Complete investment analysis based on official FDD data
Total Investment
$298,200 – $1,013,500
Franchise Fee
$25,000
Royalty Rate
6.0%
The total initial investment to open a WING-STOP franchise ranges from $298,200 to $1,013,500, as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the one-time franchise fee of $25,000.
Midpoint estimate: $655,850
$25,000
One-time initial fee
The WING-STOP franchise fee is a one-time upfront payment made to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. This fee grants you the right to operate under the WING-STOP brand and is included in the total initial investment range above.
Royalty Fee
6.0%
of gross revenue
Ad/Marketing Fund
4.0%
of gross revenue
Total Ongoing Fee Burden: 10.0% of gross revenue
Combined royalty and advertising fund contributions before any other fees.
| Fee Type | Rate | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties | 6.0 | PCT | Payable weekly by automatic debit on Tuesday for Gross Sales during the week ended the prior Saturday. Gross Sales include all revenue from Restaurant but exclude sales taxes, coupon credits, employee discounts, third-party delivery fees, and revenue from gift cards sold (although include full value of transactions paid with gift cards). Reduced to 5% for renewing franchisees who bought and installed required POS system by December 31, 2016. |
| Ad Fund | 5.5 | PCT | Current rate is 5.5% of Gross Sales. Ad Fund contributions may be adjusted annually to be no less than 5% and no more than 5.5% to support digital and technology-related costs. Payable weekly same as royalties. Combined Ad Fund contribution and local advertising may not exceed 5.5% of Gross Sales absent franchisee vote. Can be increased above 5.5% (but not decreased) if franchisees owning 60% or more of U.S. franchised Restaurants vote to require increase. Franchisor and affiliates do not vote on increases above what they may unilaterally establish. |
| Ad Customization Fee | N/A | VARIABLE | Reasonable charge upon delivery of customized advertising materials showing information about Restaurant. Fee is not currently charged. Only applies if franchisor or affiliates elect to provide customized copies of advertising materials. |
Category
QSR
System Size
2,154 units
Franchise Score
out of 100
Wingstop operates a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings with signature sauces and flavors. The franchise focuses on quality wing preparation, bold flavors, and delivery-driven operations to capture the growing wings category.
Median Revenue
$1,081,665
per year, per location
Mean Revenue
$2,128,349
per year, per location
Estimated Owner Profit
$108,167
per year
Profit Margin
10.0%
of revenue
Estimation method: benchmark
Estimated ROI (Simple Payback): 6.1 years
Based on midpoint investment of $655,850 and estimated annual owner profit of $108,167.
Avg. Annual Closure Rate
0.0%
Low risk — below industry average
Net Unit Growth
+656 units
From 2022 to 2024
| Year | Start | Opened | Closed | Transfers | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1498 | +187 | — | — | 1678 |
| 2023 | 1678 | +203 | — | — | 1877 |
| 2024 | 1877 | +281 | — | — | 2154 |
Based on the FDD data, here is a data-driven snapshot of the WING-STOP franchise opportunity:
Overall Score
93/100
Strong opportunity
Est. Payback Period
6.1 yrs
Longer payback
Risk Level
Low
0.0% annual closure rate
WING-STOP scores well across our evaluation criteria, indicating a strong franchise system. With median unit revenue of $1,081,665 and a combined fee burden of 10.0% of gross revenue, prospective franchisees should model their own financial projections carefully. For a complete analysis including risk factors, deal-breaker flags, and detailed financial modeling, see the full report.
Get the full WING-STOP franchise intelligence report with risk analysis, deal-breaker alerts, and detailed financial projections.
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