Franchise FAQ

how many wendy's franchises are there

by Dannie Cruickshank Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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As of December 31, 2018, there are a total of 6,711 Wendy's outlets, including 353 that are company-owned and 6,358 that are franchised; 92% of all the locations are in North America.
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Wendy's.
Logo since 2013
Flagship Wendy's in Dublin, Ohio
FoundedNovember 15, 1969 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
FounderDave Thomas
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Full Answer

Does Wendy’s still have a franchise?

Several years after separating from the sandwich restaurant franchise, Wendy’s is now owned and operated by The Wendy’s Company. Much like many other restaurant chains within the quick-service burger category, Wendy’s menu centers on the classic burger and fries combination.

How many Wendy’s restaurants are there in the US?

There are more than 6,500 Wendy’s® restaurants currently in operation in the United States and 29 countries and U.S. territories worldwide.

What is another name for the Wendy's company?

For the current parent company previously called DWG and Triarc, see The Wendy's Company. For the Australian franchise chain, see Wendy's Milk Bar. Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. The company moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006.

Who are Wendy’s biggest competitors?

But just like McDonald’s and Burger King, two of the brand’s biggest competitors, Wendy’s is not only selling its products across America but also entering new markets and expanding geographic reach. International expansion began in 1975 with the opening of Wendy’s first location in Ontario, Canada.

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How many Wendy's are franchises?

When you become a Wendy's franchisee, you own more than a great restaurant – you Own Your Opportunity, with a path to prosper and the prospect to lead. With approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide, we're actively looking for new and diverse franchisees to join our Wendy's family.

What percentage of Wendy's are franchises?

Quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Wendy's accounted for a total of 6,949 restaurants worldwide in 2021. The vast majority of these, 6,541, were franchised. Only 408 units remain company-operated.

Who is Wendy's largest franchisee?

Meritage Hospitality GroupIt was founded in 1969. Meritage Hospitality Group is the largest Wendy's franchisee with 345 restaurants across 16 states.

How much does a Wendy's franchise owner make?

about $300,000 per yearWendy's franchise owner's salary & compensation is about $300,000 per year. The national brand recognition Wendy's has to offer and franchisees being able to recoup their initial investment within a couple of years make it a great opportunity.

What is the most profitable franchise?

Top 14 Most Profitable FranchisesMcDonald's. Units in operation: 39,360. ... Dunkin Donuts. Units in operation: 12,800. ... Taco Bell. Units in operation 12,800. ... Subway Franchise. Offers Financing: Yes. ... Anytime Fitness Franchise. Units in operation: 4,904. ... Sonic. Royalty: 2.5% - 5.0% ... Planet Fitness. Royalty 7.0% ... Orangetheory Fitness.More items...

How much does it cost to buy a Wendy's franchise?

The standard franchise fee is $50,000 for a franchise agreement with a term of 20 years.

What company owns the most franchises?

2017RANKCOMPANYUNITS1NPC INTERNATIONAL1,4782TARGET CORP.1,1703FLYNN RESTAURANT GROUP8544CARROLS GROUP76298 more rows

Who owns the most McDonald's?

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is a company that owns the master franchise of the fast food restaurant chain McDonald's in 20 countries within Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the largest McDonald's franchisee in the world in terms of system-wide sales and number of restaurants....Arcos Dorados Holdings.TypePublicWebsitearcosdorados.com13 more rows

What is the largest restaurant franchise in the United States?

Today, McDonald's is the number one restaurant chain in America based on both sales and number of locations, and it has over 36,000 restaurants in over 100 different countries.

How much is a Starbucks franchise?

Initial Start-Up Funding The average cost to license a Starbucks store is $315,000. You'll also need $700,000 in liquid assets to be considered.

What is the McDonald's franchise fee?

$45,000McDonald's Franchise Cost / Initial Investment / Income Most McDonald's owner/operators have entered the corporation by purchasing an existing restaurant. To open a McDonald's franchise, however, requires a total investment of $1-$2.2 million, with liquid capital available of $750,000. The franchise fee is $45,000.

How much does a KFC franchise owner make?

How Much Profit Does the KFC Franchise Make Per Year? As an individual unit, KFC makes about $942,000 – $1,000,000 per year. Although Yum! Brands keeps their franchise owner's salaries private, it can be estimated that owners take home roughly $120,000 a year, based on average food franchise owner salaries.

What is Wendy's market share?

2.60 %WEN's vs. Market share relative to its competitors, as of Q2 2022COMPANY NAMETICKERMARKET SHARE MRQ Q2 2022The Wendy s CompanyWEN2.60 %Darden Restaurants Inc.DRI11.82%Starbucks CorporationSBUX39.37%Yum Brands Inc.YUM7.90%4 more rows•5 days ago

What percent of market share does McDonald's have?

