- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#195 Ranked #227 last year
- Initial investment
-
$2.5M - $4.8M
- Units as of 2023
-
1,252 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!
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 | Lyle Tick, President |
| Corporate Address |
3 Glenlake Pkwy. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30328 |
| Social | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube |
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 | 1,252 (as of 2023) |
|
|
|
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
|
$12,500 - $25,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$2,481,500 - $4,804,800 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$1,500,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$750,000 |
|
Royalty Fee
|
5% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
3.25% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
20 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
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?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 40-60 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
No |
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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