Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux logo

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux®

Food & Beverage Year: 2025
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What Is Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux?

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is a Louisiana-themed sports grill offering a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order menu items such as sandwiches, seafood, Southern Louisiana specialties, hamburgers and salads. The concept operates as a full-service, dine-in restaurant typically occupying 5,000 to 7,000 square feet with seating for 240 to 300 guests, and franchisees must obtain and comply with licenses to sell liquor, beer and wine.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Franchise: Pros and Cons

Top strength: an exceptional Training and Support score of 100 with 320 initial training hours and a spotless legal record (zero disclosed lawsuits or franchisor actions), but the biggest risk is steep costs-a $60,000 initial franchise fee and an Item 7 maximum up to $7,016,300 with $50,000 minimum reserves.

Pros

Training and Support score of 100 - well above typical for franchisors, indicating the system provides exceptional onboarding and ongoing operational support.
320 total initial training hours - well above typical for Food & Beverage, showing the franchisor invests heavily in preparing operators before opening.
0 total disclosed lawsuits and 0 franchisor-initiated enforcement actions (plus zero government penalties and zero franchisee-initiated judgments/settlements) - well below typical, signaling a clean legal and compliance record.

Cons

Initial franchise fee of $60,000 - well above typical for Food & Beverage (top 5), meaning your upfront cash requirement to buy in is higher than most peers.
Item 7 total maximum estimate of $7,016,300 - well above typical (top 5), so the upper-range startup capital needs can be far higher than industry peers and will complicate financing and cash planning.
Item 7 reserves minimum of $50,000 - well above typical (top quarter), suggesting ongoing monthly operating costs are higher than peers and you'll need more cash on hand after opening.

Territory Protection

51/100
Good

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux grants a protected, site-specific Territory-typically a 9-mile radius around a single designated restaurant, subject to reduction in high-density markets. The franchisor retains rights to sell via e-commerce, retail and nontraditional channels and to develop nearby units; the franchisee has no first-refusal or expansion rights.

Training & Support

100
Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 320-hour training curriculum designed to prepare six franchise staff for launch through classroom instruction, hands-on operations training, and management development. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging, and certain on-site services may incur additional franchisor fees.

Franchisee Stability

48/100
NORMAL

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux receives a Normal Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 8.12% sits above the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%), placing the brand closer to the higher end of the industry's range where turnovers near 10% are common. Out of 16 total exits, ceased operations dominated with 13, alongside 3 franchisor buybacks and no terminations or non-renewals.

That dominance points to location-level economics: operators chose to close underperforming locations, not necessarily franchisor-franchisee friction. The system has about 74 franchised outlets in the most recent year, so these closures represent a meaningful share of a modestly sized network. The presence of a few franchisor buybacks shows the franchisor occasionally reclaims units, but closures are the main mode of exit here. Prospective buyers should ask for geographic detail on the closures, review recent unit-level performance, and speak with former operators to understand whether underperformance was market-driven or operational. For prospective franchisees, retention is in line with industry peers.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Franchise?

Opening a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise requires a total initial investment of $1,554,500 to $7,016,300, according to the 2025 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

$1,554,500
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$7,016,300
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$60,000
Real Estate$160,000
Equipment & Assets$971,000
Reserves$50,000
Training$20,000
Other$293,500

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$60,000
Real Estate$4,400,000
Equipment & Assets$1,952,000
Reserves$50,000
Training$30,000
Other$524,300

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 Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Franchise Owners Make?

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise locations reported average gross sales of $4,441,549 and median gross sales of $4,486,284 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:
$4,441,549
Median Gross Sales:
$4,486,284
High Gross Sales:
$6,654,937
Low Gross Sales:
$918,655
Sample Size:
67
Percent Attaining Average:
50.0%
Audit Status:
Unaudited
Franchise vs Corporate Performance: In 2024 affiliate-owned outlets had a higher average gross revenue (4,837,488) than franchised outlets (4,441,549), indicating affiliate units outperformed franchised units on average that year.
Performance Variability Analysis: Franchised unit revenues show wide variability, ranging from 918,655 to 6,654,937 with a median (4,486,284) close to the mean, and about half (50%) of franchised units exceeded the average.
Data Scope and Limitations: The Item 19 data are unaudited, exclude COGS and net income in dollar terms for franchised locations, and reflect only outlets operational for the full calendar year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux a good franchise to own?

Whether Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux operates 75 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $1,554,500 to $7,016,300. Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux disclosed average gross sales of $4,441,549 in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchise?

Break-even timelines for Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux franchises are not disclosed in the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux operates 70 franchised locations and 5 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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