Buffalo Wild Wings franchise
Buffalo Wild Wings is a sports bar chain built around wings with many sauces, beer and wall-to-wall TVs for live sports. It also franchises smaller Buffalo Wild Wings GO units for takeout and delivery. At the end of 2025 there were 1,178 Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the US, 549 franchised and 629 company-owned, so most are run by the company itself.
- Cost to open
- $2.46M–$4.9M
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 5%
- Locations, 2025
- 1,178
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1991
- Franchisor based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Agreement length
- 20 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise costs
Opening one Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bar costs an estimated $2,463,945 to $4,900,320. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 40
Buffalo Wild Wings franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, for a traditional sports bar ($12,500 at a non-traditional location). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 29
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 4% of gross sales (2% at non-traditional locations), paid weekly. |
Source: Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 31
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Buffalo Wild Wings publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 annual unit volumes for groups of franchised sports bars. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 78
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 533 (+3) | 652 |
| 2024 | 538 (+5) | 645 |
| 2025 | 549 (+11) | 629 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 81
How Buffalo Wild Wings compares
Of the 11 chicken franchises on this site, Buffalo Wild Wings is the 9th cheapest to open and the 4th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Buffalo Wild Wings | Typical chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $2.46M | $1.45M |
| Royalty | 5% | 5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | +3.6% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in chicken franchises.
Other chicken franchises
Buffalo Wild Wings franchise questions
Does Buffalo Wild Wings help with financing?
No. Buffalo Wild Wings does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Buffalo Wild Wings franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Buffalo Wild Wings assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise agreement?
The initial term is 20 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
How does Buffalo Wild Wings compare with other chicken franchises?
Of the 11 chicken franchises here, Buffalo Wild Wings is the 9th cheapest to open (low end $2.46M against a $1.45M median) and the 4th largest by number of locations. Its 5% royalty is in line with the 5% median.
Does Buffalo Wild Wings say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 annual unit volumes for groups of franchised sports bars. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Buffalo Wild Wings based?
Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc is based in Atlanta, Georgia and the brand has sold franchises since 1991.