Eat (Lots) More Chicken

Although Justin Kranitz was in law enforcement for 10 years, he always had the itch to own a business.

He explored opportunities and decided on a Chick-fil-A franchise in Polk County. First, he was operator of the Lakeland Square Mall location, and then, more recently, he bought the new Davenport restaurant.

Kranitz declined to disclose what he paid for the store, though Chick-fil-A is known in the fast-food sector for its unique approach to franchising: A low cost to entry, usually a $10,000 franchise fee, is balanced with higher recurring costs later in the process. Also, Chick-fil-A, according to its franchise documents, “requires that the individual be free of any other active business ventures and operate the restaurant on a full-time, hands-on basis.”