If we permit you to operate the Sports Bar at a Multi-Brand Location, unless we otherwise specify or approve, none of the advertising, marketing or promotional materials associated with the Sports Bar may reference any Other Restaurant or the brand(s) under which they operate. (Section 4.F of MBA). Social Media You must comply with our policies and requirements (as we periodically modify them) concerning blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like Linked-In, live- blogging tools like X (f/k/a Twitter), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools (collectively, “Social Media”) that in any way reference the Trademarks or involve the Sports Bar. These policies may involve prohibitions on your or your representatives’ use of Social Media in relation to the Trademarks or the Restaurant. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.F).
From the filings
Buffalo Wild Wings
Full service restaurantBuffalo Wild Wings is a full-service restaurant chain with 1,178 US locations (549 franchised, 629 company-owned) and a 2026 FDD that centralizes technology decisions at the franchisor level. The filing names a designated POS system, an integrated online ordering solution, and a computer system that franchisees must purchase from designated suppliers. For software vendors, the addressable market is the 549 franchised sports bars, with procurement controlled by Inspire Brands' corporate technology leadership.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
5% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
You must comply with our policies and requirements (as we periodically modify them) concerning blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like Linked-In, live- blogging tools like X (f/k/a Twitter), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools (collectively, “Social Media”) that in any way reference the Trademarks or involve the Sports Bar. These policies may involve prohibitions on your or your representatives’ use of Social Media in relation to the Trademarks or the Restaurant. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.F).
You must comply with our policies and requirements (as we periodically modify them) concerning blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like Linked-In, live- blogging tools like X (f/k/a Twitter), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools (collectively, “Social Media”) that in any way reference the Trademarks or involve the Sports Bar. These policies may involve prohibitions on your or your representatives’ use of Social Media in relation to the Trademarks or the Restaurant. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.F).
You must comply with our policies and requirements (as we periodically modify them) concerning blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like Linked-In, live- blogging tools like X (f/k/a Twitter), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools (collectively, “Social Media”) that in any way reference the Trademarks or involve the Sports Bar. These policies may involve prohibitions on your or your representatives’ use of Social Media in relation to the Trademarks or the Restaurant. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.F).
You must comply with our policies and requirements (as we periodically modify them) concerning blogs, common social networks like Facebook, professional networks like Linked-In, live- blogging tools like X (f/k/a Twitter), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites like TikTok, Pinterest and Instagram, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools (collectively, “Social Media”) that in any way reference the Trademarks or involve the Sports Bar. These policies may involve prohibitions on your or your representatives’ use of Social Media in relation to the Trademarks or the Restaurant. (Franchise Agreement, Section 8.F).
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
31 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 1 explicit no; 2 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must compile, keep and submit to us the books, records and reports on the forms and using the methods of bookkeeping and accounting as we periodically may prescribe.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We have unlimited, independent access to your Sports Bar’s Computer System and may retrieve, analyze, download and use all software, data and files generated or stored on the Computer System.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You also must, at your expense, submit to us within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year a detailed balance sheet, profit and loss statement and statement of cash flows for such fiscal year, prepared on an accrual basis including all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of the financial statements…
How the franchisor buys
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 20
We have one franchisee advisory council, the Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Advisory Council (“FAC”).
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesFranchise agreement
We may implement and periodically modify our approved supplies criteria.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
0Item 8
Neither we nor our affiliates received any revenue during our 2025 fiscal year from selling products or services to Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars franchisees.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
During our 2025 fiscal year, we and our affiliates received a total of $3,767,731 from suppliers of certain food products based on franchisees’ purchases from those suppliers.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
50Item 8
Collectively, the purchases and leases that you must make from us or our affiliates, from designated or approved suppliers, or under our standards and specifications represent about 90% of your purchases and leases to establish, and about 50% of your purchase and leases to operate, the Sports Bar.
Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?
YesItem 8
You must pay all costs of the inspection and evaluation and the actual cost of the test.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
You must notify us in writing if you want to offer for sale at the Sports Bar any brand of product, or to use in the operation of the Sports Bar any brand of food ingredient or other material, item or supply, that we have not then approved, or to purchase any product from a supplier that we have not designated as an…
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesFranchise agreement
assign all right, title and interest in the telephone numbers for the Sports Bar
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You must, at all times, be compliant with the applicable and then current Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI-DSS”) and requirements.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
We or our authorized representative have the right to enter your Sports Bar at all reasonable times during business hours for the purpose of making periodic evaluations and to ascertain if the provisions of this Agreement are being observed by you, to inspect and evaluate the Authorized Location and its building…
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
We may from time to time revise the contents of the manuals and you expressly agree to comply with each new or changed requirement.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
You may not develop a Sports Bar at any site unless we have communicated our acceptance of the site in writing.
Marketing
Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?
YesFranchise agreement
You may not use or reference the Marks in any online communication or web site (including all current and future social media platforms) absent our prior approval.
