East Coast Wings^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

All product and company names mentioned are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of these names does not imply any affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by them.

What Is East Coast Wings?

East Coast Wings is a casual dining franchise centered on chicken wings, specialty flavored wings, sandwiches, burgers, ribs and appetizers. Restaurants operate as full-service, full wait‑staff establishments with a full bar and include the sale of alcoholic beverages; they do not typically provide delivery except via third‑party delivery services. A typical East Coast Wings location is operated in leased space (freestanding or otherwise) located on or near main thoroughfares.

East Coast Wings Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor provides exceptionally thorough onboarding—100 training and support score and 243 total training hours (top quarter and top 10% respectively)—yet the system has one outlet non-renewal, which is higher than typical for Food & Beverage (in the top quarter), suggesting an operator chose not to continue.

Pros

A 100 training and support score combined with 243 total training hours—both well above typical (top quarter and top 10% respectively)—shows the franchisor invests heavily in onboarding and prepares new operators thoroughly.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisee-initiated judgments or settlements, zero government penalties, zero franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, zero cases alleging fraud, and zero outlet terminations or reacquisitions—all well below what's common in Food & Beverage—give the system an unusually clean legal and regulatory record.

Manager-required equity percentage is 0%—well below typical—so you retain flexibility to structure manager compensation and ownership without being forced to give away equity.

Cons

One outlet non-renewal is well above typical for Food & Beverage (top quarter), suggesting at least one operator chose not to continue in the system.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

48/100

NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains e-commerce and alternative distribution channels, may develop nearby units, acquire and convert units, operate under different trademarks and in retail/other venues; protection is contingent on meeting performance quotas and the franchisee may relocate.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 243-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging expenses, and on-site assistance is provided for an additional fee.

Unit Growth Analysis

The chain is stabilizing with a modest rebound: unit counts fell from 33 in 2022 to 32 in 2023 (≈-3.0%), then rose to 34 in 2024 (+6.2% YoY), for a net gain of 1 unit (+3.0%) since 2022. For investors this signals improving but limited momentum—the 6.2% rebound is encouraging, yet the absolute change is small (only +2 units in 2024 and +1 unit net), indicating cautious, small-scale expansion rather than strong acceleration.

How Much Does It Cost to Open an East Coast Wings Franchise?

Opening an East Coast Wings franchise requires a total initial investment of $408,368 to $1,232,845, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$408,368

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$1,232,845

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$41,200

Real Estate$181,768

Equipment & Assets$139,400

Reserves$10,000

Training$2,500

Other$33,500

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$42,400

Real Estate$732,375

Equipment & Assets$361,520

Reserves$20,000

Training$10,000

Other$66,550

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do East Coast Wings Franchise Owners Make?

East Coast Wings franchise locations reported average gross sales of $2,040,117 and median gross sales of $1,801,694 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$2,040,117

Median Gross Sales:

$1,801,694

High Gross Sales:

$3,541,568

Low Gross Sales:

$1,182,530

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

45.0%

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The Item 19 discloses franchised performance only for 20 2.0 Model Restaurants in 2023, with an average revenue of about 2.04 million; company-owned results are excluded from this primary sample, so direct franchised vs corporate comparisons cannot be made from this Item 19.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability among franchised units: revenues range from about 1.18 million to 3.54 million and NOI ranges from a slight loss to over 1.15 million, indicating outcomes can differ materially between locations.

Data Scope and Limitations: The sample is small (20 units), concentrated primarily in North Carolina, and excludes several outlet types and company-owned units, so results may not generalize to all future franchised restaurants or other regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open an East Coast Wings franchise?

The total initial investment for an East Coast Wings franchise ranges from $408,368 to $1,232,845, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the East Coast Wings initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for East Coast Wings is $40,000, as stated in the 2024 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do East Coast Wings franchise owners make?

East Coast Wings franchise locations reported average gross sales of $2,040,117 and median gross sales of $1,801,694 in 2024, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does East Coast Wings have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

East Coast Wings received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2024 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does East Coast Wings offer exclusive franchise territories?

East Coast Wings received a territory protection score of 48 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does East Coast Wings provide to new franchisees?

East Coast Wings received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides a comprehensive 243-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch.

How many East Coast Wings franchise locations are there?

East Coast Wings had 34 total locations as of the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is East Coast Wings?

East Coast Wings is a casual dining franchise centered on chicken wings, specialty flavored wings, sandwiches, burgers, ribs and appetizers.

Interested in East Coast Wings?

Get more information and connect with the franchise directly.