Have you ever tasted a Whataburger and thought about joining the owners of a Whataburger franchise? If yes then you are one of those entrepreneurs who want an opportunity to be your own boss and earn a significant profit.
We all know owning a franchise can be a difficult task but a Whataburger franchise can be a profitable option for those who are willing to give their best to a franchise that is serving since 1950.
Whataburger is an American fast-food restaurant chain that was founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton in Texas. Earlier Whataburger franchises worked in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Now you can get this franchise in many parts of the world including India.
In this blog post, we will discuss several aspects of the Whataburger franchise such as its cost, owner salary, profit, and requirements. It is important that you should understand the potential of the franchise and how you can get one.
We will talk about everything that you need to know about the franchise.
Does Whataburger offer franchise opportunities?
Yes, they do offer franchise opportunities but the process of getting the franchise is not that simple. There are certain requirements that you should meet before you apply for the franchise.
It is worth mentioning that Whataburger is one of the fast-growing fast-food chains and is currently serving many locations. So it is not easy to get a fast chain that is popular for years but stay with us we will guide you in every little detail.
Is the Whataburger franchise profitable?
Yes, it is a profitable franchise to start because it has a strong brand reputation, regional focus, high-quality products, and low royalties and they support its franchisees with training, marketing, and how to operate the business.
However, the probability of any franchise whether it is a Whataburger franchise or any other depends upon several factors such as location, size of the franchise, management, and experience but the good thing about this franchise is that they will support you in all those things which is the positive indicator for the probability of this franchise.
How much Cost is required to open a Whataburger franchise?
The first thing that you should consider is the cost of a Whataburger franchise. The cost of purchasing the Whataburger franchise depends upon various factors such as the location, size you choose, and type of building and other equipment required.
However, the company has mentioned on its official website that the initial investment for the Whataburger franchise ranges from $1.2 million to $3.5 million.
This investment includes all the franchise fees, cost of building and equipment, and other related things but you need an additional investment of $50000 for a refundable deposit.
Whataburger also charges a royalty fee of 4% and an advertisement fee of 2% on the gross margin.
Here is the table that highlights the main investment expenses that you are required for a Whataburger franchise:
| Expense | Amount |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 |
| Building and Equipment | $1.2 million – $2.3 million |
| Real Estate and Site Improvements | $300,000 – $800,000 |
| Initial Inventory and Supplies | $60,000 – $100,000 |
| Training Costs | $10,000 – $15,000 |
| Professional Fees | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| Insurance and Bonding | $10,000 – $15,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $150,000 – $225,000 |
| Total Initial Investment | $1.8 million – $3.5 million |
The initial investment required for this franchise is a little higher than the other franchises such as McDonald’s and Subway but the benefits that you can get in the Whataburger franchise are amazing and it has its own advantage.
But if you want to want a comparison between Whataburger, McDonald’s, and Subway franchises to get an idea of the difference between these franchises, then here is a table of costs required for these franchises.
| Costs | Whataburger | McDonald’s | Subway |
| Initial Investment | $1.2 million – $3.5 million | $1 million – $2.3 million | $116,000 – $263,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $45,000 | $15,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% of gross sales | 4% of gross sales | 8% of gross sales |
| Advertising Fee | 2% of gross sales | 4% of gross sales | 8% of gross sales |
How Much Does A Whataburger Franchise Owner Make A Year?
The earning potential of the Whataburger franchise owner depends on various factors but on average the Whataburger franchise makes around 1.5 million dollars per year.
Whataburger franchise owners can make a decent salary but less than the profit the franchises make. On average the salary that Whataburger franchise owners make ranges from $100000 to $150000.
The earning potential of the Whataburger franchise is great and owners make a decent salary from this franchise. So if you are interested in starting a Whataburger franchise then now you are familiar with the profit you make and how much existing owners are making approximately per year.
If you manage the franchise properly then you can generate a decent profit. The average profit margin for a Whataburger franchise is 10 to 15% and also it depends upon where you are operating as in an urban location you can generate more revenue than in a rural area.
Whataburger Franchise Requirements
There are some key requirements that you need to meet in order to get a Whataburger franchise:
Financial Requirements
The first thing that you need for getting a Whataburger franchise is a minimum capital of 1.5 million dollars and a net worth of at least $5 million. It is a large investment but owning a Whataburger franchise is a big commitment. That is why it requires a decent initial investment.
Experience
Whataburger also looks for the experience of the individual who requests the Whataburger franchise. The company prefers that they should have some experience in the restaurant business. Also, they should have knowledge about promotional strategies, management, and marketing so that they can run the Whataburger location successfully.
Location
It is one of the important factors that Whataburger looks for because proper location will give benefits to both the owner of the franchise and the company itself. So the proper location is one of the main requirements for this franchise.
Training
After you get a Whataburger franchise you need to attend a training program that will cover many aspects such as food preparation, safety measures, and marketing so that you can run a Whataburger restaurant efficiently.
Step-by-Step Guide to Open a Whataburger Franchise
Step 1: Review the Requirements
As we talked about earlier that you will need a minimum capital of $1.5 million and net worth of at least 5 million dollars and some experience in the restaurant industry. So, read the requirement sections carefully in order to know the basic requirements to open this franchise.
Step 2: Submit an Inquiry
If you are confident enough that you have all the requirements for a Whataburger franchise then you need to submit an inquiry form by visiting the Whataburger official website and filling out the form on the website. You should also provide the basic information. experience, financial situation, and background.
Step 3: Attend a Discovery Day
If your application form will be accepted then you will be invited to attend discovery day. This is an advantage for you to learn and meet with the representative of the company so that they also can know you and your qualifications.
Step 4: Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)
After attending that discovery day the next step will be to review the franchise disclosure document because this document contains information about the opportunity cost and risk of the Whataburger franchise, so read it carefully before you make any decision.
Step 5: Sign a Franchise Agreement
If you decided to work with the Whataburger franchise then the next step for you will be to sign the franchise agreement which will include all the franchise relationship details and responsibilities for both parties.
Step 6: Complete Training and Open Your Restaurant
This is the final setting Whataburger franchise. You should complete the training program that they offer you and open your restaurant. This program contains everything such as safety measures, how to prepare food, and everything you need to open a Whataburger restaurant and serve customers.
What Do They Sell at Whataburger?
As we all know, Whataburger works in the creation of handful burgers, and up to this point, they have begun doling out other fast food also such as taquitos, Whatacatch fish sandwiches, Justaburger, and Whatachick’n chicken sandwiches.
Their stores are open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in all the more than 735 stores they have over the southern parts of the United States.
Wataburger Franchise Opportunities in India
In India, this burger chain has more than 50 outlets in 13 cities. These areas like Jalandhar, Panchkula, NCR Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Vadodara, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru are famous for Wataburger joints.
Souvik Das first started wataburger with one store in the year 2018 in Hyderabad.
If you are interested in the Wataburger franchise then follow this article because it is a general article for Whataburger franchises whether you are from the USA, Canada, UK, or India. It will help in many ways.
FAQ on Whataburger Franchise
Here are some popular frequently asked questions on the Whataburger franchise:
