Wings and Rings

<a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=buffalo-wings-rings-looks-for-franchisees-that-fit-not-only-the-budget-but-the-culture-1111" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> continues to work to find the right franchisee, both in terms of financing and cultural fit. &#8220;It&#8217;s not just anybody with a check. They need to share in our culture, our vision and share our values. We&#8217;re not going to just let anybody in our chain,&#8221; said Philip Schram, executive vice president of franchise development. &#8220;We are looking for brand partners with successful business experience and at least one operating partner with successful restaurant management experience.&#8221; Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings requires a minimum of $400,000 in working capital and a minimum of $1 million in net worth. The final decision to award a franchise is based on a combination of the applicant&#8217;s related experience and financial capability. The total investment will vary based on the site selected, equipment package, leasehold improvements, deposits, construction costs in the franchisee&#8217;s market and other factors. &#8220;In the current economy, financing has become more difficult. This is why our franchise is perfectly catered to the multi-unit franchisee or corporation,&#8221; added Schram. &#8220;The cash flow is more readily available, as is the financing.&#8221; Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings is designed with simplicity in mind to ensure franchisees are able to focus on their customers. The atmosphere Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings provides is fun and engaging, providing a family friendly place to come for fantastic food and to watch a game. As part of the team, franchisees are backed by the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings support system which includes: site selection, construction, real estate assistance, marketing assistance and financing assistance. Franchisees can also get funding from many commercial banks. The most important thing they will be looking at is your credit rating. Bankers will favor businesses with brand names, like Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings, and a long track record of consistent cash flow. Franchisees will need to put down 20 percent of the cash needed from personal funds. If conventional lenders turn you down, you can look into an SBA-backed loan. Another option is the government-lending program backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program, called Patriot Express because of its relatively fast approval time, awards loans up to $500,000 to active-duty military preparing to transition to civilian life, as well as to spouses and survivors of veterans. These loans come with the SBA&#8217;s lowest rates. Husband-and-wife team Al and Mary Hauck decided to open a Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings in Minot, North Dakota. They invested approximately $2 million to buy the land, building and convert the site into a full-service restaurant. They cashed in their assets and raised several hundred thousand along with an SBA-back loan to finance the rest. &#8220;If the restaurant failed, we would have been bankrupt,&#8221; said Al Hauk. &#8220;But we believed in the brand and fortunately for us the restaurant has been a huge success. We are now hoping to open several more locations.&#8221; The franchisor provides prospective operators solid financials - mostly presented in Item 19 in its franchise disclosure document &#8211; and an opportunity to get feedback from existing franchisees and their experiences. The company showed a 13 percent growth over the last few years and the store is reporting between $2-2.5 million dollar profits annually. Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing Total Investment: $968,500 - $2,784,500 Franchise Fee: $5,000 - $35,000 Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5% Term of Franchise Agreement: Term of agreement not renewable FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS Net Worth: $800,000 Liquid Cash Available: $300000

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Buffalo Wings & Rings expands healthfully through the addition of business-savvy franchisees. 

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Buffalo Wings & Rings looks for franchisees that fit not only the budget, but the culture

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Wings and Rings Launches Operating Partner Program to Reward Top Performers and Build Future Franchise Owners

Wings and Rings Serves Up Game Day Deals for the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Wings and Rings Brings Back Sam Adams Beer Cheese for Big Game Flavor and a Free Wings Giveaway

