Hooters, a renowned restaurant franchise, was founded in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida, by six entrepreneurs seeking to create a lively, laid-back dining experience. The concept blended delicious food, refreshing beer, sports on large screens, and welcoming service led by the iconic Hooters Girls.
Today, Hooters stands as a global phenomenon with over 435 locations spanning 44 states and 28 countries. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the franchise has successfully expanded its footprint both domestically and internationally, balancing corporate operations with franchised locations.
Known for its signature combination of consistently great food and a vibrant atmosphere, Hooters sets itself apart with a strong commitment to community engagement. The brand actively supports causes like cancer research and other charitable initiatives, solidifying its reputation as more than just a dining destination.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Hooters provides comprehensive training programs to ensure franchisees and their personnel are well-prepared to operate their businesses. The franchisor offers several types of training, including:
Hooters provides franchisees with a Protected Market Area as part of its franchise agreements. Within this area, Hooters will not open or license another Hooters restaurant, ensuring operational exclusivity for the franchisee.
However, the Protected Market Area is determined solely by the franchisor, considering various factors such as demographics and local market potential.
Despite the Protected Market Area, the franchisor retains broad rights to operate or license other Hooters-related businesses, such as hoots® wings restaurants, within or outside the designated area.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
?
?
?
?
Below are some of
Hooters
key competitors in the
Chicken
sector.
101
$75,000
$2,748,000
$4,100,000
n.a.
$3,575,000
$xxx,xxx
72.8%
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Nashville Hot Chicken is a fast-casual fried chicken franchise offering spicy chicken sandwiches, tenders, and fries, serving guests seeking bold Southern flavors, and known for proprietary sauces, flexible restaurant, food-truck, and ghost-kitchen models, and streamlined operations designed for rapid expansion.
?
?
Starbird is a fast-casual chicken restaurant franchise offering crispy chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads, and digital-forward ordering, serving convenience-driven diners, and known for super-premium fast food positioning, tech-driven guest experience, and craveable feel-good chicken focused on quality ingredients.
?
?
Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse is a sports-bar franchise offering wings, burgers, craft beer and live game broadcasts, serving sports fans and groups, and known for high-energy environment, full-menu variety and strong franchise support.
?
?
Hot Chikn Kitchn is a fast-casual franchise offering elevated chicken sandwiches, tenders and comfort sides, serving millennials and lunch-dinner diners, and known for chef-driven taste, quality ingredients and modern franchise model.
?
?
Duff's Famous Wings is a casual restaurant franchise offering Buffalo-style wings, sauces, and pub fare, serving sports fans and families, and known for authentic heat levels, hometown heritage, and a lively, welcoming environment.
?
?
Champs Chicken is a hot food franchise offering fried chicken, tenders, sides, and sauces, serving convenience stores and quick-serve customers, and known for turnkey programs, branded merchandising, and consistent, craveable comfort food.
?
?
Choosing a franchise goes beyond reviewing fees and financials — it requires an honest assessment of your goals, skills, and risk tolerance. This article outlines the key questions prospective owners should ask before committing. It helps clarify whether the opportunity aligns with your lifestyle, long-term plans, and operational preferences.
Speaking with current and former franchisees is one of the most reliable ways to understand how a franchise really operates. This guide explains how to conduct validation calls, what questions to ask, and how to identify patterns in feedback. It provides a practical framework for uncovering real performance expectations and support quality.
Not all franchise opportunities offer the same potential. This article breaks down how to evaluate a brand’s industry, financial health, support systems, and competitive positioning. It helps prospective buyers compare options and identify franchises with strong long-term viability.
A clear, well-structured business plan is essential for securing financing and preparing for the realities of franchise ownership. This article explains how to build a plan that covers market analysis, operations, staffing, and local marketing. It also outlines how to create realistic pro forma financials, including revenue projections, startup costs, and break-even analysis. Readers gain a practical framework they can use when applying for loans or planning their first years of operations.
.png)
