Buffalo Wild Wings

Wings, bar food, alcohol
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2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#195 Ranked #227 last year
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Initial investment
$2.9M - $4.8M
Units as of 2024
1,250 Decrease 1% over 3 years

Are you ready to get wild with your wings? Then Buffalo Wild Wings may be the franchise for you!

Wings, beer, sports—the three things Buffalo Wild Wings is most known for. Founded in 1982 and franchising since 1991, Buffalo Wild Wings has become one of the largest casual dining restaurants in the world. With franchises in the U.S., Canada, India, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, they are dedicated to bringing casual dining to everyone. They specialize in wings and specialty sauces.

There are over 500 Buffalo Wild Wings franchises in the U.S., as well as over 50 internationally. Buffalo Wild Wings also boasts over 650 company-owned locations.

As you run your franchise, you may be able to provide quality meals to your neighborhood. The perfect candidate for a Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee is someone who has a passion for good food, bringing people together, and building a business.

Why You May Want to Start a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise

If you love the idea of serving up delicious chicken and a good time, then opening a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise may be for you. As a part of the Inspire Brands family, you'll have to comply with their recipe and service standards. However, creativity may be encouraged when it comes to your décor, customer reward, and promotion plans. There also may be a lot of room for more unique and authentic dishes depending on location as long as the classic Buffalo Wild Wings foods and sauces stay on the menu.

As a Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee, you may join a global network of casual dining restaurants that are all striving to provide affordable food everyone can enjoy. You'll likely provide a place for people and families to come together and enjoy a great meal in a casual and fun environment.

What Might Make a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Buffalo Wild Wings team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

Being a leading casual dining restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings may have both the notoriety and the global market to provide you with an operational business. Their restaurant stores may be well-known throughout the world, and they've earned a good reputation. With their training and global advertising network, your franchise could be going places in no time.

They also strive to have a great work culture, exclusive recipes, and a network of supportive and loyal customers.

How To Open a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise

To start a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise, you should first submit an inquiry form. 

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. Speak to existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Buffalo Wild Wings team. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment and relevant training.

If all goes well, you may soon bring a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise to your community!

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Company Overview

About Buffalo Wild Wings

Industry Food
Related Categories Sports Bars/Pubs, Miscellaneous Full-Service Restaurants, Chicken
Founded 1982
Parent Company Inspire Brands
Leadership John Bowie, Brand President
Corporate Address 3 Glenlake Pkwy. N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30328
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1991 (33 years)
# of employees at HQ 3,000
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

This company is offering new franchises worldwide.

# of Units 1,250 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$12,500 - $25,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$2,875,845 - $4,830,320
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,500,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$750,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
1.875%-4%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
20 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Buffalo Wild Wings has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 210 hours
Classroom Training 40 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 40-60
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
No
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Buffalo Wild Wings landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Buffalo Wild Wings ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022