The sales figure of Waffle House is quite something, and if that has prompted you to find out how much a Waffle House franchise owner make, then you have landed on the right page.
Keep on reading to find out the little details of the Waffle House franchise, including its investment amount, payback period, profit and sales figure, pros and cons, and more.
About Waffle House
Waffle House is an America Restaurant chain that was founded by two neighbors, Joe. Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner in 1995 in Avondale Estates, GA.
It all started when the duo came up with the idea to open a restaurant that would be available 24/7 for their neighbors and friends.
The bold yellow sign soon became a landmark for people living nearby. Today, Waffle House has expanded to 1,900+ locations in 25 states and still counting.
Waffle House started franchising in the 1960s; however, today, it is really difficult to open a Waffle House franchise as it does not offer franchising to the general public unless you have some internal connection to make the cut.
((https://www.wafflehouse.com/our-story/))
How Much Does A Waffle House Franchise Owner Make?
Waffle House is a privately owned company, and it does not offer any information on its financials publicly.
However, we estimated that Waffle House franchise owners make sales of $655,897 a year on average.
Please note that this is just an estimate, and the sale of a Waffle House franchise may vary based on its day-to-day expenses, location, number of staff, etc.
How Much Does Waffle House Employee Earn?
The pay of a Waffle House employee may vary based on their expertise, department, location, experience level, etc.
However, according to Indeed, the average pay of a Waffle House employee ranges from $10.84 per hour for someone with the title of a Sales Associate to $39.69 per hour for someone with the title of a Cleaner.
And in yearly terms, the average pay for a Waffle House employee ranges from approximately $15,000 per year for someone with the title of Relief Manager to $96,397 per year for someone with the title of Tax Manager.
Pros & Cons Of Waffle House Franchise
Pros Of Waffle House
- Healthy and affordable menu.
- Recognized brand.
- Open twenty-four seven.
- Profitable.
Cons Of Waffle House
- High-cost Investment.
- Need internal connection to obtain this franchise.
Waffle House Franchise Average Revenue & Profit
As mentioned earlier, Waffle House does not disclose its financials, so it is tough to confirm the numbers one hundred percent.
However, we estimate that a Waffle House franchise owner makes estimated sales of $655,897 a year on average, and with a 15% profit margin, it makes estimated profits of $98,384.
Also, the revenue and profit of each Waffle House franchise may vary based on different factors such as their location, operating costs, etc. So the profit may be more or less than this average number.
Waffle House Franchise Failure Rate
Since Waffle House has not revealed its financials, we cannot say anything about its failure rate. However, we do know that currently, it has 1,900+ locations in 25 states.
Waffle House Franchise Payback Period
To find out the payback period of the Waffle House Franchise, let us do some calculations:
| AVERAGE INVESTMENT | $800,000 |
| AVERAGE REVENUE PER OWNER | $655,897 |
| AVERGAGE PROFIT PERCENTAGE | 15% |
| AVERGAGE PROFIT PER YEAR | $98,384 |
| AVERAGE PAYBACK PERIOD | 6.5 years |
PAYBACK PERIOD = TOTAL INVESTMENT / PROFIT PER YEAR
= 800000/98384 = 8.1 = 8 Years based on median
The average investment for a Waffle House Franchise is $800,000.
With an average profit percentage of 15%, the average profit per year is $98,384.
This means that the average payback period for a Waffle House Franchise is 8 years, and the total investment of $800,000 would be recouped within this period.
Waffle House Might Be The Hardest Franchise To Get
Owning a Waffle House franchise might be the most challenging thing to achieve, as the company has made it very clear that they do not offer franchises to the general public.
Only existing franchises or people who have internal connections with relevant business experience may get this franchise.
According to the Atlanta Magzine, Waffle House is known to have stringent rules and regulations that many aspiring individuals find unfit for themselves.
Not to mention the hefty investment of $800,000 on average makes it all the more harder to buy this franchise.
Facts About Waffle House
- Waffle House got its name after the most expensive item on the Waffle House menu.
- Waffle House restaurants are open 24×7, 365 days.
- If you stack the sausages that Waffle House serves daily, it would be double the height of Burj Khalifa.
- Waffle House has its own record label by the name Waffle Records, and they have been releasing music since the 1980s.
- Each year Waffle House serves enough bacon strips to wrap the world around.
- Waffle House has served more than 2 million eggs since it opened.
- The amount of coffee this restaurant chain serves is enough to fill up 8 Olympic swimming pools.
- Waffle House used to sell Chick-Fil-A sandwiches decades ago, but they had to terminate the deal because of its over-popularity.
- The very first Waffle House has been turned into a museum now.
- The Founders of Waffle House died within a gap of one month after each other.
((https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2919/waffle-house-facts/))
What Is Waffle House Best Known For?
Waffle House has a wide range of items on its menu, including lunch and dinner items, but it is mainly known for its cheap and hearty breakfast meals.
Another thing that Waffle House is very famous for is that it remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days which is not that common.
If you have never been to Waffle House before, then here are some of the best menu items that you must try:
- All-Star breakfast.
- T-bone steak and eggs.
- Bacon cheesesteak melt.
- Pecan waffle.
- Hash browns covered and topped.
- Cheeseburger deluxe.
- Sausage, egg, and cheese Texas melt.
- Biscuits and gravy.
Is Waffle House Franchise Profitable?
Well, there is no data available related to franchise profit, but we still have some points on the basis of which we can analyze the profit of Waffle House.
Firstly, the sales of Waffle House are incredible; they generate around $1.3 billion through its sales annually.
And another point is that this restaurant chain is a highly recognized brand with more than 1900 outlets, which makes us believe it must be profitable and must have a high profit-earning potential.
Wrap Up
Waffle House is a popular restaurant chain that many entrepreneurs eye; however, unfortunately, the company does not offer franchises to the general public, and you must have an internal connection or must be an existing franchise to own this business.
Because of the company’s positive annual sales figure, we believe it is a profitable venture, but not much can be said about the actual numbers.
We suggest you to get in touch with the Waffle House company in order to find out more franchise details.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the initial franchise fees of Waffle House?
The initial franchise fees to open a Waffle House franchise is $37,500.
What is the initial investment to open a Waffle House franchise?
The initial investment to open a Waffle House franchise range between $600,000 to $1,000,000.
What is the royalty and marketing fees of Waffle House franchise?
The Waffle House has not provided any information regarding its franchise’s royalty and marketing fees. However, 4-5% is the industry average for the same, and that should give you some idea.
Amit Gupta is the founder of DrFranchises – a digital marketing agency that helps brands rank better on Google Maps through local SEO strategies. Amit has over 11 years of experience in digital marketing, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing. He’s also the owner of multiple franchises and has helped countless brands achieve success online. When he’s not working, Amit can be found playing with his dog.