- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#165 Ranked #160 last year
- Initial investment
-
$209K - $350K
- Units as of 2023
-
360 3.7% over 3 years
In 1981, Jim Carpenter opened the first Wild Birds Unlimited with a small inheritance and a passion for backyard bird feeding. In 1983, he began franchising. To provide people with what they need to enjoy their own backyard bird feeding hobby, he made sure to sell only the best products. Over three decades later, the company still stands by selling quality and affordable bird food, nest boxes, bird feeders, and more at its stores.
For decades, Wild Birds Unlimited has aimed to bring together humans and nature under the same blue sky. With over 300 locations in the U.S. and more than a dozen in Canada, the Wild Birds Unlimited name has become synonymous with backyard bird feeding.
Why You May Want to Start a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise
Of course, you may want to consider opening a Wild Birds Unlimited if you are a person who shares the same hobby as the company's founder. But you may also want to consider the company's culture and values. Wild Birds Unlimited looks for hard-working, ethical individuals. They value diversity and environmentally sustainable products. They also support local bird and natural wildlife conservation groups and education.
An ideal franchisee is enthusiastic and committed to excellence. They are also committed to helping their community and spreading the joy of backyard bird feeding—and franchisees typically love birds.
Wild Birds Unlimited will train franchisees in ways that the company has found to make a successful business and assign them a business coach for their first year in operation. The company will even provide franchisees with marketing and IT support.
What Might Make a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise a Good Choice?
Outside of sitting comfortably in a niche market, Wild Birds Unlimited takes advantage of a large global hobby. Wild Birds Unlimited accepts online orders connected to franchisees' stores and has its own product line. This private merchandise line includes custom seed blends, feeders, and hardware.
If you're interested in opening a Wild Birds Unlimited, make sure you can cover the initial startup fees, including the franchise fee. You'll also want to make sure you're ready for any additional ongoing fees. These fees will include royalty fees and advertising fees.
How Do You Open a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise?
Location is a huge consideration. Try to locate high-traffic areas connected to malls or grocery stores. Being in a high-visibility location may also make your store more appealing.
As you make your decision to franchise with Wild Birds Unlimited, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. The company's discovery process will help you do this, too. Research the brand and your local area to see if a franchise would do well in your community. If you are in an area with other feed and seed stores, too much competition may not allow for the most possible growth.
Overall, if the company finds you a good fit, you can soon open your doors—and other people's doors—to the world of backyard bird feeding.
Company Overview
About Wild Birds Unlimited
Industry | Pets |
---|---|
Related Categories | Pet Stores, Miscellaneous Retail Businesses |
Founded | 1981 |
Parent Company | Wild Birds Unlimited Inc. |
Leadership | Jim Carpenter, CEO/Founder |
Corporate Address |
11711 N. College Ave., #146 Carmel, IN 46032 |
Social | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest |
Business Overview
Franchising Since | 1983 (41 years) |
---|---|
# of employees at HQ | 52 |
Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada |
# of Units | 360 (as of 2023) |
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Wild Birds Unlimited 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
|
$40,000 |
---|---|
Initial Investment
|
$209,425 - $350,037 |
Net Worth Requirement
|
$300,000 |
Cash Requirement
|
$40,000 - $50,000 |
Veteran Incentives
|
15% off franchise fee |
Royalty Fee
|
4% |
Ad Royalty Fee
|
1% |
Term of Agreement
|
10 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 | Wild Birds Unlimited 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 | 45 hours |
---|---|
Classroom Training | 73 hours |
Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
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? | Yes |
---|---|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
# of employees required to run | 2-4 |
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Wild Birds Unlimited landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Wild Birds Unlimited ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Wild Birds Unlimited.
UPS Store, The
- description
- Shipping, packing, mailboxes, printing, faxing, shredding, notary services
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
This Sleep Company Is Combining 2 Key Factors to Transform the $40 Billion Mattress Industry — And It Just Made Another Major Move
Explore how Amerisleep's unique approach to franchising — with low startup costs and no inventory requirements — sets a new standard in the mattress market.
The Top Franchise Brands Growing Globally
While our main Fastest-Growing Franchises list focuses on North American growth, more and more brands are looking to grow worldwide. These are the 25 that had the greatest franchise growth outside the U.S. and Canada from July 2022 to July 2023.
This Chicken Chain Opens a New Location Every 3.5 Hours — Thanks in Part to an Unusual Menu Strategy
With locations spanning 149 countries, KFC has cemented its status as the fastest-growing retail brand under the Yum! Brands umbrella and a key driver of its overall success.
These Women-Founded Franchises Surpassed a Major Milestone — Against the Odds. Here's How They Did It.
Discover the stories of female trailblazers who not only founded but propelled successful businesses beyond 100 franchises — a few of them several times over — reshaping industries and leaving an indelible mark.
From Global Giants Like Taco Bell and McDonald's to Emerging Brands Like Crumbl, These Are The Top 15 Fast Food Franchises
Fast food/QSR franchises offer significant entrepreneurial opportunities, including extensive resources, support systems and brand recognition provided by their parent companies.
It's Equal Pay Day — These 5 Franchises Have Made Public Pledges for Pay Equality.
These efforts by franchises to address the Gender Wage Gap are vital steps towards creating a more inclusive and fair workplace, highlighting the broader movement towards gender equality in the corporate world.