Can You Buy a Whataburger Franchise?
Whataburger is mostly company-owned and rarely sells new franchises; in 2019, 126 of its locations were franchised. It has been majority-owned by BDT Capital Partners since 2019, and franchise costs are not published.
Is Whataburger a franchise?
Mostly no. Whataburger is mainly company-owned. When the company changed hands in 2019 it had more than 820 locations, of which 126 were franchised. In 2011, 117 of its 728 stores were run by about 25 franchisees, and the rest were owned by the Dobson family.
Franchising goes back to the start: Joe Andrews, Sr. became the first franchise owner outside the founders in 1953, in Alice, Texas.
Can you buy a Whataburger franchise today?
New franchises are rarely offered. Franchise and lending websites describe the program as highly restricted and largely closed to new operators, and Whataburger does not publish franchise fees or costs in the information we have. Cost figures on third-party sites vary widely and are not confirmed by Whataburger.
If you are serious about it, the only reliable route is to contact Whataburger's corporate development team directly.
Who owns Whataburger?
BDT Capital Partners, a Chicago-based investment firm, bought a majority stake from the Dobson family in June 2019; the family kept a small stake. The headquarters remain at 300 Concord Plaza Drive in San Antonio, and Ed Nelson has been CEO since August 2020.
Company history is on Whataburger history.
Franchise history
Franchising at Whataburger started almost at once. When the founders split in 1951, Paul Burton kept the Whataburger franchises in San Antonio. In 1953, Joe Andrews, Sr. opened the first franchise run by someone other than the founders, in Alice, Texas.
Since then the company has grown mainly through its own stores, with franchised locations a minority: about one in six stores in 2011, and 126 locations in 2019.
Who has run Whataburger
Harmon Dobson ran the company until his death in 1967. His widow Grace took control and became chairman in 1969. Their son Tom Dobson became CEO and president in 1993. After the 2019 sale, Ed Nelson, the former chief financial officer, became president and then CEO in August 2020.
How big the company is
Whataburger reported more than $3 billion in revenue in 2022 and employed about 50,000 people. Today's store directory lists 1,217 restaurants in 17 states. Full counts are on Whataburger locations.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy a Whataburger franchise?
Very rarely. Whataburger is mostly company-owned and new franchises are seldom offered; contact Whataburger's development team for current options.
How many Whataburgers are franchised?
126 locations were franchised when the company changed ownership in 2019.
Who owns Whataburger now?
BDT Capital Partners, since 2019, with the Dobson family keeping a small stake.
Who was the first Whataburger franchisee?
Joe Andrews, Sr., who opened in Alice, Texas in 1953.
How many Whataburger franchisees are there?
In 2011, about 25 franchisees ran 117 stores; Whataburger does not publish a current franchisee count in the information we have.
Is Whataburger publicly traded?
No. It is privately held, majority-owned by BDT Capital Partners since 2019.
How much does a Whataburger franchise cost?
Whataburger does not publish franchise costs; third-party estimates vary widely and are unconfirmed.