Rank no. 76 – Wingstop Restaurants Inc. – US

Products & Services: Chicken wings

Number of Locations: 578

Total Investment: $252.61K – 554.9K

Founded: 1994

Began Franchising: 1998

About Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

In response to the increasing popularity of buffalo-style chicken wings, Antonio Swad founded Wingstop in 1994. In 1998, the privately owned company began franchising.

Franchise Units

YEAR	U.S.	CANADIAN	INTERNATIONAL	COMPANY OWNED
2013	536	0	18	24
2012	480	0	12	24
2011	414	0	9	24
2010	428	0	2	23
2009	410	0	2	23

Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units worldwide.

Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $252,621 – $554,898
Franchise Fee: $30,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 10 years, renewable

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

Net Worth: $400,000
Liquid Cash Available: $200,000

OPERATIONS

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8 – 10. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators).

FINANCING TYPE	IN-HOUSE	THIRD PARTY
Franchise Fee
Startup Costs
Equipment
Inventory
Accounts Receivable
Payroll

How This Franchise Supports Franchisees

Training: Available at headquarters: 4 weeks. At franchisee’s location: 1 week & as needed.

Ongoing Support: Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support: Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising,

Franchise Ranking History

Franchise 500®: #76 (2013), #92 (2012), #71 (2011), #104 (2010), #97 (2009),

Fastest-Growing: #32 (2013), #72 (2011), #41 (2010), #73 (2009),

America’s Top Global: #76 (2013), #78 (2012), #61 (2011), #85 (2010),

Wingstop

Type	Private
Industry	Fast Casual Restaurant
Headquarters	Richardson, Texas
Number of locations	600
Products	Chicken Wings
Owner(s)	Roark Capital Group
Website	www.wingstop.com

Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. is a chain of nostalgic, aviation-themed restaurants where the sole focus is on chicken wings. Wingstop locations are decorated following a 1930’s and 1940s “pre-jet” aviation theme. The restaurant chain was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, and began offering franchises in 1998. Since then, Wingstop has grown into a chain with more than 600 restaurants either open or in development.^[1] The chain has its headquarters in Richardson, Texas.^[2]

Wingstop’s national spokesman is Troy Aikman, three-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Hall of Fame inductee.^[3]

Wingstop was acquired by Gemini Investors in 2003, who sold it to Roark Capital Group in 2010.