Franchise Facts Report → compare → Little Caesars vs Chester's
Little Caesars vs Chester's
Two quick-service restaurant franchises, compared on the numbers their own Franchise Disclosure Documents put on record — investment, fees, Item 19 earnings, outlet churn, and litigation. Not marketing copy.
| Little Caesars | Chester's | |
|---|---|---|
| Total initial investment FDD Item 7 | $393,000 – $1,728,700 | $27,500 – $296,500 |
| Initial franchise fee FDD Item 5 | $20,000 | $3,500 |
| Royalty FDD Item 6 | 6% | — |
| Item 19 earnings disclosed FDD Item 19 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Avg unit revenue (headline) FDD Item 19 | — | — |
| Franchised outlets FDD Item 20 | 3,601 | 1,002 |
| Net outlet change (latest yr) FDD Item 20 | -26 | -79 |
| Closure rate FDD Item 20 | 2% | 7.4% |
| Franchisee lawsuits FDD Item 3 | disclosed | 0 |
| Risk level our read | High | Medium |
| FDD year registration | 2024 | 2024 |
Are Little Caesars and Chester's the same company?
No — Little Caesars and Chester's are franchised by separate companies. Little Caesars's franchisor is Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.; Chester's's is Chester's International, LLC. Each registers and files its own Franchise Disclosure Document, and you would be signing with a different entity depending on which you chose. Note that a registry filing names the franchisor, not necessarily its ultimate parent — two brands owned by the same parent company can still have separate franchisors.
Cost to open
Chester's is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $27,500 – $296,500, against $393,000 – $1,728,700 for Little Caesars.
How much does each make? (Item 19)
Neither Little Caesars nor Chester's makes an Item 19 financial performance representation in its most recent FDD — neither franchisor discloses what units earn. Any earnings claim you hear for either brand is not backed by the disclosure document.
Closures & failure rate
Little Caesars reports 3,601 franchised outlets, net change -26 in the latest reported year, a 2% closure rate (FDD Item 20). Chester's reports 1,002 franchised outlets, net change -79 in the latest reported year, a 7.4% closure rate (FDD Item 20). Outlet churn — closures, terminations, non-renewals — is the closest thing an FDD has to a failure rate.
Litigation
Little Caesars discloses litigation in FDD Item 3 (each case is described there). Chester's discloses no franchisee-initiated proceedings in FDD Item 3.
Deciding between Little Caesars and Chester's?
See what else fits before you choose. Tell us your budget and state and we'll send you the 5–10 quick-service restaurant franchises (or any industries you pick) with the strongest FDD record for it.
Little Caesars vs Chester's — frequently asked
Are Little Caesars and Chester's the same company?
No — Little Caesars and Chester's are franchised by separate companies. Little Caesars's franchisor is Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.; Chester's's is Chester's International, LLC. Each registers and files its own Franchise Disclosure Document, and you would be signing with a different entity depending on which you chose. Note that a registry filing names the franchisor, not necessarily its ultimate parent — two brands owned by the same parent company can still have separate franchisors.
What is the difference between Little Caesars and Chester's?
Little Caesars and Chester's are quick-service restaurant franchises from different franchisors (Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. and Chester's International, LLC). Chester's is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $27,500 – $296,500, against $393,000 – $1,728,700 for Little Caesars. Neither Little Caesars nor Chester's makes an Item 19 financial performance representation in its most recent FDD — neither franchisor discloses what units earn. Any earnings claim you hear for either brand is not backed by the disclosure document.
Is Little Caesars more profitable than Chester's?
Neither Little Caesars nor Chester's makes an Item 19 financial performance representation in its most recent FDD — neither franchisor discloses what units earn. Any earnings claim you hear for either brand is not backed by the disclosure document.
Which is cheaper to open — Little Caesars or Chester's?
Chester's is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $27,500 – $296,500, against $393,000 – $1,728,700 for Little Caesars.
Is Little Caesars or Chester's growing faster?
Little Caesars reports 3,601 franchised outlets, net change -26 in the latest reported year, a 2% closure rate (FDD Item 20). Chester's reports 1,002 franchised outlets, net change -79 in the latest reported year, a 7.4% closure rate (FDD Item 20).
Go deeper on each brand
Quick-service restaurant rankings
Figures are as disclosed in each brand's most recent registered FDD (Little Caesars 2024, Chester's 2024). “—” means the FDD does not disclose it or the table did not parse cleanly — never an estimate.