By the Bucket

By the Bucket

Information based on 2022 FDD

Food & Beverage · Fast Food

Investment min
$180K
Total: $180K–$266K
Avg gross revenue
N/A
Unit-level, 2022
Franchise fee
$50K
Per current disclosure
Royalty
6.5%
of gross revenue
Locations
4
Franchising since 2021

Description

What is By the Bucket?

By the Bucket is an innovative fast-food concept that's revolutionizing the way Americans enjoy comfort food. Founded in 2018, this emerging franchise has quickly captured attention with its unique approach to casual dining, offering a fresh take on convenient, satisfying meals that bring people together.

The brand's signature offering centers around perfectly seasoned, generously portioned meals served in their iconic bucket presentation, creating an instantly recognizable and shareable dining experience. This novel concept combines the convenience of fast food with an engaging, social dining atmosphere that resonates with modern consumers looking for both quality and experience in their dining choices.

What sets By the Bucket apart is their commitment to quality ingredients, consistent flavor profiles, and a streamlined operational model that ensures both customer satisfaction and franchise success. Their menu is carefully crafted to balance crowd-pleasing favorites with innovative twists, creating a unique niche in the competitive fast-food landscape.

The franchise system is designed with modern entrepreneurs in mind, offering comprehensive training programs and operational support to help franchisees thrive in their local markets. Their business model emphasizes efficiency and scalability, while maintaining the high standards that have helped build their reputation.

As a relatively young brand showing promising growth, By the Bucket represents an opportunity to join an emerging concept at an exciting stage of development. Their expansion strategy focuses on maintaining quality and consistency while adapting to local market preferences, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the dynamic food service industry.
  • Low barrier entry investment model
  • Chicken-focused fast food specialization
  • Emerging brand growth potential
  • Accessible franchise investment threshold
  • Developing market territory availability
  • Hands-on operator business model

Location Analysis

Where By the Bucket wins

By the Bucket, a relatively new fast-food concept established in 2018, currently maintains a limited market presence with concentrated geographic distribution. As an emerging brand in the quick-service restaurant space, the franchise shows early-stage development characteristics with operations focused primarily in a single market area. While specific state data is unavailable, this concentrated presence suggests a strategic focus on proving the concept in a controlled geographic area before broader expansion.

The brand's current limited market presence presents both challenges and opportunities for potential franchisees. Early market entrants have the advantage of securing prime territories in untapped markets, particularly in high-traffic areas with strong demographics for fast-food consumption. Ideal locations should prioritize areas with high foot traffic, proximity to business districts or educational institutions, and demographics aligned with quick-service dining preferences.

For maximum success potential, new franchisees should focus on locations with: - Dense population areas with median household incomes of $40,000-$75,000 - High visibility and easy access from major thoroughfares - Proximity to complementary businesses that drive foot traffic - Strong lunch crowd demographics within a 3-mile radius - Limited direct competition in the immediate trade area

While the brand's current footprint indicates it's still establishing market presence, this early-stage positioning offers first-mover advantages in many potential markets for strategic franchisees.
Total US locations
5
Franchise units
4
Corporate locations
1
Avg. sq. footage
N/A
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Financial Analysis

The numbers behind By the Bucket

Avg gross revenueN/A
Investment range$179,800 – $265,500
Investment midpoint$222,650
Brand fund2.5%
Royalty6.5%
Franchise fee$50,000
Min. net worth
Min. liquid capital
By the Bucket presents an entry-level investment opportunity in the fast food sector, requiring $179,800 to $265,500 in total capital—substantially lower than the sub-sector average of $713,504 to $1.8 million. This accessible investment threshold positions the franchise for emerging entrepreneurs or those seeking portfolio diversification without premium capital commitments.

The chicken-focused fast food concept operates within a resilient market segment driven by consumer demand for convenient, protein-centric meals. However, the franchise system's limited scale of 5 units since 2018 indicates early-stage development, presenting both opportunity and inherent startup risks. This modest footprint suggests limited brand recognition and developing operational infrastructure compared to established competitors.

The emerging franchise status requires careful evaluation of franchisor support systems, proven business models, and territory development strategies. Prospective investors should assess the franchisor's experience in scaling operations and providing comprehensive training programs. The lower investment barrier may attract multiple market entrants, potentially intensifying local competition.

Ideal candidates include hands-on operators with food service experience and sufficient liquid capital to sustain operations during the brand-building phase. The accessible investment level suits first-time franchisees, though investors must weigh growth potential against system maturity risks. Multi-unit development opportunities may be available given the limited current presence. Thorough FDD review and franchisor financial stability assessment are essential given the system's developmental stage.
Did you know? Did you know that starting your own By the Bucket franchise - bringing delicious fried chicken and comfort food to your community - requires a total investment between $179,800 and $265,500, which includes the $50,000 franchise fee plus all the equipment, buildout costs, and working capital needed to get your crispy chicken business clucking along profitably?

Financing partners

Vetted partners, tailored to franchisees

Your Franzy advisor can connect you with these partners later in the process — competitive rates, specialized in franchise financing.

FranFund

Lender

CRF USA

Nonprofit SBA lender; provides financing for franchise acquisitions, startups, and expansion.

Lender

First Bank of the Lake

Lender

Pension Pros

Lender

FDD Item 7

Initial investment range

$180K–$266K
Most common
$179,800
Minimum
$222,650
Midpoint
$265,500
Maximum

Per FDD Item 7, total initial investment ranges from $179,800 to $265,500. The midpoint $222,650 is what most franchisees report at signing — financing typically reduces cash-at-close by 80–90%. Knowing the investment range helps you plan confidently and ensure you're fully prepared to make the leap.

Growth over time

Franchise footprint

+150% YoY
654210
2019
2020
2021
2022
5 units open as of 2022 FDD+3 in last 12 mo

2022 Franchise Disclosure

FDD documents

Below are items 2, 3, 4, 7, 11 and 19 for By the Bucket's 2022 FDD. The complete FDD is delivered to you directly by the franchisor, per the FTC Franchise Rule.

Estimated initial investment
FDD Item 7 · PDF
Financial performance representations
FDD Item 19 · PDF
Members-only items
Executive team
FDD Item 2 · PDF
Litigation
FDD Item 3 · PDF
Bankruptcy
FDD Item 4 · PDF
Franchisor assistance
FDD Item 11 · PDF
Members only
Unlock the 2022 FDD

Connect to download Items 2, 3, 4, and 11 — direct from the franchisor.

Buyer FAQs

Frequently asked questions

The initial investment for a By the Bucket franchise typically ranges between $179,800.00 and $265,500.00. This includes the franchise fee, equipment, real estate, and other startup costs. To get a detailed breakdown and better understand the financial requirements, we recommend scheduling a call with the Franzy team. We'll walk you through the specifics and answer any questions you might have. For more detailed information, refer to the financial sections of the FDD.

Disclaimer. The information provided on this page is based on the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that is publicly available and that we have on record, which was issued in 2022. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or business advice. We make no guarantees or claims regarding the completeness or accuracy. For the most current and detailed information, we recommend consulting the franchisor directly for the most recent FDD and regarding any questions that you may have about the information provided.

By the Bucket
By the Bucket
N/A avg revenue · 4+ US franchises

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