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CINCINNATI&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://ownwingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, has launched its Operating Partner Program (OPP), a strategic initiative designed to reward top-performing general managers with a share of the bottom line while creating a clear pathway toward future franchise ownership.Built to mirror the benefits of ownership without requiring significant upfront capital, the program gives high-performing operators a “sweat equity equivalent,” allowing them to participate directly in the financial success of their restaurants while continuing to grow within the system.“It’s really an opportunity for our best managers to earn a share of the bottom line,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-bafundo-44908a3/">Bob Bafundo</a>, Chief Operating Officer. “In many ways, it mimics the franchisee ownership model. The better the restaurant performs, the more they benefit. It creates true alignment.”The Operating Partner Program is grounded in one of Wings and Rings’ core values: “stand together as family.”With many general managers having more than a decade of tenure, the program reflects a long-standing commitment to recognizing and investing in the people who have helped build the business.“This is essentially a way to reward our best operators with a bigger, better opportunity,” Bafundo said. “It’s about recognizing the people who have been driving this brand forward for years and giving them a chance to grow with us in a more meaningful way.”Beyond individual rewards, the program is designed to strengthen the system as a whole by retaining top talent and creating stability at the general manager level, a key driver of restaurant performance.“Research in this industry consistently shows that stability at the general manager level leads to stability among hourly employees,” Bafundo said. “And that stability ultimately drives guest satisfaction, sales and profitability.”Participants are expected to operate with an owner’s mindset, taking accountability for performance, building strong teams and serving as the face of the brand in their local communities. The program also acts as a stepping stone toward future franchise ownership, giving operators the experience and financial upside to grow within the system.To qualify, candidates must demonstrate at least two years of strong performance as a general manager, consistent operational excellence, a desire to grow with the brand and the ability to make an upfront investment, which varies by restaurant.The Operating Partner Program is currently rolling out internally, with many candidates expected to meet eligibility requirements by the end of the year.As Wings and Rings continues to expand, the OPP reinforces the brand’s commitment to developing talent from within, strengthening its culture and aligning incentives across the system.“This is about investing in our people for the long term,” Bafundo said. “When our operators win, our teams win, and ultimately, our guests do too.”ABOUT WINGS AND RINGSEstablished in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites, or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life, and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.

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The Cincinnati-based sports restaurant franchise created the program to give strong operators a larger share in store performance and a path to more ownership-style responsibility.

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CINCINNATI, Ohio —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, is turning up the heat for college basketball fans during the 2026 NCAA tournament with a limited-time game day deal made for sharing. Kicking off with the first round on March 19 and running throughout the championship on April 6, guests can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">score a free basket</a> of Saratoga chips, fries or wedges with the purchase of 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days with code BASKETS.The tournament deals don’t stop there. Wings and Rings loyalty members will receive a new freebie loaded into their accounts during every round of the tournament, giving fans even more reasons to stay in the game. Guests can download the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">Wings and Rings app</a> to start earning rewards and unlock exclusive offers.Throughout the tournament, guests can enjoy Wings and Rings’ signature wings paired with bold sauces and flavors, making it easy to build a shareable spread for friends and family. Plus, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/deals">Daily Value</a> lineup keeps the deals rolling all week long:&nbsp;<ul><li>Monday &amp; Friday: Kids Eat Free. Start the week with homework after school and end it cheering on the game.</li><li>Tuesday: 40% off wings (traditional or boneless), juicy and packed with bold flavor.</li><li>Wednesday: $8.49 three-piece tender baskets. Hand-breaded, generous servings at unbeatable value.</li><li>Weekday Lunch (11 a.m.–2 p.m.): Generous portions of wings, sandwiches, burgers, and salads that won’t break the bank.</li><li>Happy Hour (Mon–Fri, 3–6 p.m.): Afternoon deals on drinks and bites, ideal for unwinding with friends before tip-off.</li></ul>During the tournament, guests can indulge in Wings and Rings’ Crafted Classics limited-time menu, featuring the return of Sam Adams Beer Cheese across comfort-forward dishes made for game watching. Favorites include Sam’s Beer Cheese Loaded Fries or Chips, the Beer Cheese Chicken Sandwich, and Beer Cheese Jumbo Tenders, perfect for sharing.With wall-to-wall games, shareable eats, and can’t-miss tournament deals, Wings and Rings is the ultimate spot for fans to gather and celebrate every championship moment.To find a Wings and Rings near you, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com">https://www.wingsandrings.com</a>.&nbsp;ABOUT WINGS AND RINGS&nbsp;Established in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.&nbsp;

Score big with a free basket of fries, chips, or wedges when you grab 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days, giving your crew extra fuel for every buzzer-beater.

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Wings and Rings Launches All-New Daily Value Lineup Packed with Big Flavors and Big Savings

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wings-and-rings-brings-back-sam-adams-beer-cheese-for-big-game-flavor-and-a-free-wings-giveaway

Buffalo Wings & Rings looks for franchisees that fit not only the budget, but the culture

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