How much does a Wayback Burgers franchise cost?
Opening a Wayback Burgers franchise takes a total initial investment of $256,000 to $859,000, according to the brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. That FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it discloses no earnings figures at all.
Wayback Burgers franchises traditional Wayback Burgers restaurants. Category: Food & Beverage.
Item 7
What it costs to open a Wayback Burgers franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2026 FDD. The total is $256,000 to $859,000. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Leasehold Improvements ($75,000 to $350,000), Equipment ($85,000 to $264,000), and Additional Funds and Miscellaneous ($20,000 to $60,000). Together they make up about 78% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $35,000, about 14% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $35,000 | $35,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Leasehold Improvements2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $75,000 | $350,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Initial Rent Outlays2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $2,500 | $20,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Equipment2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $85,000 | $264,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Outside Fixtures and Furnishings2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $5,000 | $10,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Signage2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $7,000 | $35,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Initial Inventory2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $9,000 | $13,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Supplies2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $5,000 | $35,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Travel and Living Expenses during Training2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $1,000 | $10,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Utility Deposits2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $0 | $5,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Prepaid Insurance Premiums2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $500 | $5,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Permits and Licenses (including design fees)2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $6,000 | $12,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Grand Opening Advertising2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 | $5,000 | $5,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 25 |
| Additional Funds and Miscellaneous2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 | $20,000 | $60,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 26 |
| Total estimated initial investment2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10-11 | $256,000 | $859,000 | 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10-11 |
Source Wayback Burgers, 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 10-11, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 19
What Wayback Burgers franchisees actually report earning
This brand's FDD publishes no Item 19.
We do not make any representations about a franchisee’s future financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets. We also do not authorize our employees or representatives to make any such representations either orally or in writing. If you are purchasing an existing outlet, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that outlet.
Source Wayback Burgers, 2026 FDD, Item 19, p. 47, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Item 20
How many Wayback Burgers outlets there are, and how many closed
Wayback Burgers ended 2025 with 183 franchised outlets and 1 company-owned outlet. In that year 14 franchised outlets opened and 10 left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2023 through 2025, Wayback Burgers opened 60 franchised outlets and 35 outlets left the system. That is a net gain of 25, from 158 to 183 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 8 were terminated, 1 was not renewed, and 26 closed for other reasons.
On average, about 7.0% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 14.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 179 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 183 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 69 |
| 2024 | 164 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 179 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 69 |
| 2023 | 158 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 164 | 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 69 |
Source Wayback Burgers, 2026 FDD, Item 20, p. 54, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-14.
Compare
How Wayback Burgers compares with other Food & Beverage franchises
Measured against the 256 Food & Beverage franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of Wayback Burgers' estimated range is $557,500. It costs less to open than 53% of Food & Beverage franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 7.0% for Wayback Burgers. That is higher than 60% of the 165 Food & Beverage franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. Wayback Burgers' franchised system grew 16%. The typical Food & Beverage franchise here grew 4.4%.
- Earnings disclosure. 152 of the 256 Food & Beverage franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. Wayback Burgers is not one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Food & Beverage franchise side by side.
Alert me when Wayback Burgers files a new FDD
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