WaBa Grill logo

WaBa Grill

Asian-inspired rice bowls

Investment

$341,000

Initial Franchise Fee

$35,000

Units

193

Growth Rate

+3.2%

Overview About Investment Territories Support Operations Ranking History

Overview

Industry Food
Founded 2004
Franchising Since 2006
Parent Company WaBa Restaurant Group
Leadership Andrew Kim, CEO
# of Employees at HQ 36

Units and Growth Chart

About WaBa Grill

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. 

Investment Details

Initial Franchise Fee $35,000
Initial Investment $341,000 - $577,000
Net Worth Requirement $1,000,000
Cash Requirement $500,000
Royalty Fee 5%
Ad Royalty Fee 3%
Technology Fee $315/mo.
Term of Agreement 10 years
Is Franchise Term Renewable? Yes
Financing N/A
Veterans Incentive N/A

Available Territories

Franchising opportunities available in the following regions

United States

Training & Support Programs

Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you succeed

Training

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 & Requirements

Key operational details and requirements for running this franchise

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? No
Can this franchise be run part time? No
# of employees required to run 0
Are exclusive territories available? Yes

Ranking History

WaBa Grill performance in the Franchise rankings over recent years

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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