Hooters franchise
Hooters is a casual sports restaurant and bar known for its wings and its "Hooters Girls" servers, also serving burgers, seafood and beer. Restaurants are large, full-bar operations. At the end of 2025 there were 194 Hooters locations in the US, 118 franchised and 76 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $2.74M–$4.7M
- Franchise fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 194
Compare with similar brands Estimate your costs
Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Clearwater, Florida
- Time to open
- Must open within 12 months of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From HOA Future Franchising, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Hooters franchise costs
Opening a newly built Hooters restaurant, excluding land costs an estimated $2,743,300 to $4,697,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| Conversion of an existing building | $1,253,300 to $3,022,000 |
|---|
Source: HOA Future Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 25
Hooters franchise fee
The franchise fee is $50,000, per restaurant, plus about $35,000 of initial training expenses. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: HOA Future Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 16
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid every four weeks. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 2% of gross sales to the national ad fund (up to 4%). |
Source: HOA Future Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 17
Sales and earnings
No figures Hooters does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: HOA Future Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 68
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 97 (−5) | 195 |
| 2024 | 92 (−5) | 153 |
| 2025 | 118 (+26) | 76 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: HOA Future Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 69
How Hooters compares
Of the 11 chicken franchises on this site, Hooters is the 10th cheapest to open and the 10th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Hooters | Typical chicken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $2.74M | $1.45M |
| Royalty | 6% | 5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | +15.7% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in chicken franchises.
Other chicken franchises
Hooters franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Hooters?
Must open within 12 months of signing, according to Hooters's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Hooters help with financing?
No. Hooters does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Hooters franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Hooters grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Hooters can open nearby.
How long is a Hooters franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
How does Hooters compare with other chicken franchises?
Of the 11 chicken franchises here, Hooters is the 10th cheapest to open (low end $2.74M against a $1.45M median) and the 10th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 5% median.
Does Hooters say how much franchisees make?
No, Hooters doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 9 of the 11 chicken brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Hooters based?
HOA Future Franchising, LLC is based in Clearwater, Florida.