Wahlburgers

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Wahlburgers

Food & Beverage
Burger

Wahlburgers Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Wahlburgers is a burger restaurant chain founded by the Wahlberg brothers, offering a variety of gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and salads, along with specialty cocktails and shakes.

Launched in 2011, Wahlburgers is a fast-casual dining concept known for its premium hamburgers and branded merchandise. The brand was created by chef Paul Wahlberg, alongside his famous brothers, actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg. The inaugural location opened in Hingham, Massachusetts, where the company is still headquartered today.

Franchising opportunities began in 2014, enabling the brand to expand beyond its original roots. Wahlburgers restaurants offer a menu centered on gourmet burgers, along with signature items inspired by the Wahlberg family’s favorite comfort foods.

Beyond the food, Wahlburgers distinguishes itself through its celebrity heritage and dedication to a warm, welcoming environment. The combination of high-quality ingredients, original recipes, and a strong family influence helps the chain stand out in a competitive fast-casual market.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Wahlburgers offers 2 types of franchises:

Wahlburgers Concept Initial Investment Range
Full-Service Restaurant $1,530,000 – $2,755,000
Fast Casual Restaurant $1,140,000 – $1,995,000

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Wahlburgers Full-Service Restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Wahlburgers franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $50,000
Grand Opening Advertising $15,000
Real Estate Variable
Architectural Design Services $25,000 – $55,000
Construction/Leasehold Improvements $900,000 – $1,800,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training $25,000 – $80,000
Furnishing, Fixtures, Equipment $350,000 – $450,000
Signage $25,000 – $35,000
Smallwares $20,000 – $50,000
Initial Inventory $10,000 – $20,000
Liquor Licenses Variable
Miscellaneous Opening Costs $30,000 – $60,000
Register or Point of Sale System $30,000 – $40,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $50,000 – $100,000
Total $1,530,000 – $2,755,000

Wahlburgers offers 2 types of franchises:

Wahlburgers Concept Initial Investment Range
Full-Service Restaurant $1,530,000 – $2,755,000
Fast Casual Restaurant $1,140,000 – $1,995,000

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Wahlburgers Full-Service Restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Wahlburgers franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $50,000
Grand Opening Advertising $15,000
Real Estate Variable
Architectural Design Services $25,000 – $55,000
Construction/Leasehold Improvements $900,000 – $1,800,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training $25,000 – $80,000
Furnishing, Fixtures, Equipment $350,000 – $450,000
Signage $25,000 – $35,000
Smallwares $20,000 – $50,000
Initial Inventory $10,000 – $20,000
Liquor Licenses Variable
Miscellaneous Opening Costs $30,000 – $60,000
Register or Point of Sale System $30,000 – $40,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $50,000 – $100,000
Total $1,530,000 – $2,755,000

Franchise Disclosure Document

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
2014
Franchisees

?

106
+
43%
43%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$1,140,000 - $2,755,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
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$0

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

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Passive investment

?

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Competitors

Below are some of

Wahlburgers

key competitors in the

Burger

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

106

New
+
43%
43%

$40,000

$1,140,000

$2,755,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
190%
190%

$35,000

$411,000

$965,000

n.a.

$1,116,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

266

New
+
-13%
-13%

$25,000

$316,000

$2,695,000

n.a.

$1,729,000

$xxx,xxx

70.5%

xx%

n.a.

20.0%

xx%

n.a.

93

New
+
2%
2%

$45,000

$610,000

$1,043,000

n.a.

$1,319,000

$xxx,xxx

67.9%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12887

New
+
1%
1%

$45,000

$525,000

$2,728,000

n.a.

$3,838,000

$xxx,xxx

71.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3

New
+
0%
0%

$50,000

$1,223,000

$3,308,000

n.a.

$1,440,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

119

New
+
-16%
-16%

$50,000

$507,000

$1,686,000

n.a.

$1,120,000

$xxx,xxx

71.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

131

New
+
2%
2%

$35,000

$209,000

$703,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

71

New
+
-8%
-8%

$40,000

$373,000

$1,186,000

n.a.

$1,009,000

$xxx,xxx

71.6%

xx%

n.a.

9.8%

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
100%
100%

$40,000

$1,635,000

$4,888,000

n.a.

$4,337,000

$xxx,xxx

71.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

899

New
+
-11%
-11%

$25,000

$256,000

$591,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

193

New
+
8%
8%

$50,000

$509,000

$1,695,000

n.a.

$1,080,000

$xxx,xxx

69.9%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

36

New
+
-12%
-12%

$50,000

$509,000

$1,695,000

n.a.

$877,000

$xxx,xxx

70.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

8

New
+
-56%
-56%

$35,000

$711,000

$1,984,000

n.a.

$2,383,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

143

New
+
36%
36%

$35,000

$788,000

$2,160,000

n.a.

$964,000

$xxx,xxx

68.8%

xx%

n.a.

10.1%

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
0%
0%

$40,000

$484,000

$802,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

19

New
+
375%
375%

$35,000

$1,298,000

$1,994,000

n.a.

$1,697,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

362

New
+
-12%
-12%

$30,000

$124,000

$2,132,000

n.a.

$1,061,000

$xxx,xxx

69.0%

xx%

n.a.

