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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Wayback Burgers Franchise

Wayback Burgers is a fast-casual “better burger” franchise serving cooked-to-order burgers, hand-dipped milkshakes, chicken sandwiches and tenders, cheesesteaks and hot dogs. The brand was founded in 1991 in Newark, Delaware as Jake’s Hamburgers, began franchising in 2008, and adopted the Wayback Burgers name in 2017 (it traded as Jake’s Wayback Burgers from 2009). It is now headquartered in Cheshire, Connecticut.

The model is a counter-service restaurant built around a focused menu, fresh ingredients and a nostalgic, approachable atmosphere. Franchisees operate brick-and-mortar locations supported by national supply-chain procurement and the branded Wayback App, which handles pickup and delivery ordering. Community fundraising is a recurring part of local operations.

Wayback now operates in over 35 states and across multiple international markets, positioning itself in the fast-casual segment alongside other better-burger names. It competes on menu quality and a defined operating playbook rather than sheer scale, giving it a recognisable mid-size footprint in a crowded category.

Latest Resales

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Why buy a Wayback Burgers Franchise?

Buying a Wayback Burgers franchise offers entry into an established fast-casual burger brand with a three-decade history and a footprint spanning the US and international markets. The category has proven resilient across varied economic conditions, and burgers remain one of the most consistent segments in American dining.

For owners, the appeal is a defined operating blueprint: standardised recipes, national procurement that manages vendor relationships and pricing across the system, marketing at both national and local levels, and the Wayback App, which adds pickup and delivery revenue. Dedicated franchisor teams cover restaurant performance, ongoing coaching and technology, which can shorten the learning curve for operators new to foodservice.

Wayback Burgers Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1991

    • Franchising Since

      2008

    • New Startup Cost

      $256,000 – $859,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of Initial Franchise Fee; or actual expenses if transfer to your entity

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      4%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      184

    • New Units Opened *

      14

    • Units Transferred *

      15

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Wayback Burgers – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    New owners receive structured initial training of 40 hours classroom plus 100 hours on-the-job. Ongoing support continues through dedicated franchisor teams: a Restaurant Excellence Team overseeing brand-standard execution, a Success & Performance Team providing coaching, plus marketing, procurement and technology support, with the branded Wayback App handling digital ordering, pickup and delivery. Buyers of an existing Wayback unit should confirm what transfer training the franchisor provides to incoming ownership and what app and system access carries over with the resale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Wayback suits a hands-on, operations-led owner comfortable running or overseeing a counter-service restaurant: managing staff and rotas, holding consistent brand standards, controlling food and labour costs, and engaging the local community through fundraising and marketing. Prior restaurant experience helps but is not required, given the franchisor's playbook and training. The model fits owner-operators or those ready to manage a capable store team, and people who enjoy guest-facing hospitality and steady day-to-day execution.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Wayback Burgers is recognised by Franchise Business Review, named to its Top 200 Franchises list for 2026 and a 2026 Top Franchises for Women honoree, with repeated Satisfaction Award recognition across 2023-2025 based on franchisee feedback. It is also ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 (most recently #461 in 2026) and is regularly grouped among leading better-burger brands. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local reviews, reputation and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US fast-food restaurant market is worth around $416 billion in 2026 (IBISWorld), with the fast-casual segment growing faster as diners seek higher-quality, convenient meals; one estimate projects US fast-casual sales rising by roughly $97 billion between 2025 and 2030. Burgers remain a perennial mainstay, and made-to-order positioning aligns with demand for fresh, affordable comfort food. For resale buyers, category demand is broad, but individual unit performance depends heavily on local site quality, competition and trade-area demographics.

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