How much does a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise cost?
Opening a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise takes a total initial investment of $2,882,845 to $4,883,320, according to the brand's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. The FDD's Item 19 reports median of $3,442,790 across 527 outlets.
Buffalo Wild Wings franchises Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars. Category: Food & Beverage.
Item 7
What it costs to open a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2025 FDD. The total is $2,882,845 to $4,883,320. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Construction and leasehold improvements ($1,430,000 to $2,100,000), Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other fixed assets ($775,000 to $925,000), and Liquor license ($5,000 to $500,000). Together they make up about 72% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $12,500 to $25,000, about 0.4% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees related to site approval2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $1,200 | $53,800 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Initial franchise fee2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $12,500 | $25,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Reimbursement of expenses and administrative fee for on-site training2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $0 | $105,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Architecture fees (based upon utilization of national firm)2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $100,000 | $160,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Construction and leasehold improvements2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $1,430,000 | $2,100,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other fixed assets2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $775,000 | $925,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Audio/ | $275,000 | $425,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Computer POS system/ | $28,245 | $50,520 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Office equipment and supplies2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $6,000 | $13,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Sports memorabilia2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $12,500 | $26,500 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Signage and graphics (excluding pylon or monument signage)2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $43,000 | $100,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Training expenses2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $15,000 | $40,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Initial inventory2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $15,000 | $19,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Insurance2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $14,400 | $48,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Additional funds – 3 months2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $100,000 | $150,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Rent2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $7,500 | $40,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Lease and utility security deposits2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $10,000 | $20,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Grand opening advertising2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $12,500 | $12,500 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Liquor license2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 | $5,000 | $500,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 27 |
| Professional fees2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 28 | $20,000 | $70,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 28 |
| Total estimated initial investment2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26-28 | $2,882,845 | $4,883,320 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26-28 |
Source Buffalo Wild Wings, 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 26-28, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-16.
Item 19
What Buffalo Wild Wings franchisees actually report earning
Median
$3,442,790
Buffalo Wild Wings' 2025 FDD, Item 19, for the 2024 fiscal year, January 1, 2024 until December 29, 2024. Basis: 2024 Franchised Sports Bars.
Sample size: 527 outlets. The FDD also reports average unit volume of $3,567,504. We lead with the median because an average is pulled upward by the strongest outlets; the median is the middle outlet.
What the franchisor excluded from this figure
- All 8 of the franchised Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars that first opened for business during 2024 and did not operate for the full year were excluded.
- All 3 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars that were closed and reported no sales for extended periods during 2024 were excluded.
- The 2 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars that closed in 2024, all of which were open for at least 12 months before they closed, were excluded.
- The 645 company-owned Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars that we or our affiliates operated as of the end of 2024 were excluded.
This is a disclosure of what some existing outlets reported, not a projection of what a new Buffalo Wild Wings outlet would earn. Your results will differ.
Source Buffalo Wild Wings, 2025 FDD, Item 19, p. 61, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-16.
Item 20
How many Buffalo Wild Wings outlets there are, and how many closed
Buffalo Wild Wings ended 2024 with 538 franchised outlets and 645 company-owned outlets. In that year 8 franchised outlets opened and 2 left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2022 through 2024, Buffalo Wild Wings opened 23 franchised outlets and 19 outlets left the system. That is a net gain of 4, from 534 to 538 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 1 was not renewed, 2 were bought back by the franchisor, and 16 closed for other reasons.
On average, about 1.2% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 84.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 532 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 538 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 67 |
| 2023 | 529 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 532 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 67 |
| 2022 | 534 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 529 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 67 |
Source Buffalo Wild Wings, 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 67, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-16.
Compare
How Buffalo Wild Wings compares with other Food & Beverage franchises
Measured against the 256 Food & Beverage franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of Buffalo Wild Wings' estimated range is $3,883,083. It costs more to open than 97% of Food & Beverage franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 1.2% for Buffalo Wild Wings. That is lower than 90% of the 165 Food & Beverage franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. Buffalo Wild Wings' franchised system grew 0.7%. The typical Food & Beverage franchise here grew 5.0%.
- Earnings disclosure. 152 of the 256 Food & Beverage franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. Buffalo Wild Wings is one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Food & Beverage franchise side by side.
Alert me when Buffalo Wild Wings files a new FDD
Franchisors reissue their FDD at least once a year, and the Item 7 and Item 19 figures move. Leave an email and we will send you Buffalo Wild Wings' updated numbers when the next document is published, plus the brand-comparison worksheet.
You get a confirmation email right away, then one email per new filing for the brands you ask about, and nothing else. No sharing, no selling, unsubscribe any time.