About Duff's Famous Wings Franchise
Duff's Famous Wings is a chicken wing restaurant franchise that has been serving up its signature wings since the brand began franchising in 2011.
Known for its bold flavors and generous portions, the brand has built a loyal following among wing enthusiasts who crave quality, flavor forward chicken wings.
The franchise fee is $30,000.
Duff's Famous Wings Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$506K
Average Investment
$804K
Maximum Investment
$1.1M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Up to 3% of Gross Sales (currently 1% to Brand Development Fund, 1% for Local Advertising, and Cooperative Advertising as determined by franchisor) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $506,100 – $1,101,500 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $506K–$1.1M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (Up to 3% of Gross Sales (currently 1% to Brand Development Fund, 1% for Local Advertising, and Cooperative Advertising as determined by franchisor)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Real Estate Broker Fee | $0 | $6,000 |
| Lease Deposit | $5,000 | $11,000 |
| Utility Security Deposit | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Rent – 3 Months | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| Architect/Design Fees | $13,000 | $25,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $200,000 | $500,000 |
| Equipment | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Signage | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $75,000 | $110,000 |
| Computer Hardware and Software | $1,600 | $2,500 |
| POS System | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Stationery and Initial Marketing Materials | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| Uniforms | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Licenses & Permits | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Professional Fees | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| Insurance – Annual Premium | $12,000 | $25,000 |
| Training Expenses | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| New Restaurant Opening Expense | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Initial Marketing Campaign | $0 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 75% of our then-current initial franchise fee if the transfer is to a new franchisee for the System; 50% of our then-current initial franchise fee if the transfer is to an existing franchisee |
| Renewal Fee | $2,000 (Successor Agreement Fee) |
| Technology Fee | $400-$800 Monthly (POS Subscription) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit |
| Initial Training (For New or Replacement Employees) | $2,500 per person, plus expenses |
| Additional On-Site Training | $350 per diem per trainer, plus expenses |
| Interest | 1.5% per month or the highest rate allowed by applicable law, whichever is less |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $100 |
| Prohibited Product or Service Fine | $250 per day of use of unauthorized products or services |
| Relocation Fee | $7,500 |
| Inspection and Testing | Reimbursement of costs (not more than $2,500) |
| Management Fee | 5% of Gross Sales, plus expenses |
| Costs and Attorneys’ Fees | Will vary under circumstances |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Repair, Maintenance, and Remodeling/Redecorating | Will vary under circumstances |
| Insurance | Reimbursement of our costs |
| Mystery Shopper Service | Up to $250 per shop, and up to six shops each year |
| ServSafe Certification | $200 per person or the then-current market rate |
| Gift Cards | $50 Monthly |
| Security Monitoring | $50-$200 Monthly |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 24 days for management personnel and 7 days for the Head Cook, totaling 60 classroom hours and 180 on-the-job hours. |
| Classroom Training | 60 |
| On-the-Job Training | 180 |
| Training Location | Franchisor's corporate headquarters and/or an affiliate’s Restaurant in Amherst, New York, or another designated location. |
| Additional Training | The franchisor may offer refresher training programs for up to five days each calendar year. Additional on-site training requested by the franchisee or deemed necessary by the franchisor is available for a per diem fee of $350 per trainer, plus expenses. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Population of between 45,000 to 50,000 people |
| Description | Franchisees are granted an exclusive protected area, described in terms of contiguous zip codes, with a population of 45,000 to 50,000 people. This protection does not apply to non-traditional sites (e.g., mall food courts, airports, hospitals) or major metropolitan areas, where no exclusive territory is granted. The franchisor retains rights to operate or license other businesses outside the protected area and through alternative distribution channels. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | Two (2) additional periods of five (5) years each |
| Renewal Fee | $2,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | To renew, franchisees must provide notice 6-9 months before expiration, be current on all payments and not in default, renovate/upgrade equipment if required, sign a general release, and execute the then-current Successor Agreement. The protected area may be re-evaluated and modified based on demographic shifts. |
| Transfer Fee | 75% of our then-current initial franchise fee if the transfer is to a new franchisee for the System; 50% of our then-current initial franchise fee if the transfer is to an existing franchisee |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisee must obtain franchisor consent, pay all outstanding amounts, not be in default, sign a general release, and pay a transfer fee. The transferee must meet franchisor criteria, complete training, and sign the current Franchise Agreement for the remaining term. |
| Termination for Cause | The franchisor may terminate the agreement for material breaches, including failure to pay monies owed, unauthorized use of Marks, operating at an unapproved location, failure to open the Restaurant on time, abandonment, conviction of a felony, threats to public health/safety, unauthorized transfers, maintaining false records, or three defaults (curable or non-curable) within a 12-month period. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the franchise, and for two years after its expiration or termination, the franchisee and its principals are prohibited from owning, operating, or having a financial interest in a similar competitive business within a 10-mile radius of any Duff's Famous Wings Restaurant in the system. This also applies to any business located within the United States, its territories, states, or commonwealths, or any other country, province, state, or geographic area where the franchisor has used or registered similar Marks. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | While the owner is not required to be actively involved in daily operations, a designated 'General Manager' must be retained to direct the Restaurant's operation and management, devoting full time and best efforts to this activity. The General Manager must meet franchisor criteria and complete training. An 'Operating Principal' who owns at least a 5% interest in the franchisee must also be approved and serve as the primary contact for operational issues. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase or lease all fixtures, furnishings, equipment, décor items, signs, and related items that conform to franchisor standards. All food and beverage items, ingredients, supplies, materials, and paper goods must meet franchisor standards and specifications. Proprietary recipes and products must be purchased solely from the franchisor or a designated source. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must operate in strict conformity with franchisor methods, standards, and specifications, and must not deviate from these standards or use non-conforming items without written consent. Only menu items, products, and services expressly approved in writing by the franchisor may be sold. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the franchisor received rebates totaling $48,868.45 from suppliers, of which $36,690.55 was refunded to individual units based on purchases. |
Duff's Famous Wings Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Duff's Famous Wings does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Duff's Famous Wings does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Duff's Famous Wings Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordDuff's Famous Wings has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Duff's Famous Wings System Growth
Total Units
5
Franchised
3
Company-Owned
2
Duff's Famous Wings currently operates 3 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2020 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 16 states: CA, CT, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$291K
Net Income
$29K
Total Assets
$312K
Audited by Accounting Group of Western New York, CPA, PC for year ending December 31st.
Duff's Famous Wings Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Duff's Famous Wings franchise ranges from $506,100 to $1,101,500, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $30,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Duff's Famous Wings charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a Up to 3% of Gross Sales (currently 1% to Brand Development Fund, 1% for Local Advertising, and Cooperative Advertising as determined by franchisor) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Duff's Famous Wings Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Duff's Famous Wings to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Duff's Famous Wings does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Duff's Famous Wings has been franchising since 2011. The FDD shows an investment range of $506,100-$1,101,500, a 5% of Gross Sales royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $30,000 and the total investment ranges from $506,100 to $1,101,500 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $25,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Duff's Famous Wings and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Duff's Famous Wings or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com