Wings Etc. Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1994

Franchising Since: 2005

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Estimated Number of Units: 80

Franchise Description: Wings Etc., Inc. is the franchisor. The franchisor sells franchises for the right to operate a single “WINGS ETC. Grill and Pub” restaurant (offering onsite dining and carryout) or a “Wings 2 Go” restaurant (carryout-only). A Grill and Pub typically will have up to approximately 3,500 to 4,500 square feet with seating capacity for up to 200 people. A Wings 2 Go will have up to approximately 1,200 to 2,000 square feet with seating capacity of 0 to 16 seats. Wings Etc. restaurants will have a family-oriented sports theme and will offer a wide variety of chicken wings, barbecued ribs, sandwiches, burgers and other products and beverages including beer, wine and liquor. The franchisor also may permit franchisees to offer delivery or catering services with the franchisor’s prior written approval. In addition, the franchisor may require Wings Etc. restaurants to offer forms of gambling as it specifies, including but not limited to, gaming machines, pull-tabs, sports betting and keno, provided such forms of gambling are lawful where a restaurant is located.
Training Overview: All training must be completed to the franchisor’s satisfaction by franchisees (or a principal owner of the franchise), their certified manager (if the franchisee or a principal owner is not acting in that capacity) and as many assistant manager(s) as are needed so that at least three management-level personnel for the restaurant attend the training program. Training will occur before the restaurant opens at the franchisor’s headquarters in Indiana or at another location it designates. The initial training program for a Grill and Pub lasts approximately six weeks, and for a Wings 2 Go it lasts approximately three weeks. In addition to the training program, a principal owner or the certified manager must successfully complete “manager-in-position” training, which will take place at a Wings Etc. training restaurant that the franchisor designates. All assistant managers for the restaurant must successfully complete a four-week training program for a Grill and Pub, or a three-week training program for a Wings 2 Go, at a Wings Etc. training restaurant that the franchisor designates. The franchisor will provide franchisees with an “opening team” to assist franchisees in the opening and initial operation of the restaurant. An opening team will consist of up to four individuals. The franchisor may require franchisees to attend refresher training programs.

Territory Granted: Franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that the franchisor owns, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that it controls. The franchisor grants franchisees the right to operate a Wings, Etc. restaurant at their authorized location only.

Obligations and Restrictions: A principal owner is any person who directly or indirectly owns a 10% or greater interest in the franchisee when the franchisee is a corporation, limited liability company or a similar entity other than a partnership entity. If the franchisee is a partnership entity, then each general partner is a principal owner, regardless of his or her percentage ownership interest. If the franchisee is one or more individuals, each individual is a principal owner. During the term of the Franchise Agreement, franchisees must at all times have one or more certified managers for their restaurant. Franchisees must offer for sale at the restaurant all of the menu items and food and beverage products that the franchisor periodically requires and they may not offer at the restaurant any unapproved products or menu items or use the premises for any purpose other than the operation of a restaurant. Franchisees will be required to have certain video games. In addition, the franchisor may require Wings Etc. restaurants to offer forms of gambling as it specifies, including but not limited to, gaming machines, pull-tabs, sports betting and keno, provided such forms of gambling are lawful where the restaurant is located.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 11 years. One additional renewal term of 10 years is available if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or obligation. If franchisees are an honorably discharged veteran who meets the qualifications, then the franchisor will discount the applicable initial franchise fee by 20%.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$20,000	$25,000
Free Standing Building Improvements/Non-Free Standing Leasehold Improvements	$300,000	$2,200,000
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment	$50,000	$315,000
Signage	$6,000	$26,500
Computer System/Cash Register/POS (no back office system currently required)	$11,000	$10,500
Lease & Utility Security Deposits	$0	$10,000
Initial Inventory	$8,000	$29,000
Insurance	$1,650	$13,000
Training	$10,000	$61,500
Grand Opening Advertising/Marketing	$25,000	$25,000
Office Equipment and Supplies	$1,000	$3,000
Liquor License	$2,000	$95,000
Professional Fees	$100	$5,200
Business License and Permits	$100	$2,400
Additional Funds (3 month period)	$45,000	$60,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL	$479,850	$2,881,100

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	Grill and Pub: 0% of gross sales in year 1; 2.5% of gross sales in year 2; 5% of gross sales in years 3 thru 11. Wings 2 Go: 0% to 6% of gross sales depending upon average weekly gross sales over prior 8 week period.
National Brand Fund	2% of gross sales.
Local Advertising Expenditure/Fee	1% of gross sales.
Audits	Cost of audit, which the franchisor estimates will be between $0 and $4,000, plus interest at the maximum rate allowable by law (not to exceed 18% per month).
Transfer Fee	25% of the then-current initial franchise fee if the transferee is new to the Wings Etc. system, or 10% of the then-current initial franchise fee if the transferee is an existing Wings Etc. franchise owner in good standing.
Administrative Fee	$1,500
Renewal Fee	10% of the then-current initial franchise fee.
Remodeling	Not more than $125,000 during the term of the Franchise Agreement (amounts adjusted for change in the Consumer Price Index).
Late Payment Fee	$100 each time a payment is not made on the due date.
Late Report Fee	$100 for each delinquent report and $100 per month until the report is submitted.
Non-Compliance Fee	Up to $500 per violation.
Interest on the Late Payment of Fees	18% per year, or the maximum rate of interest permitted by governing law, whichever is less.
Insurance	$8,000 - $15,000 for annual premiums.
Product Testing Fee	$50 - $100, per product.
Training for Substitute Certified Manager	Tuition paid to the franchisor is the then-current fee, currently $1,000 per person, subject to change by the franchisor. Franchisees must also pay all related transportation, lodging, meals and wages, expenses for their trainees.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Wings Etc. Year of FDD: 2025.
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