Buffalo Wild Wings vs Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Buffalo Wild Wings vs Buffalo Wings & Rings including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise
Investment $2,695,100 - $4,244,300$1,280,000 - $2,412,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 3.25%2%-4%
Year Founded 19821984
Year Franchised 19912005
Term Of Agreement 10 years10
Term Of Agreement 10 years10
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Track record of success
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
    Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
    Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 50-60 hours Classroom Training: 50-60 hours
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 50% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 - 60

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise
    Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Buffalo Wild Wings

    Buffalo Wild Wings got its start in 1981 after Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery moved from Buffalo, New York, to Kent, Ohio. Unable to find authentic Buffalo-style chicken wings in their new town, they decided to open up their own restaurant. Originally called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck (see Kummelweck) from which the abbreviation BW3 was created, the restaurant became a franchise with over 350 locations across most states of the U.S. The company later changed its name to Buffalo Wild Wings and is no longer uses the short name BW3. The restaurant's theme is a sports bar / restaurant, and each location features multiple large screen televisions that are viewable from all seats. All locations also have game consoles devoted to NTN Trivia. Buffalo Wild Wings is best-known for its buffalo wings with 12 signature sauces. They also have a full menu featuring salads, appetizers, burgers, and specialty items.

    United States Franchising

    We require that our U.S. franchise candidates have a minimum of USD 750,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of USD 1.5 million. Additionally, there is a minimum commitment to develop at least 2 restaurants.

    International Franchising

    We require that our international franchise candidates have a minimum of USD 5 million in liquid assets and net worth of USD 10 million. Additionally, there is a minimum commitment to develop at least 10 restaurants.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bar franchise ranges from $2,695,100 to $4,244,300. This includes $10,000 to $55,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    If you sign an Area Development Agreement to develop multiple Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars, the total investment necessary to begin operation under the Area Development Agreement is $10,000 to $300,000. This includes $10,000 to $30,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.

    #159 in Franchise 500 for 2020.



    About Buffalo Wings & Rings

    Since  1984, Buffalo Wings & Rings has become the premier elevated club-level sports restaurant alternative to traditional sports bars. By combining a fresh and innovative chef-driven menu with a community-focused model, the brand has  positioned itself as the perfect option for guests and families looking to watch their favorite sporting events in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.

    With our strong growth over the last several years and recent appearance on the CBS hit series Undercover Boss, an enormous amount of interest in franchising with Buffalo Wings & Rings has been generated.  

    Buffalo Wings & Rings is introducing a new reduced franchisee fee of $30,000 for our existing franchisees to help them open additional locations as they look to expand in their markets.

    **No Royalty 1st 6 Months for a limited time