Buffalo Wild Wings vs Chick-fil-A Franchise Cost 2026
Buffalo Wild Wings runs $1.6M–$3.9M. Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. The gap at midpoint: $1.5M.
Buffalo Wild Wings
$1.6M–$3.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.5M
Chick-fil-A costs less
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Buffalo Wild Wings | Chick-fil-A | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.6M–$3.9M | $342K–$2.2M | Chick-fil-A |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $10,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 5.0% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.5% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $0 | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $750K | $10K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 22.7 yr | 1.3 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Buffalo Wild Wings Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.6M–$3.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.5M
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
Bottom Line
Chick-fil-A costs $1.5M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.