People love the Wingstop franchise for its unique flavors, which are created using exclusive recipes. Wingstop is also focused on growing its takeout business in addition to its brick-and-mortar presence, resulting in the fact that many of its locations are smaller than the normal fast-food restaurant.
In addition to a diverse menu of chicken selections and sides, many Wingstop locations are licensed to sell beer and wine. Starting a Wingstop franchise can never be the wrong way to go!
What is the Wingstop Franchising?
Wingstop is a fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in french fries and chicken wings. Wingstop started franchising in 1998 after beginning as a small buffalo wing store in 1994. It officially served one billion wings in 2002. The company has over 1,200 franchises in the United States, as well as more than 100 international locations.
Wingstop aims to dominate the flavor game in addition to wings. The company intends to take wings to the next level by offering the freshest product with the most flavorful sauces; that is just for starters.
Wingstop is the only option for people who expect flavor in everything they do since it is more than just a meal; it is a flavor experience.
Is Wingstop a Franchise Opportunity?
Yes, Wingstop is a franchising opportunity. The company started franchising its business and operations in 1997.
Facts That Nobody Told You About Wingstop
- The company was founded by a serial restauranteur.
- It became a public company in 2015.
- Troy Aikman became a spokesman for the company in 2003.
- Rick Ross is known to own 25 Wingstop restaurants.
- Chicken Thighs was added to the menu by Wingstop recently in 2021.
Wingstop Franchise Review and Information
| Industry Type | Food Franchise Opportunities |
| Sub Category | Chicken Franchise Opportunities |
| Year Established | 1994 |
| Company Name | Wingstop Franchising LLC |
| Founder/Management Head | Antonio Swad |
| Franchising Started | 1997 |
| Franchise Expansion Plan | Worldwide |
| Number of Units | 1873 |
| Number of Franchise Units | 2046 units (As of 2023) |
| Social Media Handles | |
| Youtube | |
| Company Office location | Addison, Texas |
Wingstop Franchise Requirements
Along with possessing the relevant franchise fee and initial investment coupled with advertising and royalty fees, a potential franchisee is required to keep the following obligations imposed by the company in consideration
- If franchisees are individuals, the franchisor highly advises that they run the restaurant.
- If franchisees opt not to run the restaurant, they must choose a general manager to take personal responsibility for overseeing the restaurant’s daily operations and an assistant manager to assist in operating the restaurant.
- If franchisees opt not to run the restaurant, they must choose a general manager to take personal responsibility for overseeing the restaurant’s daily operations and an assistant manager to assist in operating the restaurant.
- If franchisees are incorporated, they must appoint a designated principal who is one of the owners in charge of overseeing and supervising the restaurant’s management and operation.
- Franchisees must sell fried chicken wings made exclusively with the franchisor’s proprietary sauces and seasonings, with no other sauces or seasonings permitted.
- The Franchise Agreement also demands franchisees offer all food and beverage products on the franchisor’s standard menu in the amounts specified, as updated regularly.
- Without first getting written approval, franchisees may not serve any food, beverage, or another item that is not on the authorized restaurant menu or merchandising list, as updated regularly.
How much does a Wingstop franchise cost?
The franchise cost of a Wingstop can be summarized below
- Initial franchise fee: $20,000
- Initial investment: $315,310 – $948,080
- Net worth: $1,200,000
- Cash requirement: $600,000
Further, the royalty fee and advertising fee to become a franchisee is 6% and 6% respectively.
How much does it cost to franchise a Wingstop in the United States?
| Wingstop Franchise Startup and On-going Franchise Costs | |
| Wingstop Franchise Fee | $20,000 |
| Wingstop Franchise Cost | $315,310 – $948,080 |
| Royalty Fee | 6% |
| Advertising Fee | 6% |
| Term of Agreement | 10 years |
| Is the franchise term renewable? | Yes |
| Veteran Discount | $15,000 off the franchise fee of the first store |
Is the Wingstop worth the cost and profit?
A potential franchisee must possess $315,310 – $948,080 as an initial investment for a Wingstop franchise.
Because creating a Wingstop franchising is a high-cost investment and they never provide direct or indirect financing to franchisees, you must therefore have sufficient funds to invest if you are considering purchasing the franchises,
Wingstop Training to Franchises
The training program must be completed to the satisfaction of the franchisor by at least two people, franchisees or their authorized principal and a general manager, and both must intend to work full-time in the restaurant. The training class usually takes 25 days, with at least one day off per week, and must be completed within these 25 days.
The training hours will be divided evenly between the classroom and on-the-job training. If this is the franchisee’s first restaurant, two starting restaurant trainers will visit for up to 14 days. All franchisees and their supervisors may be required to complete further training or take a recertification exam.
