Buffalo Wild Wings vs Cookout Franchise Cost 2026
Buffalo Wild Wings runs $1.6M–$3.9M. Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. The gap at midpoint: $1.9M.
Buffalo Wild Wings
$1.6M–$3.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.9M
Cookout costs less
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Buffalo Wild Wings | Cookout | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.6M–$3.9M | $500K–$1.2M | Cookout |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $0 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 5.0% | 0.0% | Cookout |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.5% | 0.0% | Cookout |
| Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $500K | Cookout |
| Liquid Capital | $750K | $250K | Cookout |
| Est. Break-Even | 22.7 yr | 2.8 yr | Cookout |
Buffalo Wild Wings Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.6M–$3.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.5M
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
Bottom Line
Cookout costs $1.9M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cookout also wins on royalty rate.