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 11
You must spend at least $12,500 for grand opening activities during the time between 45 days before and 45 days after the Sports Bar opens.
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 11
In addition to the Advertising Fee, you must spend 0.5% of your Sports Bar’s Gross Sales on approved local marketing and promotion, unless the Sports Bar will be located a Non-Traditional Location, and then you are not required to spend any additional amounts on local marketing or promotion activities.
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 6
Your Sports Bar must participate in our and our affiliates’ consumer loyalty program (the “Loyalty Program”).
Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?
YesItem 11
We may designate a local advertising market for Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars, and if we do, you must participate in and contribute to the cooperative or LMG responsible for coordinating advertising and marketing programs in your designated local advertising market.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 8
As of the date of this disclosure document, 36 BWW FDD 2026 1625678158.4 you must purchase certain construction-related services, equipment (including the POS system and related services and audio/visual equipment), Sports Bar signage, smallwares, sports programming, food and beverage products, uniforms and other…
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
you must purchase certain construction-related services, equipment (including the POS system and related services and audio/visual equipment), Sports Bar signage, smallwares, sports programming, food and beverage products, uniforms and other branded merchandise, and gift card services only from our designated…
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (“PCI DSS”) as they may be revised and modified by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, or any successor or replacement organization we may specify, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (“FACTA”) and other applicable…
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
You must sign an electronic transfer of funds authorization that we periodically specify to authorize and direct your bank or financial institution to transfer electronically, on a weekly basis, directly to our or our affiliate’s account and to charge to your account all amounts due to us or our affiliates.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 8
You must participate in our then-current gift card program operated by or through our approved suppliers (that may include us or our affiliates).
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
In addition to the Control Person and your Unit General Manager, your Sports Bar must have at least 2 assistant managers at all times during the Franchise Agreement’s term.
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must require all your employees to work in clean uniforms approved by us.
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
All Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars must use the POS system we designate.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We have unlimited, independent access to your Sports Bar’s Computer System and may retrieve, analyze, download and use all software, data and files generated or stored on the Computer System.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesFranchise agreement
We may require the Control Person, the Multi-Unit Operations Manager (if applicable), the Unit General Manager, the
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 11
Your Control Person or another representative of the Sports Bar whom we approve must attend, at your expense, all annual franchise conferences we may hold or sponsor and all meetings relating to new products or product preparation procedures, new operational procedures or programs, training, restaurant management…
The filing answers no to 1 question
- Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?Item 8
The vendor opportunity at Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wild Wings operates 1,178 US locations, split between 549 franchised and 629 company-owned sports bars. The Item 19 financial performance representation reports an average of $3,574,130 for a cohort of 532 franchised Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars operating for the full 2025 fiscal year, excluding 15 that opened during 2025 and 2 closed for extended periods. Franchised outlets grew 2.045% year over year. The franchisor is part of Inspire Brands, whose sibling brands include Arby's, Jimmy John's, and Sonic Drive-In.
Who controls software purchasing Technology decisions are centralized at the franchisor level. The FDD names Yasir Anwar as Chief Technology & AI Acceleration Officer and Haddon Bennett as Chief Information Security Officer. Franchisees must purchase and use any computer system the franchisor develops or selects, including all future updates, supplements, and modifications. The franchisor reserves the right to designate a single source for the computer system and related support services, which may be the franchisor or an affiliate.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required The FDD requires franchisees to use the POS system designated by the franchisor and to purchase the POS hardware, software, and ongoing maintenance from a designated supplier. The information system currently costs approximately $25,000 to $40,000, depending on the number of POS terminals. Franchisees must also participate in the integrated online ordering solution designated by the franchisor and acquire the required equipment and software only from the designated supplier. The filing names Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter in Item 11.
Procurement, renewals, and timing Item 8 establishes a designated-supplier model. Franchisees must purchase certain construction-related services, equipment including the POS system and audio/visual equipment, signage, smallwares, sports programming, food and beverage products, uniforms, branded merchandise, and gift card services only from designated suppliers or distributors. All other items must meet franchisor specifications and standards from approved suppliers; franchisees may propose a supplier for approval. Initial franchise terms run 20 years, with renewal terms of 10 years. Renewal requires a $20,000 fee, modernization compliance, and signing the then-current franchise agreement, which may contain materially different terms.
How to read the Buffalo Wild Wings FDD The embedded PDF viewer below contains Buffalo Wild Wings' 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 2 names the officers, Item 8 sets supplier restrictions, Item 11 covers technology and training requirements, Item 17 governs renewal, transfer, and termination, Item 19 provides the financial performance representation, and Item 20 lists outlets. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, talk to FranCloud.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Buffalo Wild Wings, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
547 operators run 547 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| OH | 60 |
|---|---|
| IN | 45 |
| MI | 41 |
| IL | 38 |
| TX | 31 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Buffalo Wild Wings
Ownership: Inspire Brands.
Sibling brands
Related Full service restaurant brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.