About Wahoo's Fish Tacos Franchise
Wahoo's Fish Taco is a fast casual restaurant franchise specializing in freshly cooked fish tacos, burritos, charbroiled proteins, salads, and a variety of other flavorful menu items.
The brand has been franchising since 1998 and offers a unique blend of Mexican, Brazilian, and Asian inspired flavors that set it apart from traditional taco restaurants.
Beer and wine are available at select locations, adding to the casual, laid back dining atmosphere.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$547K
Average Investment
$670K
Maximum Investment
$793K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Net Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Up to 1% of Net Sales (Advertising Fund); 2% of Net Sales (Local Advertising, less amounts paid to Advertising Fund or Cooperative Advertising); Proportional share up to 1% of Net Sales (Cooperative Advertising) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $546,500 – $792,500 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $547K–$793K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Net Sales) and marketing fee (Up to 1% of Net Sales (Advertising Fund); 2% of Net Sales (Local Advertising, less amounts paid to Advertising Fund or Cooperative Advertising); Proportional share up to 1% of Net Sales (Cooperative Advertising)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Real Estate/Rent | $12,500 | $21,000 |
| Utility Security Deposits | $0 | $5,000 |
| Architectural and Design Service | $17,500 | $35,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $200,000 | $260,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $160,000 | $190,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Insurance | $10,000 | $55,000 |
| Training | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $6,000 | $10,000 |
| Signage | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Office Equipment/Supplies | $3,000 | $6,500 |
| Licenses/Permits | $2,500 | $10,000 |
| Working Capital | $60,000 | $100,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 50% of the then-current initial Franchise Fee for a start-up Franchised Restaurant |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 |
| Technology Fee | To be determined, not to exceed $5,000 initially and $100 monthly |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit, not to exceed $2,000, plus interest on underpayment (if understatement is at least 2%) |
| Refurbishing | Reasonable capital expenditures, not to exceed $25,000 per term |
| Maintenance | Actual expense and cost, not to exceed $25,000 |
| Operation of the Franchised Restaurant in Case of Your Default | $400 per day plus expenses |
| Late Fees | Highest applicable legal rate for open account business credit, not to exceed 1.5% per month or the highest amount allowed by law |
| Supplier/Supplies Approval | Reasonable cost of inspection and actual cost of test, not to exceed $2,000 |
| Advisory Council | Council assessments, not to exceed $1,000 per year |
| Operation of the Franchised Restaurant in Case of Your Absence, Incapacity or Death | $400 per day plus expenses |
| Insurance Policies | Amount of unpaid premium |
| Additional Manager Training | $400 per day plus expenses |
| Additional Assistance | $400 per day plus expenses |
| Continuing Education | Tuition is no charge; however, you must pay your expenses and your employees' expenses for food, travel and lodging |
| Relocation Fee -- Voluntary and Involuntary | Company's actual expenses not to exceed $3,000 plus any necessary travel and lodging expenses |
| Cost of Enforcement or Defense | All costs including attorneys' fees |
| Indemnification | All costs including attorneys' fees |
| Cash Register System (electronic point of sale) | Positouch (current model) $20,000-$25,000 total cost for three (3) machines |
| Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software and Hardware | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| Royalty Software | $1,000 - $2,000 |
| Miscellaneous | Varies |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Classroom Training | 78 |
| On-the-Job Training | 242 |
| Training Location | Company's headquarters in Santa Ana, California, or another designated location |
| Additional Training | Refresher training programs may be required periodically, with no charge for tuition, but franchisees must pay for their own and employees' travel, meals, and lodging expenses. Additional bar training (80-100 hours) is available for a $5,000 fee if the facility has a full-service bar. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | approximately a 1.5-mile radius |
| Description | You will receive a protected territory covering approximately a 1.5-mile radius surrounding the Franchised Restaurant. The franchisor will not operate or grant franchises for another Franchised Restaurant within your territory, with the exception of non-traditional sites such as schools, universities, airports, amusement parks, hospitals, stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and others. The franchisor reserves the right to vary the territory based on site peculiarities, population density, business potential, and existing business practices. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | Up to four (4) additional successive terms of five (5) years each |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000.00 |
| Renewal Conditions | To renew, the franchisee must be in compliance with all provisions of the Franchise Agreement, not in default, have brought the restaurant into compliance with current standards, given timely notice (6-12 months prior), satisfied all monetary obligations, signed the then-current Franchise Agreement, met current training requirements, and executed a general release. |
