Buffalo Wild Wings
Inspire Brands
Company Information
Three Glenlake Pkwy NE
Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. is an Ohio corporation incorporated on May 21, 1990, under the name bw-3 Franchise Systems, Inc. They changed their name to Buffalo Wild Wings International, Inc. on March 26, 2001. Their principal place of business is at Three Glenlake Pkwy NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. They are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that developed the concept for the franchise being offered. Their Parent was formed in 1982 as an Ohio corporation under its original name, JMS Associates, Inc., which name changed to bw-3, Inc. in 1995 and then merged into Jar-Man Associates, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, on June 2, 1997 with bw-3, Inc. being the name of the surviving company. On May 28, 1998, bw-3, Inc. changed its name to Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
Not Available
1 Ongoing Lawsuits
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Franchise Rating
Franchimp Summary Rating
5/10
Earning Transparency
7/10
Franchise Attrition
3/10
Investment Accessibility
4/10
Summary of potential earnings
$2,416,674 / unit
Average Revenue During 2020Restaurants (Sit-Down)
Franchise System Development
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Distribution of Buffalo Wild Wings Franchisee
Employee Contact Database
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Summary of Investment Costs
Upfront Franchise Fees
Minimum: $12,500 Maximum: $156,200
Upfront franchise fees are the one-time payments required to secure rights to operate under an established brand, typically ranging from $20,000 to $100,000+ depending on brand value.
These fees grant access to proprietary business systems, training programs, intellectual property rights, and often territorial exclusivity—essentially purchasing the blueprint for a proven business model.
While separate from ongoing royalties, investors should evaluate these fees against expected returns, comparing fee-to-earnings ratios across opportunities and assessing how effectively franchisors reinvest these funds into system improvements.
Total Investment Costs
Minimum: $2,450,345 Maximum: $4,883,320
Ongoing Fees
Ongoing franchise fees, typically structured as royalties ranging from 4-8% of gross sales, represent the continuous payments franchisees make to maintain brand affiliation and support services.
These recurring fees fund the franchisor's operational assistance, marketing initiatives, technology updates, and continued brand development—creating a partnership where the franchisor's revenue grows alongside the franchisee's success. In addition to royalties, franchisees often contribute to national advertising funds (usually 1-3% of sales) and may incur technology fees, supply chain markups, or renewal fees depending on the franchise agreement.
Investors should carefully analyze these ongoing costs within their financial projections, as they directly impact profit margins and cash flow throughout the entire franchise relationship.
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