Own Your Very Own Skyline

Gather together with friends and family for Coneys & Ways at your favorite neighborhood Skyline.

Own Your Very Own Skyline

Gather together with friends and family for Coneys & Ways at your favorite neighborhood Skyline.

Opportunities exist for single-unit owner/operators and multi-unit development within selected geographical areas in portions of the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee that are typically within 300 miles of our Fairfield, OH Commissary. We are actively recruiting for the I-75 and I-71 corridor. For more information, fill out our Franchise Questionnaire and we’ll mail you a detailed franchise development package.

General Requirements
for a new Skyline franchisee:

  • A net worth of $500,000 – $1,000,000 (excluding personal residence)
  • Liquid capital of $200,000 – $400,000
  • The ability to obtain financing for a $500,000 to $2,000,000 project
  • Successful experience in a retail food service or sales/marketing environment
  • An enthusiastic approach to fulfilling the Skyline Chili vision

Fee structure:

  • Initial franchise fee: $20,000
  • Area Development Fee (per store): $5,000
  • Royalty Fees: 4% of Gross Sales
  • Advertising Fees: 4% of Gross Sales

General Requirements
for a new Skyline franchisee:

  • A net worth of $500,000 – $1,000,000 (excluding personal residence)
  • Liquid capital of $200,000 – $400,000
  • The ability to obtain financing for a $500,000 to $2,000,000 project
  • Successful experience in a retail food service, or sales/marketing environment
  • An enthusiastic approach to fulfilling the Skyline Chili vision

Fee structure:

  • Initial franchise fee: $20,000
  • Area Development Fee (per store): $5,000
  • Royalty Fees: 4% of Gross Sales
  • Advertising Fees: 4% of Gross Sales

To know us is to love us.

If you are not already familiar with us, Skyline is a unique dining concept with a rich tradition of quality food and service. 

A storied past with a bright future.

In 1949, on a hilltop overlooking Cincinnati, Ohio, Nicholas Lambrinides and his sons opened a small restaurant and began serving what would soon become a Cincinnati icon—Skyline Chili. The name came from the impressive view of the city’s outline against the sky and has since become synonymous with a unique dish known as Cincinnati-style chili. Today, there are more than 150 Skyline Chili restaurants in four states, a credit to the vision of Nicholas Lambrinides and his sons – men who had the determination to perfect a truly new dining experience way back in 1949.

A simple product…simply made.

Since the beginning, the appeal of Skyline Chili to operators and customers alike has been its simplicity and unique taste. Our famous, easily assembled 3-, 4-, and 5-Way chili dishes, along with our unique “Cheese Coneys,” represent nearly 75 percent of sales. From an operator’s standpoint, you can imagine the efficiencies this creates in the back of the house and in providing fast service to our guests. Customers place their order with a Skyline Chili table server and, within minutes, they receive a delicious meal.

The quality of our secret recipe chili is no mystery.

Skyline’s secret-recipe chili is cooked daily at our commissary to maintain a high level of quality. The commissary, which is centrally located just outside Cincinnati, produces the chili and packages it so that it only needs to be reheated at each restaurant unit. This “heat and serve” method helps our restaurants achieve consistent quality and keeps food preparation simple. We constantly strive to find ways to keep our restaurant operation streamlined.

A memorable dining experience.

Skyline Chili restaurants are famous for more than just chili. We’re also well known for our unique restaurant facilities and our own blend of hospitality and food service. Skyline restaurants incorporate booths and open table areas, as well as counter service for an added touch of nostalgia. Our food is prepared at a steam table in front of our customers, which gives our operators the opportunity to interact with patrons and view the entire dining area. This allows us to be in touch with our customers at all times. Why? Because we realize that people like to go where they feel important. Which is why our operators and our interior layout facilitate outstanding customer service and personal interaction.

Success begins with a good public education.

Skyline Chili is without question one of the most unique restaurant franchise opportunities available. Our heritage and one-of-a-kind menu items position us well away from other “me too” chains. But along with the advantages of being unique come the challenges of educating the public about unfamiliar food products. That’s where the operator becomes the key ingredient to the Skyline Chili concept. Operators in the Skyline Chili system will receive many tools from the corporate office in order to succeed. But perhaps none is as important as an enthusiastic approach to educating your community on the many “ways” of Skyline Chili. Successful operators in our system typically find unique ways to reach out and introduce their communities to Skyline Chili. And we’ve found that once consumers get “hooked” on Skyline Chili, they’re among the most loyal patrons in the industry.

A world of opportunity.

Skyline Chili offers a variety of opportunities, from single-unit operations to multi-unit development programs. Our approach is to work with interested, qualified parties to determine which level of development represents the best partnership. And, whether you’re interested in one Skyline Chili unit or more than one, we’ll provide you with the same training, resources and enthusiastic support.

Interested in joining the Skyline Family?

By filling out the franchise questionnaire, we’ll send you detailed information and a development package for your review. We’ll review your qualifications and work with you in an advisory capacity to determine your best fit in the Skyline Chili family. Please keep in mind that filling out this questionnaire does not obligate you or Skyline Chili in any way. We appreciate your interest in Skyline Chili.

Skyline Chili, Inc. is currently franchising only in portions of the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee that are typically within 300 miles of our Fairfield, OH Commissary. We are actively recruiting for the I-75 and I-71 corridor. Skyline Chili, Inc. does not currently offer franchises outside the United States of America or in (or to residents of) the following states within the United States: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington or Wisconsin. Nothing herein is intended to constitute an offer of the sale of franchises anywhere outside the United States of America or within or to the residents of the foregoing states within the United States of America.