WOW American Eats Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

WOW American Eats is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering classic American comfort food, including burgers, wings, and hearty sides.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

-19%

Franchise fee

$35,000

Investment

$192,000 - $795,000

Revenue (AUV)

n.a.

WOW American Eats, originally launched as WOW Café in December 2001, was founded by Paul Ballard and his brothers, Steven and Scott, in Covington, Louisiana. With a vision to bring bold American flavors to the fast-casual dining scene, the brand quickly made a name for itself through its signature chicken wings and diverse selection of sauces.

Headquartered in Covington, the franchise began expanding in 2002 and, by 2018, operated over 50 locations nationwide. The concept behind WOW American Eats centers around offering a fresh, chef-inspired take on traditional American favorites.

Its menu includes a wide array of wraps, over-sized salads, Angus burgers on Texas toast, quesadillas, fajitas, tenders, shrimp, and of course, its signature wings. The focus is on combining comfort food with culinary creativity, delivering bold flavors in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.

What distinguishes WOW American Eats from the competition is its willingness to evolve. The franchise has undergone a rebranding initiative and restaurant remodel, positioning itself as a contemporary destination for American cuisine.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a WOW American Eats franchise is $192,000 - $795,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

WOW American Eats offers 4 types of franchises:

Type of franchise	Amount
Traditional Fast Casual Model	$243,600 - $795,100
Non-traditional QSR Model	$201,600 - $450,100
Traditional Fast Casual Special Contracts Model	$223,600 - $775,100
Non-traditional QSR Special Contracts Model	$191,600 - $440,100

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a WOW American Eats Traditional Fast Casual Model Franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000 - $35,000
Real Estate Lease for Premises	$6,000 - $18,000
Fixtures and Equipment	$45,000 - $220,000
Opening Advertising	$10,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training	$3,500 - $8,500
Insurance	$2,400 - $5,000
Furniture	$6,000 - $25,000
Other Prepaid Expenses (Deposits, Licenses, Permits)	$1,000 - $3,500
Opening Inventory	$10,000 - $20,000
Signage	$6,000 - $18,000
Leasehold Improvements	$60,000 - $325,000
Small Wares	$6,000 - $18,000
POS System & Back Office Computer System	$21,200 - $21,600
Legal, Accounting & Organizational Costs	$2,500 - $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months	$27,500
Construction Drawings	$1,500 - $35,000
Total	$243,600 - $795,100

WOW American Eats offers 4 types of franchises:

Type of franchise	Amount
Traditional Fast Casual Model	$243,600 - $795,100
Non-traditional QSR Model	$201,600 - $450,100
Traditional Fast Casual Special Contracts Model	$223,600 - $775,100
Non-traditional QSR Special Contracts Model	$191,600 - $440,100

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a WOW American Eats Traditional Fast Casual Model Franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$35,000 - $35,000
Real Estate Lease for Premises	$6,000 - $18,000
Fixtures and Equipment	$45,000 - $220,000
Opening Advertising	$10,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training	$3,500 - $8,500
Insurance	$2,400 - $5,000
Furniture	$6,000 - $25,000
Other Prepaid Expenses (Deposits, Licenses, Permits)	$1,000 - $3,500
Opening Inventory	$10,000 - $20,000
Signage	$6,000 - $18,000
Leasehold Improvements	$60,000 - $325,000
Small Wares	$6,000 - $18,000
POS System & Back Office Computer System	$21,200 - $21,600
Legal, Accounting & Organizational Costs	$2,500 - $5,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months	$27,500
Construction Drawings	$1,500 - $35,000
Total	$243,600 - $795,100

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is WOW American Eats's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

WOW American Eats had 39 total units in 2023, of which 38 were franchised-owned and 1 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

WOW American Eats

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise

Upgrade

New

-19%

5% - 8%

$192,000

$795,000

n.a.

Chicken Guy!

Over $500K

New

n.a.

6.00%

$875,000

$2,690,000

n.a.

Wings ETC.

$200K - $500K

New

-2%

5% - 6%

$369,000

$2,881,000

$1,484,000

12.1%

El Pollo Loco

Over $500K

325

New

5.00%

$794,000

$2,686,000

$2,063,000

n.a.

Detroit Wing Company

Over $500K

New

233%

6.00%

$506,000

$662,000

$1,662,000

n.a.

Chick-Fil-A

$200K - $500K

2629

New

12%

n.a.

$427,000

$2,340,000

$8,742,000

n.a.

Atomic Wings

$200K - $500K

New

33%

5.00%

$222,000

$861,000

n.a.

Training

WOW American Eats offers a structured and multi-phase training program for franchisees and their managers to ensure operational success. The training encompasses classroom sessions, on-the-job experience, and ongoing support tailored to both new and existing operators.

Initial Management Training Program
Franchisees can send up to three individuals to attend training at the franchisor's facility in the greater New Orleans area. The program includes 20–40 hours of classroom instruction and 60–80 hours of on-the-job training. Participation is mandatory before the unit opens.
Successor and Replacement Manager Training
Any new manager taking over operations must begin training within 45 days of assuming duties and complete it to the franchisor’s satisfaction. This ensures consistency in management and operations across units.
On-Site Opening Support
Franchisor facilitates training at the franchisee’s unit during the opening. This support is crucial for applying learned principles in a real-world setting and achieving operational readiness.

Territory Protection

WOW American Eats does not grant exclusive territory protection to its franchisees. Franchisees are limited to operating only from a specified approved location and do not receive exclusive rights to any geographic area. This means franchisees may face competition from other WOW AE businesses, even those owned or franchised by the parent company.

Additionally, WOW American Eats retains full rights to distribute its branded products through any channels, including retail, wholesale, or online platforms, without compensating or seeking approval from existing franchisees.

The franchisor also reserves the right to open new units or license other operators anywhere outside the specific unit location of an existing franchise. These terms emphasize a non-exclusive model with open market competition.