Chick-fil-A vs Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026
Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. Wingstop runs $389K–$902K. The gap at midpoint: $641K.
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$641K
Wingstop costs less
Wingstop
$389K–$902K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Chick-fil-A | Wingstop | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $342K–$2.2M | $389K–$902K | Wingstop |
| Franchise Fee | $10,000 | $20,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $0 | $1.2M | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $10K | $600K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.3 yr | 20.2 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
Wingstop Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $389K–$902K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.6M
Bottom Line
Wingstop costs $641K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.