Top chipotle franchise information Top chipotle franchise information signature menu, the giant foil-wrapped burrito may not be that big but it surely is big enough to drive a massive success on its marketing campaigns and make the restaurant chain one of the most popular fast food franchises in the country today, and probably for the next decade. The Chipotle franchise founder, Steve Ells, was a culinary school graduate who dreamed of opening his very own fine dining restaurant. When Ells realized that he lacked enough funding for his goals, he established the Chipotle Mexican Grill in 1993, with high hopes that the money generated from this venture will help him open his ideal restaurant. The very first Chipotle location was in Denver. Surprisingly, many customers patronized its services and products, attracting the attention of aspiring entrepreneurs and investors. Top chipotle franchise information As of today, Chipotle avoids operating a typical franchise system. Because of this, there are presently no Chipotle franchises, no Chipotle franchises for sale, and no way for any interested entrepreneur to buy a Chipotle franchise - at least for now. In 1998, the McDonald's Corporation invested a large amount of money in the company, claiming an ownership right in Chipotle until the latter went through IPO (initial public offering) in 2006. Still, Chipotle continues to be a reputed fast food enterprise primarily because of its superior customer service and high quality ingredients used in its products. The company's lack of solid franchise model came out a surprise to many, since McDonald's had a huge influence on Chipotle's corporate operations during the eight years of financial involvement and assistance, not to mention the former's role in Chipotle's rapid expansion to over 547 stores in 26 US states. Ells stayed in the company throughout the transition from private management to a restaurant supported by a public corporation. Additional Chipotle Franchise Information and Costs Buying fast food franchises can cost a lot of money. Most parent companies ask for an initial franchise fee that can go as high as $25,000 and even higher. Ongoing royalty fees required from all franchisors, range from four to eight percent of the net profits. Companies raise capital in franchising, wherein they allow entrepreneurs to manage their own businesses with less supervision. In the case of Chipotle, it has enough cash to spend on continuous expansion without having the need to offer a Chipotle franchise to outside investors. The management's long-term expectations include a constant financial growth of 25 percent annually, should top chipotle franchise information more than a hundred fast food locations within the next five years.