About Wild Birds Unlimited
In 1981, Jim Carpenter, our founder and CEO, had a dream. Jim loved the hobby of bird feeding and the idea of controlling his own destiny by owning his own business. Jim was a natural entrepreneur; as a child, his grandparents had owned a small chain of ‘five and dime’ retail stores in his home state of Indiana. So, with a big dream and small inheritance, Jim opened the first Wild Birds Unlimited store in Indianapolis, IN. Jim believed that if he offered the best bird feeding products, delivered the finest customer experience, and focused on enhancing his customers’ lives by providing them the best way to enjoy their backyard bird feeding hobby, his business was sure to succeed.
He was right! Jim’s commitment created a strong foundation that has supported 40 years of growth and a thriving wildlife franchise that’s bringing joy to thousands of customers throughout the US and Canada.
Wild Birds Unlimited is the the largest specialty retailer of backyard bird feeding supplies and products.
Our owners are passionate people; they’re passionate about the hobby of backyard bird feeding and their businesses.
They love nature, they love wild birds and they love sharing their enthusiasm about both with their customers. Wild Birds Unlimited owners are their local communities’ backyard bird feeding specialists and a premiere source for nature information, as well as quality products.
But who we are goes far beyond the items we sell. It’s our owners’ commitment to their customers that distinguishes them from other retailers, a fact that makes us very proud. They enjoy helping their customers Franchises Understand birds and nature, swapping stories about the latest bird sightings and seeing other people share their excitement.
Company Founded
1981
Current Leadership
Jim Carpenter, CEO/FoFranchises Under
Started Franchising
1983 (38 years)
Total Number of Units
347 (as of 2020)
Part-Time / Full-Time
Full Time
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise?
There are several costs associated with opening a Wild Birds Unlimited 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 Wild Birds Unlimited franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise is Royalty Fee Due Monthly.
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 (Wild Birds Unlimited Is Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Wild Birds Unlimited Wild Birds Unlimited has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll).
Wild Birds Unlimited Company Details
Here are some additional details about Wild Birds Unlimited.
| Parent Company | Wild Birds Unlimited Inc. |
| Initial Investment | $40,000 |
| Net Worth Requirement | $300,000 |
| Veteran Incentives | 15% off franchise fee |
| Royalty Fee | 4% |
| Ad Royalty | 1% |
| Cash Requirement | $40,000 - $50,000 |
| Term of Agreement | 10 years |
| Absentee Ownership | No |
| Run from Home | No |
| Part Time | No |
Training and Support Offered By Wild Birds Unlimited
Wild Birds Unlimited offers several support options to its franchisees. With 347 (as of 2020) units, Wild Birds Unlimited aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Wild Birds Unlimited offers 40 hours on the job training, 40 hours classroom training, and Ongoing additional training.
Training and Support Offered
Here are the support options offered by Wild Birds Unlimited.
| On-The-Job Training | 40 hours |
| Classroom Training | 40 hours |
| Additional Training | Ongoing |
| Ongoing Support |
|
| Marketing Support |
|
| Estimated Revenue | $1M to $10M |
Is Wild Birds Unlimited Right For You?
Wild Birds Unlimited has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Wild Birds Unlimited online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Wild Birds Unlimited online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise and offer tips to running a successful Wild Birds Unlimited franchise location.
Why Should You Start a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise?
Investing in a Pet franchise such as Wild Birds Unlimited 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 Wild Birds Unlimited franchise and we'll be in touch soon!
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