| Transfer Fee | 50% of the then-current initial Franchise Fee |
| Transfer Conditions | For transfers of less than Control, the transferee must meet Company's qualifications, successfully complete the training program, and sign the current Franchise Agreement. All sums owed to Company and its affiliates must be paid, a general release signed, and the transfer fee paid. For transfers of more than Control, Company may withhold consent for any reason. The sales price must not be so high or terms so onerous that the transferee is unlikely to meet financial obligations. |
| Termination for Cause | The franchisor may terminate the agreement with cause for reasons including, but not limited to, failure to complete training, material misrepresentation in the application, conviction of a felony or certain crimes, unauthorized use of Manuals or Trade Secrets, abandonment of business, transfer of control without authorization, understating Net Sales by more than 3% on multiple occasions, bankruptcy, misuse of Marks or Software, failure to submit reports or pay fees on multiple occasions, continuous health/safety violations, or failure to maintain required working capital. |
| Non-Compete Period | 1 year after transfer, expiration, or termination of the Agreement |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the franchise, the franchisee (or owners/managers with 10%+ interest) may not directly or indirectly own, maintain, engage in, or have any interest in a competitive business. After termination or expiration, for one year, the franchisee may not operate a similar restaurant business within the Metropolitan Statistical Area or within a ten-mile radius of the former Franchised Restaurant or any other System business. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The franchisee must participate in the operation of the Franchised Restaurant and devote full time and attention to managing and supervising all administrative and operational activities. If the franchisor allows the franchisee not to assume these responsibilities full time, a Certified Manager must be employed who will actively supervise and manage the restaurant on a full-time basis. If operating multiple franchises, at least a 40-hour work week must be divided among all restaurants, and at least one trained and competent employee must act as a full-time manager for each franchise. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase and use Trade Secret Food Products exclusively from authorized suppliers. Any Trademarked Products must be purchased exclusively from Company or a limited number of authorized suppliers. A list of approved manufacturers, suppliers and distributors (Approved Suppliers List) for inventory, products, fixtures, furniture, equipment, signs, stationery, supplies, and other items or services is provided in the Manuals. |
| Supply Restrictions | Approximately 0-5% of expenditures for establishing a Franchised Restaurant and 0-20% on an ongoing basis will be for goods and services with sourcing restrictions (approved suppliers or meeting Company standards). |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Certain suppliers may pay Company for transactions with franchisees, and if Company qualifies for these payments, 100% of the net payment will be contributed to the corporate marketing fund. Company may also receive rebates from approved suppliers, with 50% contributed to system-wide advertising costs and 50% retained to offset costs for securing deals. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Company received no rebates or revenue from the sale of required products and services. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease or obligation. |
Wahoo's Fish Tacos Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Wahoo's Fish Tacos does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos Litigation & Risk Flags
1 Pending Action ListedReview the full FDD for details on pending litigation.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos System Growth
Total Units
45
Franchised
25
Company-Owned
20
Wahoo's Fish Tacos currently operates 25 franchised locations and 20 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 5 | 48 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | 47 |
| 2022 | 0 | 2 | 45 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 8
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$1.0M
Net Income
$546K
Total Assets
$2.8M
Audited by R.M. White & Associates for year ending December 31.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Wahoo's Fish Tacos franchise ranges from $546,500 to $792,500, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $40,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos charges a royalty fee of 5% of Net Sales of gross sales, plus a Up to 1% of Net Sales (Advertising Fund); 2% of Net Sales (Local Advertising, less amounts paid to Advertising Fund or Cooperative Advertising); Proportional share up to 1% of Net Sales (Cooperative Advertising) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Wahoo's Fish Tacos Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Wahoo's Fish Tacos to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos has been franchising since 1998. The FDD shows an investment range of $546,500-$792,500, a 5% of Net Sales royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There are 1 pending litigation action(s). Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $40,000 and the total investment ranges from $546,500 to $792,500 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $100,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Wahoo's Fish Tacos and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Wahoo's Fish Tacos or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com