Buffalo Wild Wings Go Franchise
Audited FinancialsRisk Score
Pending analysis
Investment Range
$564,345 - $1,051,320
Franchise Fee
$1,500
Min Cash Required
$30,000
Total US Locations
140
Business Summary
Buffalo Wild Wings GO is a restaurant franchise that focuses primarily on off-premises consumption of chicken wings and other food and beverage products. Buffalo Wild Wings GO Restaurants operate under specific standards and trademarks, offering a menu of chicken wings, chicken tenders, and other items prepared using proprietary recipes and procedures. These establishments operate at franchisor-approved locations within a designated trade area.
Corporate History
Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. was incorporated in Ohio on May 21, 1990, under the name bw-3 Franchise Systems, Inc. The company changed its name to Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. on March 26, 2001. It began offering franchises in the United States for Buffalo Wild Wings GO Restaurants in December 2020. An affiliate has operated Buffalo Wild Wings GO Restaurants since May 2020. Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. also grants franchises for Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., which is part of Inspire Brands, Inc., a global multi-brand restaurant company.
Financial Overview
Investment Range
$564,345 - $1,051,320
Franchise Fee (Low)
$1,500
Franchise Fee (High)
$45,000
Minimum Cash Required
$30,000
Minimum Net Worth
$6,165,500
Royalty %
6%
Marketing %
3%
Equipment Costs (Low)
$407,245
Equipment Costs (High)
$679,020
Working Capital
$40,000
Audited Financials
Yes
Offers Financing
No
Audit Opinion
Unqualified opinion
Financial Health Notes
The FDD highlights a special risk concerning the guarantor's financial condition, stating that its financial statements call into question its financial ability to provide services and support. However, an independent auditor has issued an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (the guarantor/parent company) for the years ended December 29, 2024, December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023. The financial statements show net income attributable to Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. and Subsidiaries of $129,047,000 in 2024 and $158,785,000 in 2023, following a net loss of $116,901,000 in 2022. As of December 29, 2024, the company reported $4,863,000 in cash and cash equivalents and total assets of $3,203,266,000 with total stockholder's equity of $2,130,246,000. No going concern qualification was noted by the auditors.
Financing Details
Buffalo Wild Wings GO does not offer any direct or indirect financing to its franchisees. The franchisor also does not guarantee any notes, leases, or other obligations for franchisees, meaning franchisees are responsible for securing all necessary funding from third-party sources.
Performance Metrics
Total US Locations
140
Franchised Units
90
Corporate Units
50
Avg Square Footage
1,500
Franchising Since
2020
Legal & Compliance Analysis
Recent Litigation
Yes
Bankruptcy
No
Litigation Count
3
Litigation Summary
Buffalo Wild Wings GO has been involved in three relevant litigation cases within the last three years. One pending class action lawsuit, filed in March 2023, alleges that Buffalo Wild Wings engaged in deceptive advertising by marketing "boneless wings" as actual wings. Buffalo Wild Wings denies liability in this matter and intends to defend itself vigorously. Two other class action complaints have concluded. One, filed in November 2021, alleged deceptive delivery fee advertising and was settled in March 2022 for $47,500. The second, filed in July 2022, alleged deceptive service fee advertising for takeout orders and was settled in November 2023 for $115,000. Additionally, the franchisor discloses that certain affiliates (such as Arby's and Dunkin' Brands) have resolved actions related to no-poaching provisions and cyberattacks, but these actions are stated not to have any impact on Buffalo Wild Wings GO or allege unlawful conduct by Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc.
Bankruptcy History
Buffalo Wild Wings GO has no bankruptcy information required to be disclosed in Item 4 of its Franchise Disclosure Document. This means that neither the franchisor nor its key management personnel have a reportable bankruptcy history.
Agreement Terms
Initial Term
10 years
Renewal Term
10 years
Renewal Conditions
To renew their Buffalo Wild Wings GO franchise, franchisees must provide written notice between 6 and 12 months before the current term expires. They must sign the franchisor's then-current form of franchise agreement and related documents, which may include different terms and higher fees. Franchisees must have complied with all modernization requirements for their restaurant, or relocate if the current site no longer meets standards. They must be in good standing, without defaults, and have satisfied all monetary and material obligations. If leasing, they need to show proof of their ability to maintain possession of the premises for the renewal term. All training requirements must be met, and a renewal fee equal to 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee for new franchisees must be paid. Finally, the franchisee, each Principal Owner, and each guarantor must sign a general release of claims.
Training & Support Program
Franchisor Assistance
Before opening, Buffalo Wild Wings GO assists franchisees with site acceptance, approving building plans, providing operational manuals, offering construction and development guidance, and conducting initial training. They also provide specifications for approved equipment, signs, and initial inventory. During operation, Buffalo Wild Wings GO maintains a Brand Fund, approves all advertising materials, updates lists of approved suppliers, and conducts periodic visits to restaurants for evaluations. Ongoing support also includes refresher training courses, updates to required computer systems, and access to an online Learning Management System. The franchisor also specifies requirements for participation in gift card and loyalty programs, websites, and social media, and may designate local advertising cooperatives.
Initial Training Hours
243
Training Location
Inspire Brands Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia, or a BWW-GO Nationally Certified Training Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois.
Ongoing Support
Buffalo Wild Wings GO provides ongoing support to its franchisees through various means. This includes periodic visits to restaurants by franchisor representatives to conduct evaluations and ensure compliance with the franchise agreement. The franchisor offers refresher training courses as needed, which may involve multimedia tools like e-learning. Franchisees are required to participate in all in-Restaurant training programs, including by acquiring necessary electronic devices and subscriptions. The Control Person, Multi-Unit Operations Manager, Unit General Manager, and other key employees may be required to attend ongoing training at the franchisor's facility, the restaurant location, or other designated sites. Additionally, a Control Person or approved representative must attend all annual franchise conferences and meetings related to new products, operational procedures, training, and sales promotion.
Franchise Requirements
Industry Experience Required
No
Management Experience Required
Yes
Sales Experience Required
No
Technical Skills Required
No
Operational Details
Location Type
retail
Owner Participation
full-time
Territory Type
limited
Territory Size Requirements
For a single Buffalo Wild Wings GO Restaurant, the Designated Area will be determined based on factors like nearby businesses, demographics, and traffic patterns. While there's no set minimum or maximum size, the franchisor anticipates a Designated Area will be no less than 2 blocks and no more than 3 miles. For Area Development Agreements, Development Territories are defined by demographics, market characteristics, proximity to businesses and residences, traffic generators, driving times, and major topographical features, with no minimum size specified for these larger territories.
Staffing Notes
Buffalo Wild Wings GO requires specific management roles to be filled at all times. This includes a Control Person and a Unit General Manager who must meet the franchisor's standards and qualifications and complete all required training. The Control Person is responsible for overseeing the general management and policies of the restaurant, dedicating full-time and best efforts to its direct operation. The Unit General Manager provides direct on-premises supervision. Each restaurant must also have at least three shift managers. If a franchisee and its affiliates operate five or more Buffalo Wild Wings GO Restaurants, a Multi-Unit Operations Manager, who cannot also be a Unit General Manager, must be appointed to oversee operations. All designated managers must successfully complete training to the franchisor's satisfaction. The franchisor also requires a sufficient number of competent and trained employees to ensure efficient customer service, and all employees must wear franchisor-approved uniforms.