About Wienerschnitzel
When our fans are craving a Chili Dog, they think Wienerschnitzel!
Founded in 1961 by John Galardi with a single location in Southern California, Wienerschnitzel has grown to be the world’s largest hot dog chain serving more than 120 million hot dogs a year; and we’re über famous for our delicious secret-recipe chili that we like to smother on fries, hot dogs and burgers. Plus, you can’t forget about our Tastee Freez soft serve treats to round out an epic meal.
Nobody should have to live without Wienerschnitzel, so you’re going to be seeing a lot more of us popping up all over the country. But, we’re more than the best chili dogs and corn dogs in the world. We have a responsibility to the people and the communities who have supported us for the past 50+ years, and we’re passionate about sharing our successes to help make a difference in the world. We also know that our fans like to have a good time, so we’re partnering with exciting brands and events in the music, fashion, and sports industries. Keep an eye out for our iconic big red W!
We’re a family-owned company and we’re going to keep it that way.
We know that Wienerschnitzel holds a special place in the hearts of our fans, many who’ve grown up with us, and we’re committed to serving up craveable food at a great value for many generations to come.
Company Founded
1961
Current Leadership
Cindy Galardi Culpepper, CEO
Started Franchising
1965 (56 years)
Total Number of Units
330 (as of 2020)
Part-Time / Full-Time
Full Time
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Wienerschnitzel Franchise?
There are several costs associated with opening a Wienerschnitzel franchise. There is typically a franchise fee set by the franchisor, which covers the costs of opening a franchise location. Some other commons fees include equipment fees, marketing fees, licensing fees, insurance, and taxes, to name a few.
Some franchises may have a weekly fee that the franchisee pays for operating a Wienerschnitzel franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Wienerschnitzel franchise is not specified.
The full breakdown of these fees can be found in the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) provided to franchisees by the franchisor. The FDD report will contain additional information such as whether the franchise is renewable (Wienerschnitzel Is Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Wienerschnitzel Wienerschnitzel has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: equipment).
Wienerschnitzel Company Details
Here are some additional details about Wienerschnitzel.
Parent Company | Galardi Group Franchise Corp. |
Initial Investment | $10,000 - $32,000 |
Net Worth Requirement | $600,000 |
Veteran Incentives | 25% off franchise fee |
Royalty Fee | 5% |
Ad Royalty | 1% |
Cash Requirement | $250,000 |
Term of Agreement | 20 years |
Absentee Ownership | No |
Run from Home | No |
Part Time | No |
Training and Support Offered By Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel offers several support options to its franchisees. With 330 (as of 2020) units, Wienerschnitzel aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Wienerschnitzel offers 480 hours on the job training, 56 hours classroom training, and At training store additional training.
Training and Support Offered
Here are the support options offered by Wienerschnitzel.
On-The-Job Training | 480 hours |
Classroom Training | 56 hours |
Additional Training | At training store |
Ongoing Support |
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Marketing Support |
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Estimated Revenue | $1M to $10M |

Is Wienerschnitzel Right For You?
Wienerschnitzel has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Wienerschnitzel online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Wienerschnitzel online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Wienerschnitzel franchise and offer tips to running a successful Wienerschnitzel franchise location.
Why Should You Start a Wienerschnitzel Franchise?
Investing in a Food franchise such as Wienerschnitzel can kickstart your franchise portfolio. Our goal at Why Franchise is to provide you with the resources needed to be a successful franchise owner. Fill out the form below to get more information about Wienerschnitzel franchise and we'll be in touch soon!