The Chicken Sandwich Profit Calculator is your go-to tool for discovering how much revenue and profit you can make selling chicken sandwiches. Just input your ingredient costs, selling price, and sales volume, and the calculator will instantly show your margins, daily revenue, and potential yearly profits. You can even add premium upgrades like brioche buns or specialty sauces improve the bottom line. Find out why fast-food chains like Chick-fil-A, Popeye’s, and countless others have made the chicken sandwich a centerpiece of their menus.
Chicken Sandwich Profit Calculator
Base Ingredients
Operational Costs
Sales Data
Premium Options
How to use this calculator
Here’s everything you need to know about using this tool effectively.
1. Base Ingredients
- Chicken Breast Cost: Enter the cost per pound of chicken breast. The default is $2.81/lb. This is a variable cost so make sure to regularly update this.
- Bun Cost: Input your cost per bun. Default is $0.50 per unit.
- Additional Ingredients: This covers lettuce, tomato, mayo, and other basic toppings. Default is $0.50 per sandwich.
The classic chicken sandwich.
2. Operational Costs
- Fry Oil Cost: Enter the cost of oil used per sandwich. Default is $0.40, accounting for fryer oil changes and usage.
- Prep Time: How many minutes it takes to prepare one sandwich? Default is 5 minutes, including assembly and cooking. With experienced employees, you can get this number a bit lower.
- Labor Cost: Your hourly labor rate. Default is $18/hour, but adjust based on your location.
Could you sell 100 of these per day?
3. Sales Data
- Selling Price: Your menu price per sandwich. Default is $10.00.
- Daily Sales Volume: Expected number of sandwiches sold per day. Default is 100 units.
4. Premium Options
Add custom upgrades like:
- Handmade dredge (+$0.20)
- Locally sourced chicken (+$0.50)
- House-made sauce (+$0.30)
- Create your own premium options with custom prices
Click the “Calculate Results” button to get your estimates.
Understanding the calculations
Cost per Sandwich:
Total Cost = Base Ingredients + Operational Costs + Labor + Premium Options
Where:
- Base Ingredients = Chicken Cost + Bun Cost + Additional Ingredients
- Labor Cost per Sandwich = (Prep Time in Minutes / 60) × Hourly Labor Rate
Pop quiz: How much will this Caesar Chicken Sandwich cost to make?
Profit calculations:
Gross Margin per Sandwich = Selling Price - Total Cost
Profit Margin % = (Gross Margin / Selling Price) × 100
Daily Revenue = Selling Price × Daily Sales Volume
Daily Profit = Gross Margin × Daily Sales Volume
Monthly Figures = Daily Figures × 30 days
Yearly Figures = Monthly Figures × 12 months
Break-even analysis:
Break-even Units = Fixed Daily Costs / (Selling Price - Variable Cost per Unit)
Where:
- Fixed Daily Costs = Labor Cost × 8 hours
- Variable Cost per Unit = Total Cost per Sandwich
About this calculator
For years, Malcolm Bedell and I teamed up to teach an annual food truck entrepreneurship course, where Malcolm often highlighted one of the most profitable menu items you could offer: the fried chicken sandwich. In those sessions, he didn’t just talk about the perfect crunch or the buttery softness of a brioche bun; he broke down the numbers, revealing why so many fast food chains have leaned heavily on the chicken sandwich.
Malcolm Bedell
Malcolm even shared real-world data from his restaurant, Ancho Honey, where he ran a special called Chicken Sando Sunday. Using the same inputs and calculations you’ll find in the Chicken Sandwich Profit Calculator, he showed how a sandwich with basic ingredients like chicken thighs, buns, and a simple sauce could generate significant profit margins. He was selling these sandwiches for $8-$10, often making $6-$8 in profit per sandwich sold.
Of course, Malcolm always shared behind-the-scenes realities of the chicken sandwich game, too. For example, he explained the labor-intensive prep involved in deboning chicken thighs while keeping the skin intact to ensure maximum flavor. He also discussed the importance of sourcing high-stability fryer oil to keep costs manageable and how even small mistakes in prep can eat into profit.
Still, the numbers don’t lie. Selling 100 sandwiches a day at those margins can completely transform your profit-and-loss statement. And with premium upgrades like house-made sauces, pickles, or switching to brioche buns, you can upcharge customers and watch those profits climb even higher.
Ways to elevate your chicken sandwich game
Fast forward a few years after our food truck classes and Malcolm decided to take his own advice and launch his own chicken sandwich restaurant aptly named “The Original Honey’s Fried Chicken Palace“.
The beauty of the chicken sandwich lies in its versatility. Sure, the classic combo of fried chicken, a soft bun, and a simple topping like pickles is timeless, but what really sets a sandwich apart (and justifies a higher price tag) is the extra thought and creativity you put into it. Here are some ways to upgrade your chicken sandwich, make it more customizable, and turn it into a must-try menu item according to Malcolm.
Premium Buns: The Foundation Matters
Don’t underestimate the power of a great bun. Switching from a standard roll to a buttery brioche bun or a pretzel bun can instantly elevate the sandwich’s perceived value. Consider offering choices: brioche for a rich, classic feel, ciabatta for a rustic, artisanal vibe, or even potato rolls for that nostalgic, comfort-food touch. Bonus points if your buns are locally sourced.
Dynamic duo: Jalapeno popper chicken sandwiches.
Sauces That Steal the Show
House-made sauces are one of the easiest ways to create a signature flavor while adding a premium feel. Malcom suggests thinking beyond basic mayo and coming up with your own boss sauce like:
- Garlic Aioli for a subtle, savory kick.
- Spicy Honey Mustard to add sweetness and heat.
- Herbed Ranch with fresh dill and parsley for a cooling contrast.
- Sriracha Maple Syrup for a sweet-and-spicy glaze that doubles as a conversation topic.
Offering sauce options also lets customers personalize their sandwich while subtly increasing perceived value.
Toppings That Tell a Story
Think of toppings as your chance to tell a culinary story. Instead of standard lettuce and tomato, try:
- Slaws: A tangy apple-cabbage slaw or spicy gochujang slaw adds texture and global flair.
- Cheeses: Add a slice of pepper jack for heat, smoked gouda for depth, or even brie for indulgence.
- Herbs and Greens: Fresh arugula, microgreens, or basil can add a pop of color and freshness.
Each topping can be tied to a theme—Southern-style with pimento cheese, Mediterranean with tzatziki and feta, or even Hawaiian with grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce. Go wild and stick with the ideas that your customer base votes on with their wallets.
Important: Remember that while the calculator provides accurate projections based on your inputs, real-world factors like waste, seasonal changes, and market conditions should also be considered in your final business decisions.
Keep revisiting and updating your calculations as your business evolves and costs change. This dynamic approach to financial planning will help ensure long-term success in the competitive food service industry.
Related tools:
Resize Your Recipe Calculator & Shopping List Tool: This will make scaling your chicken sandwich recipe easier. Whether you’re gearing up to serve a crowd at a food truck festival or scaling down this tool helps you adjust ingredient quantities with precision.
Menu Recipe Scaling & Food Cost Calculator: Another tool Malcolm helped build to set prices for all your menu items.
About the Author: Brett Lindenberg
