Is the Total Cost to Open a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Really Worth it?
Learn more about the Buffalo Wild Wings franchise costs and fees. The casual/fast casual restaurant concept of Buffalo Wild Wings franchise sports bars features a sports entertainment focus and offers a large selection of chicken wings, sandwiches, and other products and beverages, including alcoholic beverages.
About Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
There are numerous locations of the American restaurant and sports bar business Buffalo Wild Wings outside of the United States.
They are experts in sauces and Buffalo wings. Scott Lowery and Jim Disbrow created it in 1982. They started their franchise because they couldn’t locate a place to eat Buffalo-style wings after their game.
We will focus on its roughly 1100 sites and 16 GO stores in our analysis, which provide meals primarily for off-premises consumption.
The chain was purchased in 2017 by Roark and The Wendy’s Company. However, they continue to face competition from sister businesses like Wendy’s and Arby’s.
Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Opening Costs
The estimated investment range for this restaurant serving chicken wings is $2,466,500 to $4,604,800. The franchise fee is $25,000 as well.
You will require $750,000 in liquid funds and $1,500,000 in net worth to start a franchise.
Considering purchasing Buffalo Wild Wings? We will explain the costs, benefits, and drawbacks of this chain in more depth.
Financial Conditions and Costs
The following are the costs and financial criteria for purchasing a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise:
| Fees / Expenses | Financial Amount |
| Liquid Capital | $750,000 |
| Net Worth | $1,500,000 |
| Total Investment | $2,466,500 to $4,604,800 |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 |
Expect a 5% royalty fee in addition, as well as a 3.25% advertising royalty fee. The overall fees come to 8.25% in total.
According to Buffalo Wild Wings, joining them also entails a minimum commitment to open at least two restaurants.
Due to the requirement to franchise two locations, the net-worth requirements are higher than for Wingstop-style eateries.
To be eligible, Wingstop simply needs $1.2 million in net value. The contract to manage Buffalo Wild Wings has a 20-year duration and is renewable.
International applicants who want to open a Buffalo Wild Wings location in their nation must have a net worth of $10 million and a minimum of $5 million in liquid assets.
They require a minimum commitment to construct at least 10 restaurants from overseas applicants. These are the financial criteria if you intend to open BWWs in India and the Philippines.
Requirements for a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
The franchisor demands that potential franchisees have a minimum of $1.5 million in net worth and $750,000 in cash assets. Additionally, they must promise to build no less than two eateries.
Opening a Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
To franchise Buffalo Wild Wings, you can complete the inquiry form found here to begin the process.
Their Franchise Development Team will get in touch with you as soon as they hear from you and deliver the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for the business.
A firm representative may also ask you to complete a franchise application form at this time so they may run background, credit, and financial checks on you.
However, before you follow the above instructions, the steps to opening a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise are as follows:
Make Sure Your Capitalization is Appropriate
You must have a net worth of more than $750,000 in order to open a Buffalo Wild Wings business.
Recognize the Financial Commitment Needed for Sports Bar Franchise
Costs associated with construction and real estate, tools and signs, licenses, and permits, uniforms, insurance, and other expenses must all be taken into account.
Consider Your Past Expertise and Strong Points
Before submitting an application to open a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise, you should carefully assess your prior business experience.
Analyze the Supply on the Market
Before moving forward with the franchising application, you should check the market availability for Buffalo Wild Wings franchises and determine if there are markets available in your target location.
Send Your Application in
After the Buffalo Wild Wings franchise team has reviewed your application, they will get in touch with you to start a conversation with their Franchise Development team.
Open Your Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise After Receiving Approval
Following the conclusion of your background and financial checks, you will be granted franchise clearance.
Only applicants who fully satisfy the standards of franchise owners will receive approval. You will meet with their franchising and operations leadership to talk about your background and current management setup.
Average Annual Sales or Revenue
Buffalo Wild Wings reported revenues of $3.114 billion in 2020, a decrease from their estimated sales of $3.669 billion in 2019.
The pandemic was the main cause of the decline, and many establishments were compelled to temporarily close their doors.
Franchise Information for Buffalo Wild Wings
| Total Units | 1,216 |
| Incorporated Name | Buffalo Wild Wings |
| Franchising Since | 1991 |
| Industry | Full-Service Restaurants |
| Subsector | Food and Beverage |
Franchise of Buffalo Wild Wings Established in 1982, Buffalo Wild Wings was the brainchild of Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery.
The two, who had recently relocated to Ohio from Buffalo, New York, had a yearning for real Buffalo chicken wings.
