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Franchise 500 Rank
N/R Not ranked last year
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Initial investment
$341K - $577K
Units as of 2024
193 Increase 3.2% over 3 years

Sunny California became home to WaBa Grill in 2004 when its founders made their vision of bringing healthy food to the fast-food market a reality. WaBa Grill decided to use fresh ingredients and premium meats to create tasty, healthy ingredients at fast-food speeds. Special attention is given to how the ingredients are prepared, with no heat lamps, fryers, or oil used to make their food.

WaBa Grill strives to provide customers with a welcoming greeting, carefully and quickly prepared meals, and a clean dining area in which customers can enjoy tasty combinations. Marketed to people seeking a healthy alternative without sacrificing flavor or speed, this southern California brand is growing with the potential to come to your community.

Since beginning to franchise in 2006, WaBa Grill has opened over 175 franchises throughout the United States.

Why You May Want to Start a WaBa Grill Franchise

Franchisees who are motivated and organized may be a good fit for a WaBa Grill location. It is not required, but if you have worked in a restaurant before or have experience in the service industry, that is typically seen as a benefit. 

If you can dedicate yourself to WaBa Grill full-time, this franchise could be the right fit for you. WaBa Grill looks for franchisees with experience and communication skills combined with a love for people and service. The company emphasizes brand recognition and investments in the merit of its menu. This may serve as an opportunity to bring a different quality of food to the fast-food market.

What Might Make a WaBa Grill Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the WaBa Grill team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other ongoing fees. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set requirements of net worth and liquid capital requirements. 

As you explore the opportunity to open a WaBa Grill franchise, make sure you research the brand and your local area to see if a WaBa Grill franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

How To Open a WaBa Grill Franchise

To start the journey for your own WaBa Grill franchise, begin by submitting an informational form. Someone from WaBa Grill may contact you and walk you through the rest of the steps towards opening a franchise in your community. 

A typical franchise agreement runs for ten years with an opportunity to renew their agreement if you meet the WaBa Grill requirements.

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the WaBa Grill franchising team questions. Once you are confident in your decision and have participated in the company-provided training for franchisees, you will be  ready to do your part to bring taste, health, and quality to the fast-food market. 

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Company Overview

About WaBa Grill

Industry Food
Related Categories Asian Food
Founded 2004
Parent Company WaBa Restaurant Group
Leadership Andrew Kim, CEO
Corporate Address 181 S. Old Springs Rd.
Anaheim, CA 92808
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

Business Overview

Franchising Since 2006 (18 years)
# of employees at HQ 36
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

# of Units 193 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a WaBa Grill franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$341,000 - $577,000
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$500,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
3%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 74 hours
Classroom Training 15 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where WaBa Grill landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022