12.0%

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$183,000

$482,000

n.a.

$805,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

65

New
+
-21%
-21%

$40,000

$1,240,000

$2,256,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

16

New
+
-38%
-38%

$30,000

$755,000

$1,581,000

n.a.

$1,746,000

$xxx,xxx

65.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5524

New
+
-21%
-21%

$50,000

$363,000

$4,731,000

n.a.

$1,507,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

7

New
+
133%
133%

$40,000

$401,000

$739,000

n.a.

$1,640,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

71

New
+
6%
6%

$45,000

$1,056,000

$2,611,000

n.a.

$2,273,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2040

New
+
0%
0%

$50,000

$1,911,000

$4,032,000

n.a.

$1,929,000

$xxx,xxx

73.0%

xx%

n.a.

10.2%

xx%

n.a.

213

New
+
1%
1%

$30,000

$299,000

$1,640,000

n.a.

$1,037,000

$xxx,xxx

70.0%

xx%

n.a.

13.6%

xx%

n.a.

5552

New
+
-1%
-1%

$55,000

$393,000

$2,992,000

n.a.

$1,984,000

$xxx,xxx

67.5%

xx%

n.a.

12.2%

xx%

n.a.

61

New
+
17%
17%

$35,000

$1,026,000

$2,859,000

n.a.

$1,802,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$559,000

$3,168,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1533

New
+
-3%
-3%

$25,000

$1,303,000

$3,436,000

n.a.

$1,192,000

$xxx,xxx

72.5%

xx%

n.a.

13.0%

xx%

n.a.

990

New
+
12%
12%

$55,000

$2,643,000

$8,573,000

n.a.

$3,694,000

$xxx,xxx

66.5%

xx%

n.a.

12.3%

xx%

n.a.

3144

New
+
-2%
-2%

$15,000

$669,000

$3,141,000

n.a.

$1,501,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1020

New
+
-1%
-1%

$25,000

$1,303,000

$3,436,000

n.a.

$1,568,000

$xxx,xxx

74.5%

xx%

n.a.

21.2%

xx%

n.a.

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Training

Wahlburgers provides several types of training programs to its franchisees to ensure consistent and high-quality operations across all locations:

  1. Initial Training Program (ITP)
    The ITP is mandatory for the Operating Principal, general manager, and other designated managerial personnel. It covers key operational aspects and must be completed before opening the Franchised Restaurant. The program may include prerequisites like ServSafe food safety certification. This training is held at Wahlburgers’ designated facilities or restaurants operated by the company until the franchisee’s own training facility is established.
  2. Ongoing Training
    Wahlburgers offers continuous training for the Operating Principal, Multi-Unit Manager (if applicable), managerial staff, and other experienced personnel. This may occur at times and locations determined by Wahlburgers and could be delivered through various formats, including in-person sessions, printed materials, intranet platforms, or via phone consultations.
  3. Pre-Opening and Opening Assistance
    For the initial two restaurants opened by a franchisee or affiliate, Wahlburgers may provide additional support. This includes assistance with restaurant construction or renovation, layout planning, equipment selection, and staff training, tailored to the franchisee’s needs and available company resources.

Territory Protection

Wahlburgers does not offer exclusive territory protection to its franchisees under the standard Franchise Agreement. Franchisees may face competition from other Wahlburgers restaurants operated by the franchisor, other franchisees, or through alternative distribution channels including online sales.

The Development Agreement instead outlines a mutually agreed-upon “Development Area,” but this area is not protected from such competition. Although there is some limited territorial exclusivity during the Development Term, it is conditional.

Wahlburgers reserves the right to open or license restaurants in special locations within the Development Area such as airports, hospitals, sports venues, and other high-traffic environments. This limited protection is further contingent on the franchisee meeting all agreement terms and remaining in good standing throughout the Development Term.

Competitors

Burger Village

Burger Village is an organic burger franchise offering grass-fed beef, bison, and vegan burger options with a focus on sustainability.

Franchisees

?

2
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$484,000 - $802,000
Food & Beverage
Burger

Smalls Sliders

Smalls Sliders specializes in mini cheeseburgers made with fresh ingredients and served quickly, offering a simple yet flavorful menu in a fast-casual setting.

Franchisees

?

19
+
375%
375%
Investment

?

$1,298,000 - $1,994,000
Food & Beverage
Burger

JL Beers

JL Beers is a craft beer and burger franchise offering a casual dining experience. Franchisees benefit from a simple operating model, comprehensive training, and support in marketing and business operations.

Franchisees

?

3
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$1,223,000 - $3,308,000
Food & Beverage
Burger

Jollibee

Jollibee is a global fast-food chain known for its unique Filipino-inspired menu, offering popular items like Chickenjoy fried chicken, sweet spaghetti, and other comfort food favorites.

Franchisees

?

2
+
100%
100%
Investment

?

$1,635,000 - $4,888,000
Food & Beverage
Burger

Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay

Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay serves gourmet burgers and sides, offering a flavorful and upscale fast-casual dining experience.

Franchisees

?

2
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$559,000 - $3,168,000
Food & Beverage
Burger

Fat Shack

Fat Shack serves a variety of indulgent sandwiches and comfort foods, offering a fun and satisfying dining experience.

Franchisees

?

24
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$183,000 - $482,000
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