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WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED
Wild Birds Unlimited franchises retail stores that sell bird feeders, bird seed, and nature-related gifts, providing customers with advice, top-quality products, and a pleasant shopping experience to enhance their enjoyment of wild birds and nature. The business model involves operating under the WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED system with standardized products, layout, and decor, targeting backyard bird feeding hobbyists, bird watchers, and purchasers of nature-themed gifts. Stores typically range from 1,200 to 1,700 square feet and compete in a mature market with garden stores and similar retailers.
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Franchise Costs
4% royalty + 1% ad fund + $350/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Data based on 320 franchised stores operating for at least 2 full consecutive years leading up to December 31st, 2024, included in the Same Store Sales Percent Change schedule.
* The provided pages (Item 19, Schedule 1) contain only 'Same Store Sales Percent Change' data, not absolute dollar figures for gross revenue, net income, net profit, or EBITDA. Therefore, these specific financial metrics cannot be extracted or calculated from the given information.
Extracted Item 19 Section
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Unlock financial performance dataWILD BIRDS UNLIMITED Franchise Analysis
Birdwatching enthusiasts have turned Wild Birds Unlimited into a niche powerhouse since 1983, with stores blending feeders, seeds, and gifts in a welcoming nature vibe. Item 19 earnings disclosure and SBA loan history paint a picture of financial resilience in this mature specialty retail space. Yet flat location counts spark a key question: does this steady performer offer the growth you seek, or is stability the real win?
Item 7 details the initial investment from $226,601 to $378,977 for 1,200-1,700 sq ft stores, with a $40,000 franchise fee covering training and grand opening support. Ongoing costs include a 4% royalty on gross sales, 1% brand/ad fund, and a $350 monthly technology fee—competitive for retail but adding up in a low-margin bird product market. Item 19 discloses revenue figures, revealing median gross sales that support viability for operators hitting the hobbyist sweet spot, though profits hinge on local foot traffic from birdwatchers and gift buyers.
System health shows 340 locations (flat from 2023-2024), 6 terminations, 15 transfers, and 12 projected new units, signaling maturity over expansion in a competitive field with garden centers. SBA stats shine: 91 loans averaging $296,121 with just 1.1% default rate, far below category norms and indicating franchisees repay reliably. For investors, this low-risk profile suits patient operators in suburban areas, but zero growth flags caution—high transfers suggest active resale market for exits.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Specialty Retail
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED Current | $227K – $379K | $40K | 4.0% | 340 |
| MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS | $48K – $260K | N/A | N/A | 797 |
| CORNWELL | $80K – $324K | N/A | N/A | 793 |
| BATTERIES PLUS | $285K – $537K | $50K | 5.0% | 601 |
| PET SUPPLIES PLUS | $537K – $2.0M | $50K | 3.0% | 502 |
| MUSIC-GO-ROUND | $346K – $460K | $25K | 5.0% | 309 |
Specialty Retail Average 47 franchises | $284K – $703K | $39K | 5.0% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 47 Specialty Retail franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+29 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
91 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
426 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
426 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED franchise ranges from $226,601 to $378,977. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 4.0% of gross sales.
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