Stagnant Market Share as Competition Heats UpCompaniesMarket Share (2021)Forward 5-year GrowthMcDonald's43.8%1.32%Yum Brands (Including Yum China)30.9%4.2%Restaurant Brands International10.8%Apr 5, 2022

How many Wendy's are there in the US 2022?

There are 5,897 Wendys stores in the United States as of October 10, 2022. The state with the most number of Wendys locations in the US is Florida, with 523 stores, which is about 9% of all Wendys stores in the US.

Are Wendy's independently owned?

(Of the total in the United States, 5,457 are franchised and 353 are company-operated.) No longer family-owned, Wendy's Company is a publicly-traded company (WEN) and has been bought and sold in a number of transactions since it was originally founded in 1969.

How many Wendy's restaurants will be open in 2020?

Quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Wendy’s accounted for a total of 6,828 restaurants worldwide in 2020. The vast majority of these were franchised - 6,467 to be precise. Only 361 units remain company-operated, as more and more of them were replaced with franchised stores over the past eight years.

Which country has the most Wendy's?

Indonesia, Puerto Rico and the Philippines led the way in terms of countries with the highest number of non-domestic Wendy’s establishments. While there was growth in the company’s number of locations, the revenue of Wendy’s has declined by almost one billion U.S. dollars over the past nine years.

How many points does Wendy's have in 2020?

Wendy’s score on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has been below the industry average over the past five years. The restaurant chain scored 76 points out of a possible 100 in 2020. Comparatively, sister company Arby’s scored 79 points in 2020 which was above the QSR average of 78 points.

Where is Wendy's located?

Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. The company moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. As of December 31, 2018, Wendy's was the world's third-largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,711 locations, following Burger King and McDonald's.

Where was the first Wendy's?

History. The first Wendy's, in Downtown Columbus, Ohio, on its last day of operation (2007) Wendy's "old-fashioned" hamburgers were inspired by Dave Thomas's trips to Kewpee Hamburgers in his home town of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kewpee sold square hamburgers and thick malt shakes.

How many ounces are in a Wendy's hamburger?

Wendy's offers two different hamburger patties, a "Junior" 1.78 ounces (50 g) patty and a "Single" 4 ounces (110 g) patty. The 4-ounce patties are sold in single, double, and triple sizes whereas the junior patties sell in single and double patties.

What is Wendy's ice cream?

The chain is known for its square hamburgers, sea salt fries, and Frosty, a form of soft-serve ice cream mixed with starches. Wendy's menu consists primarily of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, and beverages such as the Frosty.

Why did Wendy's restructure its menu?

In response to a 1986 slowdown in the chain's performance, Wendy's restructured its cleanliness standards, menu, and other operational details to ensure that stores met the goals and standards of the parent company so that its franchises were competitive in the market.

Who sold square hamburgers?

Kewpee sold square hamburgers and thick malt shakes. Thomas founded Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio in 1969 and featured square patties with corners that stuck out from the sides of the circular bun, giving the impression of an abundance of good quality meat.

Where is Wendy's Milk Bar?

Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. The company moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006.

How much does a Wendy's franchise make?

Typically, franchise profits are proportionate to the size of investment. We can help you figure out how much money you can make by reviewing your personal situation. Please unlock this franchise for more information.

How many franchise locations do they have?

As of the 2020 Franchise Disclosure Document, there are 5495 franchised Wendy's locations in the USA.

What does it mean to find the best franchise?

Finding the best franchise means comparing several brands to determine the ideal fit for you.

How many states have no Wendy's?

There are 5 US States and Territories without any Wendy's locations.

How many Wendy's locations are there in the United States in 2022?

There are 5,896 Wendy's locations in the United States as of February 01, 2022. The state with the most number of Wendy's locations in the US is Florida, with 528 locations, which is 8% of all Wendy's locations in America.

Wendy's

The Wendy's Company is the world's third-largest quick-service hamburger company.

About Wendy's

The Wendy's Company is the world's third-largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy's® system includes approximately 6,500 franchise and Company-operated restaurants in the United States and 28 countries and U.S. territories worldwide.

Available Franchise Opportunities

While Wendy's is not currently accepting new applicants on Franchising.com, these other similar opportunities are actively looking for new franchisees.

How much does it cost to franchise Wendy's?

