Urban Bird Hot Chicken, a Texas-born Nashville-style chain, is circling the Phoenix metro and looking for local operators to help it land. The company has started recruiting franchise partners in hopes of planting an initial cluster of restaurants around the Valley, jumping into what is already a crowded battlefield for fried-chicken fans.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, Urban Bird currently runs roughly two dozen locations in Texas and is seeking franchisees to open at least three restaurants in the Phoenix area.
Franchise Terms And Costs
Urban Bird's franchise materials list an initial franchise fee of $35,000, with total startup costs estimated between about $431,300 and $837,800. The brand also highlights an average unit net sales figure of roughly $1.67 million and notes that its franchising program officially rolled out in 2025. Training, support and other details are laid out in the company's franchise brochure.
Per the Urban Bird franchise brochure, that total investment range covers leasehold improvements, equipment, signage and initial marketing. The company also underscores that actual offers are made only through an effective Franchise Disclosure Document.
Where It Would Slot Into Phoenix's Hot-Chicken Scene
Phoenix is already stacked with both national chains and homegrown specialists competing for the city's spicy-chicken crowd. National fast-casual player Dave's Hot Chicken lists Arizona locations, while neighborhood spots such as Hot Chicken Alley and Monroe's Hot Chicken already serve Valley customers Nashville-style sandwiches and tenders. Any newcomer like Urban Bird will be vying for the same late-night crowds and family takeout dollars across multiple corners of the metro.
What Potential Franchisees Should Know
Urban Bird's franchise materials make it clear the brand is courting hands-on operators, not silent investors. The company outlines a multi-part training program that includes online modules, classroom sessions and in-restaurant training, along with help choosing a site and support through the opening process.
The brochure also lays out estimated labor and food-cost percentages and provides a sample average-unit sales metric. Prospective buyers are encouraged to dig into those figures during FDD review and discovery day meetings before deciding whether to sign on.
How To Apply
Interested operators can start the process by submitting an application through Urban Bird's franchise request form, after which a franchise-development representative will follow up if the territory is available. The company's franchise page hosts the request form and links to the brand's offering materials for would-be partners.
For more on the chain's Arizona plans, see the Phoenix Business Journal report and Urban Bird's franchise page.
