Franchise opportunities compared
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. 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
- The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. figures come from its 2026 FDD and Wahlburgers figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. and Wahlburgers disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
| Disclosure |  The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. |  Wahlburgers |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $5,000 – $1,797,654 2026 FDD · Item 7 | $1,083,000 – $2,799,000 2025 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $20 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14 | Not available No single standard fee identified |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 5% ITEM 6. OTHER FEES Type of Fee 1 Amount Due Date Remarks Royalty and Service Fee 2 — 5% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15 | 8% Royalty rate 2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 3% of “bdf”). 2 up to — 3% he Royalty and Service Fee payments. Brand Development Contribution 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15 | 0.5% Brand Fund contribution — 0.5% 2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 93 Outlets at end of 2026 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 52 | Not available No reviewed outlet counts |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | +1 Calculated: 92 at end of 2024 → 93 at end of 2026 | 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) | 1984 From a verified franchisor listing | 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 — Franchised Top Third 12 restaurants other Franchised Top Third · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 50 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Middle Third 14 restaurants other Franchised Middle Third · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 50 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Bottom Third $1,570,349 other Franchised Bottom Third · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 50 +5 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.
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. vs Wahlburgers: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. or Wahlburgers?
- The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.: $5,000 – $1,797,654 (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 The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. and Wahlburgers royalties compare?
- The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15); Wahlburgers: 8% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Do The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. and Wahlburgers disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 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.