Quick Verdict · who it fits
Wild Birds Unlimited fits first-time franchise buyers looking for a mid-scale retail concept.
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$190K - $376K
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$40K
Royalty (Item 6)
4% + 1% ad
Item 19 median rev
$781k franchised units open and operational for at least 24 months
System size (Item 20)
344 +5
Agreement term
10 yrs
Years in business
43+ yrs
Company-owned units
1
Item 3 litigation
None disclosed
Model Wild Birds Unlimited's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
✓Exclusive territory✓Semi-absentee eligible✓No bankruptcy disclosed✓No Item 3 litigation
Data extracted from the 2026 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
Drag to your projected annual sales. Royalty 4% + ad fund 1% on gross sales.
PROJECTED ANNUAL SALES$780,000
$100k$2M
Royalty (4%)
—
Ad fund (1%)
—
Total / year
—
▪ Of-sales fees only · excludes rent, labor, COGS, and one-time costs · for illustration
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
345
Total units open
4 net new franchised units
Units opened last year
Item 20, Table 1: 340 at start of 2025, 344 at end
5 franchised terminations, 1 non-renewal
Units closed last year
Item 20, Table 3
4 units
Net unit growth
What our analysis flagged across the 2026 filing.
4
Risks to review
4
Strengths identified
3
Questions to ask
How Wild Birds Unlimited ranks against 126 Retail peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
50th pct · of 126 peers
Franchise fee
55th pct · of 126 peers
System size
88th pct · of 126 peers
Retail industry averages
Avg investment
$254K - $680K
Avg franchise fee
$38K
Avg system size
225
Franchises analyzed
126
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Birds Unlimited | Disclosed | $40K | $190K - $376K | 4% | 344 |
| Matco ToolsSimilar price | None | $10K | $104K - $376K | — | 1,741 |
| 7-ElevenBiggest system | Disclosed | — | $163K - $1.7M | 45–56% | 7,274 |
| Byrider Franchising PartnersTop-rated in category | Disclosed | $60K | $947K - $1.6M | 1–2.5% | 81 |
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Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Brand Analysis
The '$0 franchise fee' is the bottom of a range, not the fee. 7-Eleven's 2026 FDD prices the Franchise Fee at $0 to $1,100,000 per store, and the ongoing 7-Eleven Charge is not just a royalty: Item 6 says it is also your lease of the store and equipment. Here is the full cost stack, line by line.
Brand Analysis
Ace Hardware Corporation is a retailer-owned cooperative, not a conventional franchisor. It counted 5,250 cooperative locations in the United States at the end of 2025, members buy stock rather than paying a royalty, and some states still deem those member-owned stores franchises.
Investment Guide
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Wild Birds Unlimited requires a $40,000 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $190,135–$376,392, per the most recent FDD on file.
Wild Birds Unlimited franchises are sold by WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED INC, the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the corporate structure, including any parent companies and predecessors.
Yes. Wild Birds Unlimited discloses Item 19 financial performance representations with reported revenue around $780,955. See the financials sub-page for the full distribution.
Franchisees pay a royalty of 4% and an advertising fund contribution of 1% of monthly Gross Sales on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.
As of their 2026 FDD, Wild Birds Unlimited has 344 total locations, with 5 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
Yes. Wild Birds Unlimited grants franchisees an exclusive territory under Item 12 of the FDD. Note that exclusive territories often carve out online sales, alternative distribution channels, and non-traditional venues — review the full Item 12 language before signing.
Per the FDD, Wild Birds Unlimited discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years, a renewal fee of $500, a transfer fee of $5,000. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.
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