Franchise opportunities compared
IHOP International House of Pancakes vs Wahlburgers
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Before you compare
- IHOP International House of Pancakes figures come from its 2026 FDD and Wahlburgers figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- IHOP International House of Pancakes and Wahlburgers disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only IHOP International House of Pancakes has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
| Disclosure | IIIHOP International House of Pancakes |  Wahlburgers |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $436,482 – $1,090,645 2026 FDD · Item 7 | $1,083,000 – $2,799,000 2025 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | Not available No single standard fee identified | Not available No single standard fee identified |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 4.5% Royalty rate 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19 | 8% Royalty rate 2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 3.5% le and ultimate decision. The National Advertising Fees for the Levels are: Level 1: — 3.5% — 3.5% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21 | 0.5% Brand Fund contribution — 0.5% 2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 6,772 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55 | Not available No reviewed outlet counts |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | −40 Calculated: 6,812 at end of 2023 → 6,772 at end of 2025 | Not available Only one year reported |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional Northeast $1,314,151 other Northeast 2025 AnnualizedAvgGrossSales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional West $1,247,192 other West 2025 AnnualizedAvgGrossSales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Nontraditional South $5,946,313 other South 2024 High · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54 +13 more groups in the full report | Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation |
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
IHOP International House of Pancakes vs Wahlburgers: common questions
- Which costs less to open, IHOP International House of Pancakes or Wahlburgers?
- IHOP International House of Pancakes: $436,482 – $1,090,645 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Wahlburgers: $1,083,000 – $2,799,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for IHOP International House of Pancakes. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do IHOP International House of Pancakes and Wahlburgers royalties compare?
- IHOP International House of Pancakes: 4.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19); Wahlburgers: 8% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Do IHOP International House of Pancakes and Wahlburgers disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- IHOP International House of Pancakes has reviewed Item 19 figures for 16 location groups; Wahlburgers makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.