This prompted them to start their own Buffalo wings restaurant. Prior to being transformed into Buffalo Wild Wings, it was originally known as Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck.
At the moment, beer and food are served at Buffalo Wild Wings, which is a sports bar.
Chicken wings, chicken tenders, salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, greens, and their broad line of spices and sauces are all available on the menu and are available in Walmart and grocery shops.
They offer around 23 sauces that are popular among customers.
Locations of Buffalo Wild Wings
There are more than 1,200 Buffalo Wild Wings outlets across the US. The restaurant franchise now has locations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines.
They are listed in the Top Food category of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and are regarded as the top sports bar brand in the United States.
Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant Design Element
A Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant’s interior design includes the following:
- Anchoring both indoor and outdoor dining areas is a dominant bar.
- Flexible and fluid sitting areas.
- VIP areas for visitors.
- Stadium-style audiovisual equipment with LED modular screens.
- Guests get exclusive access to takeout.
Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Benefits
There’s a lot to like about the Buffalo Wild Wings franchise opportunity. Here are a few of them.
Worldwide Presence
In addition to having over a thousand locations in the US, Buffalo Wild Wings is also present in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Mexico, Panama, and the Philippines.
Global presence entails more than just success. Additionally, it implies that people are familiar with the brand and what to expect regardless of where they are from.
Therefore, if you choose to franchise Buffalo Wild Wings, you can be confident that your money is going into a well-known food company.
Variety of Sauces
26 different sauces and dips make up the signature menu at Buffalo Wild Wings.
That not only tempts customers to keep returning for more so they can try them all out, but it also draws clients with a variety of flavor preferences, from spicy to Asian.
Even their main rival, Wing Stop, only offers 11 sauces. The taste selection at Buffalo Wild Wings is therefore superior.
Consumption of Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are always in style. It was predicted that Americans will consume more than 1.42 billion wings for this year’s Super Bowl, making chicken wings the most popular snack item.
The demand for chicken wings could rise, as the industry is expected to expand at a 4.1% annual rate.
Loyalty Initiative
Your business may benefit greatly from having a customer reward-based loyalty program. Buffalo Wild Wings can take care of that.
Customers can enroll in their loyalty program and accrue points for their purchases. Those who participated in the campaign would earn free food or special discounts on their purchases.
It’s a fun approach for Buffalo Wild Wings to entice fans to visit often.
A place to Go for Live Events
The abundance of flat-screen televisions scattered around BWW is one of its main draws.
BWW is renowned for airing sporting events all year long, including college athletics, football, hockey, basketball, and baseball.
This can be a place to watch out-of-market games and enjoy the atmosphere of a crowd watching a game without having to shell out money for a ticket to the major game.
Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Challenges
Operating a Buffalo Wild Wings has its difficulties, just as running any other kind of business. To name a few:
Ambiance
The moment you enter Buffalo Wild Wings, it immediately appears to be a sports bar. Many sports fans will come, but those searching for a peaceful place to eat may not be pleased.
The BWW’s experience isn’t for everyone, and the health crisis hasn’t prevented rival chicken wing concepts like Wingstop from succeeding. However, there is no drive-thru option.
Unwholesome Options
The food at Buffalo Wild Wings isn’t exactly healthy, let’s face it. Their mac and cheese have a whopping 4,770 mg of Sodium while their Chicken Caesar Salad has 3,290 mg of sodium. Either bare tenders or a side salad are acceptable choices.
Lack of Chicken Wings
All chicken wing businesses have experienced headwinds that increased prices by 20%. Thankfully, BWW was able to pass on rising prices to customers.
In order to provide lower-cost menu options, BWWs may need to rely on other proteins like chicken thighs or other animal parts in the future.
Overview of Buffalo Wings Wild Wings Training
The franchisor will offer initial in-restaurant training and familiarization courses for at least four members of the franchisee’s management team.
The attendees must successfully complete to the franchisor’s satisfaction, not over 120 days but not less than 60 days prior to the opening of the sports bar.
A self-directed training program is used in the classroom setting.
The franchisor runs a nationally recognized training sports bar that is run by one of its affiliates, where the first seven weeks of on-the-job training for their first Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar are conducted.
In Summary
People have the chance to join Buffalo Wild Wings, a company with large gross yearly sales and a reputable franchisor who claims to have perfected chicken around the world.
Even while the franchisor might be lucrative on its own, its concept still needs to demonstrate its financial viability and expand.
The standard franchise appears to be doing well, but with outlets closing, it is unclear what the future holds for Buffalo Wild Wings franchises.
