Meet Our Owners

Bill Fenimore opened the Wild Bird Center of Layton, UT in October 2001. Since then, Bill’s passion for birds has made him a national figure and author with a series of birding guidebooks and numerous awards from such organizations as the International Franchise Association and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Bill has expanded his business and has now brought in his son, Billy, to help with the business so he can pursue his public awareness mission full-time. Asked about his experience, Bill says:

“While contemplating how to spend my retirement years, I converted my favorite hobby into a business. The moment I visited a Wild Bird Center store, I knew I wanted to be part of the group. Years later, I am still very grateful to be part of this wonderful community.”


What's Next?

1. Request for Consideration:

  1. The first step to owning your own Wild Bird Center is to contact us about owning a Wild Bird Center franchise. We will send our Introductory Franchise Packet which provides an overview of the Wild Bird Center program. The most important aspect of this packet is the Candidate Questionnaire. This Questionnaire is an important way for us to get to know you and your aspirations so we can evaluate and match them to the Wild Bird Center concept. Your questionnaire should be completed and returned at your earliest convenience. You are encouraged to complete and submit a Questionnaire on-line.

2. Meet with WBCA's Franchise Development Office:

  1. Either by phone or in-person, a vital first step is for to speak one-on-one. This is a mutual opportunity to discuss in more detail your market interest(s), your goals, time-frame, resources and needs so we can best determine if the Wild Bird Centers fits your goals. This also is an opportunity for WBCA to introduce ourselves to you first-hand.

3. Complete and Return Candidate Questionnaire:

  1. After you have reviewed our introductory materials and completed the Candidate Questionnaire. Our Franchise Team will review your Questionnaire carefully. If basic requirements are met, then you will be approved and notified that we can to proceed to next steps.

4. Receive Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD):

  1. If your Candidate Questionnaire is approved, you qualify to receive the next set of information which includes:
    1. Our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) which reports all of our business practices, financial reports and a complete overview of the Wild Bird Center system.
    2. Market Study: A complete demographic study of your target market(s).
    3. Business Plan Handbook: An introductory document to help you develop a business plan, create a corporation, identification of potential store sites and possible sources of financing.

5. Discovery Day:

  1. When WBCA is satisfied with the information you provide, WBCA will invite you to our corporate offices for a personal visit. This is the last part of the due-diligence process and all parties will ready to make a decision shortly after this informative and critical meeting. Your Discovery Day event gives you an ideal opportunity to meet WBCA staff and to learn from them how they support your new business. This meeting also gives WBCA an opportunity to evaluate you to ensure compatibility with our family of franchisees and staff.

6. Agreement:

  1. When all parties are in agreement, we will send you a franchise agreement to sign. An exact copy of the agreement was previously incorporated in your FDD. The FTC and certain state laws also require that you hold these agreements for 5 business days before you can sign them and pay the franchise fee. Once the holding period of 5 business days has passed, you are now ready to sign the agreements and return them to us, along with the franchise fee. Once we receive the signed agreements into our DC office with the franchise fee and all necessary documentation, we will countersign your agreements and send you back a copy.