Wingstop Franchising Operations
Wingstop is a quick-service restaurant that specializes in chicken wings. The company was founded in 1994. Wingstop now operates around 2,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the Netherlands.
The Wingstop business model is simple. Customers order food from a counter and then sit down to eat. The restaurant is designed to be fast and convenient, with no need for reservations. Wings are prepped in a variety of ways, including but not limited to deep-fried, baked, or grilled.
How is Wingstop Territory Granted to Franchises
The Franchise Agreement protects franchisees’ competitiveness in the trade area surrounding the restaurant. The franchisor will not open or grant a franchise to another restaurant with physical premises in the trade area.
A restaurant’s trade area, except in high-density population centers, consists of the region inside a circle whose center is at the restaurant’s front entrance. The franchisor fails to anticipate that the radius ever will be bigger than three miles from the restaurant or less than two blocks if the restaurant is situated in the downtown region of a major city.
If a franchisee operates in an unconventional location, the trade area may be confined to the geographical footprint of the individual site/premises.
What is Wingstop Franchising Term of Agreement and Renewal?
The original franchise term is 10 years from the scheduled opening date of the restaurant or the actual date the restaurant opens for operation, whichever comes first. The current Franchise Agreement permits franchisees to renew the franchise for two further 10-year terms if they are in full compliance.
Does Wingstop provide Financial Assistance to Franchises?
The franchisor provides no direct or indirect finance. Further, the franchisor fails to guarantee a franchisee’s note, obligation, or lease.
Pros & Cons of owning a Wingstop franchise
There are numerous general pros and cons associated with starting a restaurant franchise, some of which are unique to this brand. Wingstop provides some territory protection, safeguarding you from the competition of new franchisees entering your area and endangering your bottom line. Furthermore, because Wingstop does a big percentage of its business online, individuals might have to hire fewer staff to keep their business up and running.
Pros
- Low Costs
- Territory protection
- Demanding niche
- High-profit margin
- No requirement to employ a large number of employees
Cons
- Does not permit absentee ownership
- Limited options on the menu
- High competition
- Rising prices
- High marketing and advertising fee
How much do Wingstop franchise owners make?
| Initial midpoint investment | % Profit margin of average franchise sales | Estimated profits | Time to recoup the cost |
| 10% | $148,579 | 6.75 years | |
| $631,695 | 15% | $222,868 | 5.5 years |
| 20% | $297,158 | 4 years |
Profitability can differ depending on a variety of factors, including geography, restaurant size, and how well the business is running.
Furthermore, franchise owners who can efficiently manage their companies and control spending are more likely to succeed than those who cannot. A franchise owner, with a 15% profit margin, can make an estimated profit of $222,868 with 5.5 years to recoup the initial investment.
What is Wingstop franchise profit?
According to research, a Wingstop franchise owner can earn approximately $1.25 million in sales, with a profit margin of approximately 15% of sales.
As a result, the net profit is expected to be roughly $200,000 per year. A restaurant franchisor can earn an average of $82,000 per year. On comparing this data to the profits of other restaurant franchise owners, it can be seen that the profitability is very high.
What are Wingstop franchise reviews?
Wingstop is best renowned for its flavorful chicken wings with delicious sauces. M ost of their restaurants is franchised, although they also have a few company-owned locations. Wingstop has grown in recent years while also maintaining a high degree of quality control, demonstrating the success of this unique method.
Franchisees should pay an initial franchise fee and ongoing royalties, and they must generally employ recognized suppliers of Wingstop.
The company has offices not only in the United States, but also in Spain, Canada, France, Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. The company’s expansion strategy has contributed to its growth. Wingstop has emerged as one of the more prominent ones in the chicken wing business as a result of its development.
Wingstop Franchise Rankings
| Rank | Year | Achievement |
| #14 | 2024 | Franchise 500 Ranking |
| #32 | 2023 | Top Global Franchises |
| #24 | 2023 | Top brand for multi-unit owners |
| #5 | 2023 | Fastest-Growing Franchises |
Franchise Deck Analysis and Overview
Wingstop is best renowned for its tasty chicken wings with delectable sauces. A huge number of their restaurants are franchised, although they also have a few company-owned outlets. Wingstop has expanded in recent years while retaining a high level of quality control, demonstrating the success of this unconventional method.
Wingstop’s menu is specific and limited, which may limit its attractiveness to a broader range of customers while simplifying operations for the proprietors. In comparison to other competing franchises, marketing, and advertising fees are also higher. The company’s expansion strategy has contributed to its growth. Wingstop has grown into one of the most famous names in the chicken wing market as a result of its development. The bulk of these are in the United States, but the business is expanding into other nations as well.
The company also intends to continue its growth in the following years. Wingstop is swiftly becoming a leading player in the restaurant franchising sector; thanks to its original idea and excellent chicken wings.
