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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Coyote Ugly Franchise

Coyote Ugly Saloon is an entertainment-bar franchise built around a high-energy nightlife experience, where bartenders known as “Coyotes” dance on the bar and lead the crowd through music, contests and showmanship. Founded in 1993 by Liliana “Lil” Lovell, the brand opened its original saloon in New York City and grew into an internationally recognised nightlife name.

The concept reached mainstream fame through the 2000 film Coyote Ugly and three seasons of an MTV/CMT reality series, helping it position itself as “the most famous bar on the planet.” More than 30 years on, Coyote Ugly operates saloons across US nightlife and tourism markets including New York, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans and San Antonio, and has opened locations in around a dozen countries.

The business is a brick-and-mortar, location-driven hospitality model centred on bar sales, live entertainment and events. Coyote Ugly runs an international franchise programme for selected operators in non-US territories, while its US saloons are company-operated, giving the brand a long corporate operating history behind its systems.

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Why buy a Coyote Ugly Franchise?

Buying a Coyote Ugly franchise means taking on one of the most recognisable names in nightlife, a brand with built-in consumer awareness from a hit film, a reality series and decades of media coverage that few independent bars or new concepts can match. In an experience-led nightlife market, that recognition can drive foot traffic, tourism appeal and event demand in the right location.

The model is supported by operating systems refined across more than 30 years of company-run saloons, covering the signature entertainment format, staff recruitment and casting, and day-to-day bar operations. For an operator entering a crowded segment, an established format and a known brand identity reduce the guesswork of building a venue concept from scratch.

Coyote Ugly Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      Typically around $60,000

    • Initial Investment

      $500,000 – $1,000,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of gross monthly revenue

  • Training & Support

    • Immersive training in the U.S.

    • On-site opening support

Coyote Ugly – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Coyote Ugly's training draws on more than 30 years of running corporate saloons. Incoming operators and staff train at a US corporate site, learning the full operation, from the choreographed bar-top routines to back-of-house tasks such as inventory and bookkeeping. The corporate team also travels to the venue to run the "Coyote Search" casting process and train the local crew, alongside ongoing brand and operational guidance. Resale buyers should confirm what corporate-site training and onboarding transfers to a new owner and existing staff when a saloon changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Coyote Ugly suits a hands-on, active operator rather than a passive or semi-absentee investor. Prior bar, restaurant or hospitality experience is valuable, as is the ability to recruit, cast and lead a high-energy team, manage nightly operations and control costs. Owners should be comfortable fronting a bold, entertainment-led brand, driving local marketing and events, and upholding brand standards in a fast-paced nightlife setting. Strong people management and local-market instincts matter more than any single industry background.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Coyote Ugly's recognition comes largely from popular culture: the 2000 film Coyote Ugly, three seasons of an MTV/CMT reality series, and decades of coverage in titles including GQ, Forbes, Maxim and Inc. The brand markets itself as "the most famous bar on the planet," and founder Lil Lovell has been recognised among nightlife innovators and on 40-under-40 lists. For resale buyers, this brand-level fame should be weighed alongside the specific saloon's local reputation, online reviews and standing within its own market, which drive day-to-day trade.

  4. Industry / Market

    Coyote Ugly operates in the US bars and nightclubs industry, worth roughly $39 billion in 2026 across some 50,000 establishments (IBISWorld). Demand is increasingly experience-driven, with consumers favouring venues that offer live entertainment, events and atmosphere over standard bars. Performance is closely tied to tourism, foot traffic and a location's nightlife district, making strong central, high-visibility sites important. Spending is discretionary and can soften in downturns, so buyers should review a saloon's local demand base, seasonality and tourism exposure.

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