Start a Waters Edge Wineries Franchise in 2025

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $519K - $1.3M

Units as of 2024: 12 9.1% over 3 years

Waters Edge Wineries uses its creative ability to make dozens of different kinds of wine by combining traditional winemaking techniques with the modern wine bar ideas. This may create a varied selection of wines, offering customers an opportunity to taste a historically unique lifestyle.

Waters Edge Wineries was founded in 2004 by Ken Lineberger. After gaining experience and understanding the market demands, Waters Edge Wineries started franchising in 2012. Since then, Waters Edge Wineries has opened multiple franchise units across select states in the United States.

Why You May Want to Start a Waters Edge Wineries Franchise

Waters Edge Wineries seeks to bring a fun winery experience to various communities nationwide while presenting a ground-breaking, versatile model that has led to the brand’s success.

To open a Waters Edge Wineries franchise, potential franchisees should love wine. However, you do not need prior experience because the brand offers a comprehensive training program on the micro-winery tank system. Franchisees may also need to have excellent sales and marketing skills, good managerial skills, and goal-oriented ideas.

Opening a Waters Edge Wineries franchise could offer a more predictable outcome than investing in a completely new brand that may struggle to thrive in an already crowded and competitive industry.

What Might Make a Waters Edge Wineries Franchise a Good Choice?

Waters Edge Wineries franchises are fully operational and provided with exclusive winery systems that may distinguish it from the rest in the market. Waters Edge Wineries believes that wine is meant to go with food that partners best with Boar's Head brands to provide a light menu consisting of tapas, flatbread pizzas, delicious desserts, and much more.

To be part of the Waters Edge Wineries team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How To Open a Waters Edge Wineries Franchise

If awarded a franchise, franchisees may receive support from the Waters Edge Wineries brand throughout the franchising process. In addition to pre-opening training, franchisees could receive support through brand awareness, marketing, research, and construction. They also may receive hands-on training and continued support after their franchise location has opened.

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement with the Waters Edge Wineries team, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. You may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the Waters Edge Wineries franchising team questions as part of your due diligence.

Additionally, take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if this franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

It may be a good idea to speak with an attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you have the necessary financial resources to own and operate a Waters Edge Wineries franchise.

Company Overview

About Waters Edge Wineries

Industry	Food
Related Categories	Miscellaneous Food/Beverage Businesses, Beverages
Founded	2004
Leadership	Ken Lineberger, President
Corporate Address	8560 Vineyard Ave., #408 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2012 (13 years)
# of employees at HQ	7
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
# of Units	12 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Waters Edge Wineries franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$50,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$519,092 - $1,339,058
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$350,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$250,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	10% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Waters Edge Wineries has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	30 hours
Classroom Training	10 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	3-5
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes