Wings Etc Franchise Cost 2026: $39,500 Fee, $373K-$2.9M

Wings Etc’s April 20, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document lists a $39,500 Grill and Pub franchise fee. Total investment is $373,650 to $1,548,600 for a non-free-standing location or conversion of an existing free-standing location, and $1,623,650 to $2,890,100 for a free-standing building. Wings Etc. 2Go has a $20,000 fee and a $464,750 to $852,400 investment. Each investment range includes its franchise fee.

Start with availability, not cost

As of October 14, 2026, its available-markets page reads ‘Available Markets Sold Out No Open Markets Currently’. The same page says: “Currently, we have over 80 locations in 13 states and franchises sold in 15 states.”

A live inquiry form is not the same as an open territory; check the market page first. Confirm current availability directly before spending time on an application. The dated website statement is separate from the FDD’s historical outlet counts below.

The published costs by format

The April 20, 2026 FDD separates three investment scenarios. Use the row matching the proposed restaurant rather than treating the lowest and highest totals as a single construction budget.

Cost or requirement	Grill and Pub	Wings Etc. 2Go	Source
Initial franchise fee	$39,500	$20,000	FDD Item 5
Non-free-standing location or conversion of an existing free-standing location	$373,650 to $1,548,600	Not this format	FDD Item 7
Free-standing building	$1,623,650 to $2,890,100	Not this format	FDD Item 7
2Go initial investment	Not this format	$464,750 to $852,400	FDD Item 7
Grand opening advertising and marketing	$15,000, included in investment	$15,000, included in investment	FDD Item 7
Royalty	Standard 5% of Gross Sales; 4% to 5% under a qualifying development agreement	No royalty for first two months; then 0% to 6% of Gross Sales using prior eight-week average weekly Gross Sales	FDD Item 6; tiers below
National brand fund	2% of Gross Sales; may rise to 3% with 30 days’ written notice	Same	FDD Item 6
Local advertising	1% of Gross Sales; may rise to 2% with the designated local market’s majority approval	Same	FDD Item 6
2Go minimum net worth / cash on hand for project	Not a Grill and Pub requirement cited here	$600,000 / $200,000	2Go site, checked October 14, 2026
Veteran discount	20% off applicable initial franchise fee for qualifying honorably discharged veterans	Same; also stated on 2Go site	FDD Item 5; 2Go site checked October 14, 2026
Territory	No exclusive territory; rights are for the authorized location	Same	FDD Item 12

The website’s investment page still shows $367,150 to $2,567,100, labeled “As of 2024 Wings Etc. Inc. FDD.” (checked October 14, 2026). The figures above come from the newer April 20, 2026 FDD. Its Item 7 grand opening advertising figure is $15,000 for all three scenarios.

The royalty and its basis

Item 6 answers the basis question: the standard Grill and Pub royalty is 5% of Gross Sales, not profit. Gross Sales includes revenues and receipts from products, services and merchandise connected with the restaurant, whether cash or credit and whether credit is collected. It also includes vending, gaming and other activities on the premises, plus insurance proceeds compensating for lost revenue after a casualty. Sales tax and discounts are excluded. The franchisor reserves the right to change its revenue-recognition and inclusion policies.

For Grill and Pub operators who sign a development agreement and stay on schedule, Item 6 lists 5% for restaurant 1, 4.75% for restaurants 2 and 3, 4.50% for 4 and 5, 4.25% for 6 and 7, and 4% for 8 through 10. If the development schedule is not met, subsequent franchise agreements carry the then-current standard royalty.

For 2Go, no royalty is due for the first two months. Starting in month three, the royalty percentage for the following reporting period is set by average weekly Gross Sales over the prior eight weeks:

Prior eight-week average weekly Gross Sales	2Go royalty on Gross Sales
$0 to $13,999	0%
$14,000 to $15,000	1%
$15,001 to $16,000	2%
$16,001 to $17,000	3%
$17,001 to $18,000	4%
$18,001 to $19,000	5%
$19,001 and up	6%

These are fee thresholds, not sales forecasts. The national brand fund and local advertising obligations are separate from royalties. Our FDD Item 6 guide explains how to review recurring fees together.

Term, renewal, and veteran discount

Item 17 sets a 10-year initial franchise term from the agreement’s effective date, with one additional 10-year renewal. Renewal requires good standing, timely notice, a general release, the renewal fee, renovations to current standards, current training, and signing the then-current agreement, which may have materially different terms. Item 6 sets the renewal fee at 10% of the then-current initial franchise fee.

Item 5 provides a 20% discount on the applicable initial franchise fee for honorably discharged veterans who meet the franchisor’s qualifications. It does not limit that paragraph to 2Go. The 2Go site repeats the same terms, checked October 14, 2026. See our veteran food franchise discount guide for other documented offers.

Outlets and states in Item 20

At fiscal year-end 2025, Item 20 reports 56 franchised outlets and 26 company-owned outlets, 82 total. The tables define fiscal year-end as the last Sunday of the calendar year. Company-owned outlets are operated by franchisor affiliates.

State	Franchised outlets	Company-owned outlets
Illinois	5	0
Indiana	23	25
Kansas	1	0
Kentucky	3	0
Michigan	7	0
Missouri	4	0
North Carolina	1	0
Ohio	5	0
South Carolina	1	1
Tennessee	1	0
Texas	2	0
Virginia	1	0
West Virginia	2	0
Total	56	26

Those operating outlets span 13 states. Item 20 also lists Alabama and Florida with zero franchised outlets at year-end 2025. The FAQ’s statement of 25 company-owned stores is separate from Item 20’s fiscal year-end count of 26; the table above uses the FDD. The FAQ says both single-unit and multiunit options are offered, but that does not establish current market availability.

SBA Franchise Directory: Wings Etc. Grill & Pub and Wings Etc. 2Go appears in the SBA’s Franchise Directory file effective October 9, 2026 (SBA Franchise Identifier Code S1939; franchisor certification marked received). A listing is what a lender checks for brand eligibility; it is not an endorsement, and your own eligibility as a borrower is assessed separately. See how to check the SBA Franchise Directory. The file notes a lease addendum condition when real estate secures the loan.

Markets sold out? Buy an existing one

An existing restaurant is a separate path to investigate when new markets are unavailable. Start with what a franchise resale involves and where to find franchise resales. This is not a claim that a Wings Etc restaurant is currently listed for sale. A purchase depends on finding a seller, reviewing the business and lease, and obtaining the required franchisor approval under the transfer terms.

Treat the Item 7 figures as new-opening budgets, not asking prices for existing restaurants. For each resale, review the seller’s records, transfer requirements, remaining agreement term, and any required renovations before agreeing to a price. Compare format and fee obligations with Wing Snob, Wingstop, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

For another chicken-focused opening budget, Zaxby’s franchise cost breakdown lists $1,460,000 to $3,810,500 to open per its April 24, 2026 FDD.

Calling Wings Etc franchisees about a resale

Our free validation-call script lists the questions to ask current and former franchisees before you buy an existing location. Plus the due-diligence kit.

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Questions to ask before you apply

• Is any territory open in your market, given that the available-markets page reads “Sold Out” as of October 14, 2026, and is there a waiting list?
• Which Item 7 format applies to the sites you are considering, and what drives a location toward the high end of its range?
• What net worth and liquid capital does Wings Etc require for a Grill and Pub, as distinct from the 2Go page’s $600,000 and $200,000?
• Which qualifications does Wings Etc apply to the 20% veteran discount on the initial franchise fee described in Item 5?
• Will a franchise attorney and an accountant review the full FDD with you before you commit?