The standard franchise fee is $50,000 for a franchise agreement with a term of 20 years. This fee is used to help defray some of the costs to Wendy’s of providing technical assistance in the development of each Wendy’s restaurant, initial training of the operator and in providing other assistance associated with the opening of the restaurant. Prospective franchisees also pay an initial Application Fee of $5,000 to help defray some of the costs of the initial orientation and processing of the application, along with a $500 background investigation fee. These fees do not include any development or start up costs for the restaurant. There is no additional fee for training, but the franchisee may incur travel expenses or some minor fees for certain specific classes.

How much do Wendy's franchises contribute to the national advertising program?

Franchisees are required to contribute 3.5% of net sales per restaurant to The Wendy’s National Advertising Program, Inc. (U.S.) or to the Wendy’s Canadian Advertising Program (Canada). Today the national advertising program covers a wide range of media advertising including TV, digital and magazines. Franchisees are also required to contribute at least another 0.5% of net sales per restaurant toward local advertising through a local advertising co-op, if one exists for the area, or through their own local programs.

What is Wendy's engineering department?

Wendy’s Engineering Department provides franchisees with standard construction documents designed to meet national building codes for construction of Wendy’s standard buildings. These plans are updated by the franchisee’s architect or engineer to meet local requirements. Design services are also available to franchisees who are developing non-standard units for locations within airports, travel centers, university student unions, shopping malls, etc.Under Wendy’s Franchise Development Program (“FDP”), Wendy’s franchisees have the option to contract with Wendy’s as an independent contractor for the performance of project management services for franchisees who build a new Wendy’s Restaurant or remodel an existing Restaurant. The FDP Fee to remodel a Restaurant is $20,000. For new restaurant construction and scrapes and rebuilds, the FDP Fee is $30,000. In addition to the FDP Fee, the franchisee is responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Wendy’s on each project, including travel expenses.

What is Wendy's looking for?

Wendy’s is looking for prospective franchisees who have extensive restaurant experience (preferably quick service) with strong operational, administrative and financial resources.

How long does it take to train a Wendy's franchisee?

A franchisee must provide a comprehensive and detailed three to five year business plan which includes a skilled operator and management team that is devoted 100% to the development and operation of each restaurant. Training for the management team is accomplished through a four to six month training program conducted by Wendy’s training personnel. The training program consists of: in-restaurant training, classroom training and regional orientations. Once the proposed transaction has been completed or the new restaurant is open, Wendy’s provides on-going regional support and a variety of training resources to assist the franchisee.The in-restaurant training is conducted in one or more of Wendy’s approved training restaurants. The classroom training is normally conducted in one of our regional offices. We try to select locations convenient for the trainees but travel for required training should be anticipated in connection with your business plan.

How much royalty does Wendy's pay?

In order to use the Wendy’s name, trademarks, national image and logo, franchisees are required to pay a royalty fee of 4% of net sales per restaurant to Wendy’s.

How much does it cost to build a restaurant?

The estimated total investment required to begin operation of a new restaurant normally ranges from $2,000,000 to $3,700,000.

How many Wendy's restaurants are there in the world?

Today, over 50 years later, Wendy's operates more than 6,700 quick-service restaurants worldwide. Indonesia and Puerto Rico are the countries with the highest number of Wendy's establishments outside of North America.

Who owns Wendy's Burger?

Several years after separating from the sandwich restaurant franchise, Wendy’s is now owned and operated by The Wendy’s Company. Much like many other restaurant chains within the quick-service burger category, Wendy’s menu centers on the classic burger and fries combination.

Where is Wendy's located?

Published by S. Lock , Aug 3, 2020. Wendy’s is an international quick-service restaurant chain headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. The company was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas, who named the chain after his daughter and later appeared in numerous TV commercials for the brand himself.

Is Wendy's a QSR?

In 2019, Wendy’s ranked among the leading quick-service restaurants (QSR) in terms of systemwide sales in the United States. But just like McDonald’s and Burger King, two of the brand’s biggest competitors, Wendy’s is not only selling its products across America but also entering new markets and expanding geographic reach.

How many Wendy's restaurants were there in 1980?

1980 marked the milestone of 2,000 Wendy’s restaurants…and counting.

When did Wendy's open?

November 15, 1969 – First Wendy’s Opens. The beginning of a journey – on November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas opened his very first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio at 257 East Broad Street. In no time, the quick-service chain became known for its square beef patties, made from fresh beef, and iconic Frosty ® desserts.

Why did Wendy's have salad bars?

Among all the fresh beef, Wendy’s added the salad bar to its menu to diversify the options for those who wanted to go green with their meals. Wendy’s salad bar was a hit in the 70’s and 80’s, but as Wendy’s restaurants became more operationally efficient and customers desired more portable salad offerings, salad bars were phased out in 2006.

