably bigger slice of every pound that goes through the till, although of course Dixy also spends far less on national advertising than KFC does, so the brand pulls in less passing trade for you.
How Dixy compares with other chicken franchises
If you are shopping around, and you should, here is how the main halal-friendly chicken franchises line up on published or widely listed figures. KFC is included for scale, although in practice it rarely takes on new individual franchisees in the UK.
| Franchise | Total set-up | Initial fee | Ongoing charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixy Chicken | Around £120,000 | Not published | 4% royalty |
| Chicken Cottage | £120,000 to £250,000 | Around £16,000 | Royalty applies; £90,000 to £125,000 liquid capital expected |
| Pepe’s Piri Piri | £300,000 to £350,000 | Around £15,000 plus VAT | Royalty applies |
| KFC | £500,000 to £2,000,000+ | Around £38,000 | 6% royalty plus 5% advertising |
On paper, Dixy and Chicken Cottage are the entry-level routes, Pepe’s sits a tier above, and KFC is in a different league entirely. Our Dixy vs Chicken Cottage comparison looks at the two brands from the customer’s side of the counter, which is worth reading too: a franchise is only worth buying if people want to eat there.
How to apply, step by step
Dixy’s application process, as described in its franchise material, runs in a fairly standard order:
- Submit the application form. The starting point is the franchise enquiry form, covering your funding, your background and where you want to trade.
- Review and initial meeting. Dixy reviews the form and, if the numbers work, invites you to an initial meeting to talk through the model.
- Site approval. If you have a location in mind, Dixy assesses it and issues a site approval letter if it passes. Finding the right unit is usually the longest part of the whole process.
- Head office meeting. A further meeting at HQ to go through the agreement, the territory and the fit-out in detail.
- Sign the agreement and pay the licence fee. This is the point of commitment. Take independent legal advice on the agreement before you sign; this is standard practice, not a sign of distrust.
- Shop survey and fit-out. The unit is surveyed and fitted out to brand standard, with the equipment package installed.
- Pay the balance and open. Training, initial stock and launch support follow, then you trade.
What the application form asks
The form is thorough, and it is worth knowing what is coming before you start. Expect to state how much capital you have, how the purchase is financed (your own money versus borrowing), and details of your assets and liabilities. It also asks about bankruptcy and County Court Judgments. A CCJ does not automatically disqualify you, but hiding one would be far worse than declaring it. There are background questions too, about your work history and any experience in food or retail.
Two practical tips. First, have your figures ready before the first meeting: how much you can invest, how much you need to borrow, and how long you can run before the shop pays you a wage. Second, visit several existing branches as a customer, at different times of day, and look at them with an owner’s eye. Queue length, cleanliness, staff numbers and delivery drivers waiting outside tell you more about the real business than any brochure.
Will you make money?
Honest answer: nobody can tell you that, and you should be suspicious of anyone who does. Some third-party franchise sites quote typical owner earnings for chicken franchises, but Dixy publishes no profit figures for its branches, and individual results vary enormously with location, rent and how well the shop is run. The economics of the high street are visible in our menu price guides: Dixy competes on value, so margins depend on volume and tight cost control rather than premium pricing.
Before signing, ask Dixy for the things a serious franchisor should be willing to discuss: average branch turnover bands, how many branches closed in the last three years, what training and launch support is included, who supplies the chicken and at what pricing, and whether your territory is protected. If several existing franchisees will talk to you, that is a good sign. Ask the company to put you in touch, and pick which ones you call rather than accepting a hand-picked list.
How to contact Dixy about a franchise
Go through the official Dixy Chicken website and its franchise section, so you know you are dealing with Dixy Group Holdings itself. Franchise directories list an email address and phone number for Dixy’s franchise team, but directory details go stale and are occasionally wrong, so verify any contact details on the official site before sending personal or financial information anywhere. Never pay a fee to a third party who claims they can fast-track your application; the application goes to the company directly.
Common questions
How much does a Dixy Chicken franchise cost in the UK?
Third-party franchise directories estimate the total set-up cost at around £120,000, including fit-out, equipment and fees, with a royalty of 4% of turnover. Dixy does not publish an official UK fee schedule, so treat these as estimates and get current figures confirmed during your application.
What royalty does Dixy Chicken charge?
Listings put the royalty at 4% of turnover, payable monthly. That is lower than KFC’s 6% plus 5% advertising levy. Ask Dixy to confirm whether any separate marketing contribution applies on top.
Can I open a Dixy Chicken franchise with a CCJ or past bankruptcy?
The application form asks about both, but a CCJ does not automatically disqualify you. Be upfront about it. What matters most is your available capital, your financing and your plan for the site.
Does Dixy Chicken choose my shop location?
You propose the site and Dixy approves it. A site approval letter is one of the formal steps in the process, so do not sign a lease on a unit until Dixy has approved it in writing.
How long does it take to open a Dixy Chicken?
Timings depend mostly on finding and fitting out the right unit. The application, meetings and agreement stages are measured in weeks; site hunting and fit-out usually take months. Ask for a realistic timeline at your head office meeting.
Is a Dixy Chicken franchise profitable?
Dixy publishes no branch profit figures, and results vary widely by location and management. Do your own sums using realistic rents, wages and food costs, speak to existing franchisees, and take independent financial and legal advice before signing.