WOW American Eats

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WOW American Eats

Food & Beverage
Chicken

WOW American Eats Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

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

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

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.

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

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2002
Franchisees

?

38
+
-19%
-19%
Franchise fee

?

$35,000
Investment

?

$192,000 - $795,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$0

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

No
Upgrade
No
Passive investment

?

No
Upgrade
No
FDD
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Competitors

Below are some of

WOW American Eats

key competitors in the

Chicken

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

38

New
+
-19%
-19%

$35,000

$192,000

$795,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

538

New
+
2%
2%

$25,000

$2,450,000

$4,883,000

n.a.

$3,443,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

205

New
+
67%
67%

$45,000

$305,000

$1,289,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
200%
200%

$45,000

$452,000

$1,050,000

n.a.

$1,850,000

$xxx,xxx

67.6%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$603,000

$1,323,000

n.a.

$2,107,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$35,000

$363,000

$726,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

30

New
+
-3%
-3%

$40,000

$408,000

$1,233,000

n.a.

$1,802,000

$xxx,xxx

63.4%

xx%

n.a.

14.9%

xx%

n.a.

93

New
+
-18%
-18%

$35,000

$517,000

$2,354,000

n.a.

$1,686,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2154

New
+
28%
28%

$25,000

$298,000

$1,014,000

n.a.

$2,002,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

15

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$128,000

$500,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$35,000

$183,000

$995,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

41

New
+
-15%
-15%

$50,000

$465,000

$2,536,000

n.a.

$1,852,000

$xxx,xxx

75.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

54

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$369,000

$2,881,000

n.a.

$1,484,000

$xxx,xxx

71.3%

xx%

n.a.

12.1%

xx%

n.a.

54

New
+
0%
0%

$40,000

$1,483,000

$2,000,000

n.a.

$2,659,000

$xxx,xxx

68.7%

xx%

n.a.

10.2%

xx%

n.a.

28

New
+
-3%
-3%

$40,000

$109,000

$751,000

n.a.

$1,243,000

$xxx,xxx

57.7%

xx%

n.a.

12.9%

xx%

n.a.

27

New
+
50%
50%

$37,500

$192,000

$698,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
100%
100%

$15,000

$77,000

$440,000

n.a.

$492,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10

New
+
233%
233%

$30,000

$506,000

$662,000

n.a.

$1,662,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

994

New
+
-8%
-8%

$0

$28,000

$302,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

194

New
+
1%
1%

$30,000

$821,000

$1,913,000

n.a.

$1,329,000

$xxx,xxx

64.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3558

New
+
-7%
-7%

$45,000

$1,053,000

$3,772,000

n.a.

$1,414,000

$xxx,xxx

66.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

21

New
+
0%
0%

$25,000

$358,000

$2,699,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

192

New
+
43%
43%

$30,000

$1,229,000

$4,466,000

n.a.

$2,396,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

11

New
+
175%
175%

$35,000

$628,000

$1,427,000

n.a.

$2,116,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$478,000

$834,000

n.a.

$1,073,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$206,000

$688,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

39

New
+
95%
95%

$30,000

$340,000

$616,000

n.a.

$757,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

69

New
+
64%
64%

$35,000

$933,000

$2,996,000

n.a.

$2,169,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

325

New
+
8%
8%

$40,000

$794,000

$2,686,000

n.a.

$2,063,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$644,000

$2,293,000

n.a.

$1,793,000

$xxx,xxx

65.9%

xx%

n.a.

19.5%

xx%

n.a.

714

New
+
-7%
-7%

$20,000

$644,000

$1,809,000

n.a.

$1,256,000

$xxx,xxx

69.8%

xx%

n.a.

21.5%

xx%

n.a.

101

New
+
-8%
-8%

$75,000

$2,748,000

$4,100,000

n.a.

$3,575,000

$xxx,xxx

72.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
200%
200%

$30,000

$415,000

$1,132,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2629

New
+
12%
12%

$10,000

$427,000

$2,340,000

n.a.

$8,742,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$30,000

$875,000

$2,690,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

22

New
+
633%
633%

$40,000

$682,000

$1,536,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

559

New
+
10%
10%

$35,000

$779,000

$3,829,000

n.a.

$2,128,000

$xxx,xxx

70.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

95

New
+
375%
375%

$35,000

$306,000

$518,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3079

New
+
6%
6%

$50,000

$505,000

$3,923,000

n.a.

$1,824,000

$xxx,xxx

69.0%

xx%

n.a.

12.0%

xx%

n.a.

146

New
+
564%
564%

$40,000

$620,000

$1,963,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

826

New
+
6%
6%

$35,000

$1,445,000

$3,811,000

n.a.

$2,710,000

$xxx,xxx

67.8%

xx%

n.a.

12.8%

xx%

n.a.

13

New
+
-19%
-19%

$50,000

$568,000

$2,529,000

n.a.

$2,151,000

$xxx,xxx

75.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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Number of units

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Competitors

Chuck's Hot Chicken

Chuck's Hot Chicken is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken. It offers a menu centered around spicy fried chicken, catering to customers seeking bold flavors.

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$478,000 - $834,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

Angry Chickz

Angry Chickz is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and tenders, known for its bold flavors and spice levels.

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$603,000 - $1,323,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

WOW American Eats

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

Franchisees

?

38
+
-19%
-19%
Investment

?

$192,000 - $795,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

HCK Hot Chicken

HCK Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, offering bold flavors and customizable heat levels for spice lovers.

Franchisees

?

5
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$206,000 - $688,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

East Coast Wings + Grill

East Coast Wings + Grill serves a variety of flavorful chicken wings, burgers, and other American fare, offering a casual dining experience with a focus on quality and taste.

Franchisees

?

30
+
-3%
-3%
Investment

?

$408,000 - $1,233,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken

Brown's Chicken

Brown's Chicken serves fried chicken and a variety of homestyle sides, offering a flavorful and satisfying dining experience with a focus on quality ingredients.

Franchisees

?

21
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$358,000 - $2,699,000
Food & Beverage
Chicken
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