What is Wendy's 3Tour Challenge?

To benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Wendy’s hosted the 3Tour Challenge – An annual golf tournament that continued through 2013, raising more than 11.6 million in net proceeds in over two decades. The 3Tour Challenge was the only professional golf tournament that professionals from the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour went head-to-head for the 3Tour title.

Why is Wendy's a Heisman?

Created to honor those who value education, and in partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust ®, Wendy’s established the Wendy’s High School Heisman program to celebrate high-school senior athletes who went above and beyond in learning, performing, and leading on and off the field.

How much did Wendy's sell in 1994?

Wendy’s celebrated its milestone 25th birthday with the best present ever – all-time record systemwide sales of $4.2 billion in 1994.

What was the first quick service chain to launch a national advertising campaign?

Lights, camera, action! Wendy’s took its advertising to the small screen, making a name as the first quick-service chain with less than 1,000 restaurants to launch a national advertising campaign.

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International Growth

  • There are more than 6,800+ Wendy’s®restaurants currently in operation in the United States and 30 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. New market expansion and further development within existing markets will continue to be dominant drivers of Wendy’s worldwide strategy over the coming years. Ultimately, we believe that earnings generated from international markets will …
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Franchisee Testimonials

  • Christopher & Terry Tsavoussis President / Vice President, Aetos Holdings Limited Wendy's Bahamas Owning and operating several of the busiest and most profitable restaurants in the Wendy’s system is a full-time job. We can always depend on the team of experienced industry professionals from Wendy’s International to support our efforts 100%. From ongoing employee t…
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Qualifications and Process

  • Qualifications
    Each year, Wendy‘s receives thousands of inquiries and applications for franchises, but only a select few are ultimately granted rights to develop Wendy’s restaurants. Opportunities for international franchise licenses are especially competitive. Wendy’s franchisees outside of the U…
  • Process
    We appreciate your interest in Wendy’s. As a prospective Wendy’s franchisee, you can expect to participate in a structured process designed to ensure that you are well-equipped to represent our brand, and have the knowledge and tools necessary to become a successful operator. For furthe…
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International Franchising FAQs

  • Q: Does Wendy’s offer single-unit Franchise opportunities? A: At this time, Wendy’s does not offer single-unit franchises outside of the US & Canada. We are seeking qualified investors capable of developing a substantial network of restaurants within their market of interest. Q: What is the minimum number of restaurants required to be developed in a given market? A: The minimum n…
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Overview

Wendy's is an American international fast food restaurant chain founded by Dave Thomas (1932–2002) on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio. Its headquarters moved to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. As of December 31, 2018, Wendy's was the world's third-largest hamburger fast-food chain with 6,711 locations, following Burger King and McDonald's. On April 24, 2008, the compan…

History

Wendy's "old-fashioned" hamburgers were inspired by Dave Thomas's trips to Kewpee Hamburgers in his home town of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kewpee sold square hamburgers and thick malt shakes. Thomas founded Wendy's in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 and featured square patties with corners that stuck out from the sides of the circular bun, giving the impression of an abundance of g…

Menu

Wendy's offers two different hamburger patties, a "Junior" 1.78 ounces (50 g) patty and a "Single" 4 ounces (110 g) patty. The 4-ounce patties are sold in single, double, and triple configurations, and the 1.78-ounce ones in single and double. The previous size of 2 ounces (57 g) per junior patty was reduced in 2007 to save money. Originally, Wendy's had only two kinds of chicken sandwi…

Food safety

In 2015, Wendy's had two food safety incidents involving foreign objects in food at their restaurants in Gurgaon, India.
In late August 2022, 97 persons reported getting sick after eating sandwiches containing romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants in the U.S. states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to identify the specifi…

Advertising

After successful early growth of the chain, sales flattened as the company struggled to achieve brand differentiation in the highly competitive fast-food market. This situation would turn around in the mid-1980s. Starting on January 9, 1984, elderly actress Clara Peller was featured in the successful "Where's the beef?" North American commercial campaign written by Cliff Freeman. Her fa…

In popular culture

On March 23, 2018, Wendy's released an EP titled We Beefin?, a reference to their 1984 slogan Where's the beef?
On October 3, 2019, Wendy's released a tabletop role-playing game titled Feast of Legends: Rise From the Deep Freeze, in the style of Dungeons & Dragons. A short multi-part adventure was included, pitting Wendy's kingdom against the Ice Jester, a parody of Ronald McDonald, the clow…

See also

• List of hamburger restaurants
• Wendy's High School Heisman (student-athletes in various sports)

External links

• Official website

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