17 Restaurant & Food Service Companies That Hire Felons
The restaurant and food service industry is one of the best places to find work with a criminal record. High turnover rates, constant demand for workers, and a culture that values reliability over background make this industry one of the most accessible for people with felonies. From fast food chains to sit-down restaurants, food service employs roughly 12 million Americans, and many of those employers are willing to give people a second chance.
One of the biggest advantages of the food service industry is the franchise model. Chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, and KFC are largely franchise-owned, meaning each location is operated by an independent business owner who makes their own hiring decisions. Even if one location turns you down, the next one may have a different owner with a different outlook. This is why applying to multiple locations of the same chain is one of the most effective strategies.
Corporate-owned restaurant chains also offer opportunities, though the background check process tends to be more formal. Companies like Starbucks, Olive Garden (Darden Restaurants), and Cracker Barrel run background checks but use individualized assessment, meaning they consider the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and its relevance to the job. Starbucks has been especially vocal about second-chance hiring and has partnered with organizations that help formerly incarcerated people find work.
The food service industry also serves as an excellent stepping stone. Many people use restaurant jobs to build a recent work history, demonstrate reliability, and develop references that help them move into higher-paying careers. Starting as a line cook or dishwasher and working up to shift manager is a common and respected path that shows future employers you are dependable and capable of handling responsibility.
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All 17 Food Service Companies
McDonald's franchise owners set their own hiring policies. Many locations do hire people with records.
Starbucks is a recognized second-chance employer and actively hires people with criminal records.
Burger King is 90%+ franchise-owned. Hiring policies vary by location but many franchisees hire felons.
Taco Bell (Yum! Brands) is mostly franchise-owned. Many locations hire people with records.
Wendy's is franchise-dependent. Many franchise owners are willing to hire people with felony records.
KFC (Yum! Brands) franchise owners set hiring policies. Many locations hire people with records.
Pizza Hut (Yum! Brands) is franchise-dependent. Delivery drivers need clean driving records.
Subway is 100% franchise-owned. Policies vary enormously by location — apply to multiple stores.
Chick-fil-A is franchise-operated and more selective, but some locations do hire people with records.
Popeyes is franchise-dependent. Many franchise owners hire people with records for crew positions.
Dunkin' is franchise-dependent. Many locations hire people with records, especially for early-morning shifts.
Arby's (Inspire Brands) is franchise-dependent. Many locations hire people with felony records.
Olive Garden (Darden Restaurants) is corporate-owned and considers applicants individually with background checks.
Applebee's (Dine Brands) is franchise-dependent. Many franchise operators hire people with records.
IHOP (Dine Brands) is franchise-dependent. Many locations hire people with records for kitchen and server roles.
Cracker Barrel is corporate-owned with individualized assessment. Kitchen roles may be more accessible.
Waffle House is known to be very felon-friendly with high-volume hiring and 24/7 operations.
Tips for Getting Hired in Food Service With a Record
- 1.Apply to multiple franchise locations — each franchise owner sets their own hiring policies, so one McDonald's may reject you while another a few miles away will hire you.
- 2.Kitchen and back-of-house positions are generally more accessible than front-of-house or cashier roles, especially if your record involves theft.
- 3.Fast food restaurants have extremely high turnover — some locations turn over 100% of staff annually — which means they are almost always hiring and more willing to take chances on applicants.
- 4.Start with late-night or early-morning shifts. These less-desirable shifts are harder to fill and managers are often more flexible about hiring.
- 5.Many restaurant chains participate in federal programs like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which gives employers a tax break for hiring people with records — mention this if appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do fast food restaurants hire felons?
- Yes, many fast food restaurants hire people with felony records. Most fast food chains are franchise-owned, meaning each location is independently operated and sets its own hiring standards. Chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy's, KFC, and Subway are known to hire felons at many locations. Starbucks and Waffle House are especially felon-friendly. The key is to apply at multiple locations, because one franchise owner may be more open than another.
- What restaurant jobs can a felon get?
- People with felony records can work in many restaurant positions including line cook, prep cook, dishwasher, busser, server, host/hostess, and food runner. Kitchen positions tend to be the most accessible because they do not involve handling cash directly. Delivery driver positions require a clean driving record in most cases. Management roles are harder to get with a recent felony but possible with time and a good work history.
- Do restaurants run background checks?
- It depends on the restaurant. Large corporate-owned chains like Olive Garden, Cracker Barrel, and Starbucks typically run background checks. However, many franchise-owned fast food locations do not run formal background checks, or they run only basic checks. Small independent restaurants rarely run background checks at all. Even when a background check is run, many restaurants use individualized assessment and will still hire people with non-violent records.
- Can I work in food service with a drug felony?
- Yes, in most cases. Drug felonies are generally not disqualifying for food service positions. Most restaurants are more concerned about theft and violent crime convictions than drug offenses. However, some corporate-owned restaurants may have stricter policies. If you are still on probation or parole with drug-related conditions, make sure your work schedule does not conflict with required check-ins or meetings.
- Which restaurant chain is the most felon-friendly?
- Waffle House and Starbucks are widely considered the most felon-friendly restaurant employers. Waffle House has a reputation for hiring people with records at most locations with minimal screening. Starbucks has publicly committed to second-chance hiring and partners with reentry organizations. Other notably friendly chains include Arby's, Popeyes, Dunkin', and many franchise-owned Subway locations.