Wingstop Franchise Success and Failure Rate
The below table will highlight the Wingstop franchise’s success and failure rate for the last 3 years. This will supplement your decision-making process.
| Year | Format | Start | End | Change |
| 2019 | Franchise Owned | 1095 | 1199 | +104 |
| Company Owned | 29 | 31 | +2 | |
| 2020 | Franchise Owned | 1199 | 1320 | +121 |
| Company Owned | 31 | 32 | +1 | |
| 2021 | Franchise Owned | 1320 | 1485 | +165 |
| Company Owned | 32 | 36 | +4 |
| Competition Analysis of Wingstop Franchise | ||||||
| Wingstop | Cost to Franchise | Franchisee Fees | Royalty + Ad fees | Expected Profit | Recoup of Capital | FD Rating |
| Wingstop | $315,310-$948,080 | $20,000 | 6%+6% | $200,000 | 4-6.75 years | 3.9/5.0 |
| Jack in the Box Franchise | $1,765,500-$2,761,600 | $50,000 | 5%+5% | $196,906-$283,545 | 7.5-11 years | 3.8/5.0 |
| KFC Franchise | $1,440,600-$3,163,550 | $45,000 | 5%+5% | $120,000 | 4.1 / 5.0 | |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise | $2,481,500-$4,604,800 | $25,000 | 5%+3.25% | $3.669 billion | 3.8/ | |
| Wendy’s Franchise | $3,693,000 – $1,887,500 | $50,000 | 4% | $ 330490 to $ 440653 | 8 to 12 Years |
The FD rating for Wingstop franchising is 3.9/5.0.
Conclusion
Wingstop is a wonderful franchise that has built a reputation for producing incredible wings with incredibly excellent sauces. Aside from the culinary traditions, the unit economics for a fast-food franchise is excellent. Many prominent fast-food franchises cost significantly more than $1 million and have far lower average unit volumes than Wingstop.
Wingstop has a bright future ahead of it with a $1.6 million average unit volume, an incredibly strong business with celebrities like Rick Ross pushing it, and a food specialty that distinguishes itself from the big burger businesses.
Pretty much across the board, Wingstop franchising is a sound investment for anyone wishing to enter the food business. The company has an established brand presence and a tasty product that caters to a diverse variety of customers. If you are interested in learning about Wingstop franchises, visit their website for additional information, and as always, conduct your own research before investing.
Entrepreneurs who want to open a franchise in the donuts and desserts franchise opportunities categories can look at
- KFC
- Jack in the Box Franchise
- Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
- Wendy’s Franchise
- Pluckers Franchise
- Raising Cane’s Franchise
- Chicken Salad Chick Franchise
- Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise
- Chicken Guy franchise
- Halal Guy Franchise
- Zaxby’s Franchise
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the Wingstop franchise profitable?
Yes, a potential franchisee can profit from owning a Wingstop franchise. However, before beginning a franchise, it is essential to comprehend the company’s criteria and obligations put forward by the company.
- Can you make money owning a Wingstop?
Yes, a franchise owner can make a good amount of money by owning Wingstops.
- Is Wingstop a franchise?
Yes, Wingstop is franchising and offering franchises. The brand started franchising in 1997 and has franchised over 1800 locations to date.
- How much is the Wingstop franchise?
To open a Wingstop franchise, a potential franchise is required to have the following:
- Initial franchise fee: $20,000
- Initial investment: $315,310 – $948,080
- Net worth: $1,200,000
- Cash requirement: $600,000
Wingstop has been providing delicious, quality wings since 1994. As an established franchise, Wingstop offers the opportunity to be your own boss while running a successful business. Wingstop is a great investment, with a low initial investment and potential to make a great return on investment. Wingstop offers a variety of flavors, from classic to spicy, that will satisfy all tastes. With Wingstop’s popular online ordering system, customers can order their wings from the comfort of their own home.
Wingstop is constantly innovating and creating new flavors to keep customers coming back.
Wingstop offers full training and support to franchise owners.
Franchise owners benefit from Wingstop’s strong brand recognition and national advertising campaigns. With Wingstop’s flexible menu, franchise owners can customize the menu to fit their local market. Wingstop’s proprietary recipes ensure that customers receive consistent, high-quality wings every time.
Franchise owners benefit from Wingstop’s low overhead costs, as compared to other franchise concepts. Wingstop has a loyal customer base, allowing franchise owners to enjoy a steady stream of income. Wingstop’s delivery and catering services provide an additional source of revenue for franchise owners. As a Wingstop franchise owner, you will be able to take advantage of their great marketing tools and resources. With Wingstop’s strong growth potential, franchise owners can look forward to a bright future.