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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Wingstop Franchise

Wingstop is a quick-service restaurant franchise built around cooked-to-order chicken wings, boneless wings and tenders in a range of signature flavors, served alongside hand-cut fries and classic sides. Founded in Garland, Texas in 1994 and franchising since the late 1990s, the brand has grown to more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide and trades publicly as Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING).

The model is built around a small restaurant footprint of roughly 1,400 to 1,800 square feet and a simple, kitchen-focused operating system geared toward carryout and delivery rather than large dine-in rooms. Digital ordering through the Wingstop app and loyalty programme accounts for a substantial share of sales, and most growth comes through multi-unit Brand Partners developing several locations across a market.

Wingstop has reported positive domestic same-store sales growth for 21 consecutive years and positions itself as a flavor-led alternative to traditional chicken chains. The franchise is structured for experienced multi-unit operators rather than single-store owners, with partners expected to scale a portfolio over time.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Wingstop resales available
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Why buy a Wingstop Franchise?

Wingstop pairs a focused, easily replicated menu with one of the most recognised names in the chicken category, a segment that has proved resilient and fast-growing across recent economic cycles. For an operator, the appeal of buying a Wingstop franchise lies in a simple kitchen model, a compact real-estate footprint and a heavily digital sales mix that reduces reliance on front-of-house dine-in service.

The brand’s scale brings established supply relationships, national marketing, a proprietary point-of-sale platform and purchasing co-op access that an independent restaurant would have to build alone. Its publicly traded parent gives buyers unusual visibility into system performance, and the multi-unit development structure rewards owners building a portfolio rather than a single store.

Wingstop Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1994

    • Franchising Since

      1997

    • New Startup Cost

      $310,400 – $1,048,500

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $15,000

      current form; prior agreements may provide $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      5.50%

      of Gross Sales ; adjustable 5–5.5%

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      2586

    • New Units Opened *

      384

    • Units Transferred *

      52

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $2,007,626

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Wingstop – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    New Brand Partners and their general managers complete a four-week initial programme at Wingstop's Global Support Center in Dallas, which includes 40.25 classroom hours and 134.5 hours of on-the-job training. Owners run a proprietary POS platform, backed by ongoing field operations, purchasing co-op access and marketing support spanning national media, social, advertising templates, an intranet and newsletters. Buyers of an existing Wingstop should confirm what transfer training the franchisor provides to incoming ownership and which staff hold current certification when the resale closes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Wingstop is designed for experienced multi-unit restaurant operators rather than first-time, single-store owners. The brand looks for partners with a proven record running several locations, the ability to scale teams and systems, and the appetite to develop multiple restaurants across a market over time. Owners are expected to stay hands-on in daily operations and live within reach of their restaurants, making it best suited to growth-minded operators comfortable managing kitchens, labour and local marketing across a portfolio.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Wingstop ranked #6 on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and #1 in the chicken category, up from #9 the prior year. It has earned Franchise Business Review recognition as a top food franchise (including a 2026 Top 200 listing), appeared among Franchise Times' leading brands, and drawn Wall Street Journal coverage for its sustained growth. The brand has surpassed one billion wings sold and trades publicly as Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING). For resale buyers, system-level recognition should be weighed alongside a specific territory's local reviews and reputation.

  4. Industry / Market

    Chicken is the fastest-growing protein category in US quick-service dining, with chicken-focused QSRs posting close to 9% year-over-year sales growth in 2024 (Wall Street Journal). Demand is supported by value pricing, the rise of app-based ordering and delivery, and chicken's broad appeal across dayparts. Wings and tenders travel well, which suits a carryout- and delivery-led model. For resale buyers, the category's resilience matters less than a specific unit's local competition, delivery penetration and repeat-customer base.

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