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20 Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a Mexican restaurant business franchise but you lack ideas? If YES, here are 20 best Mexican restaurant franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. The United States of America is one of the few countries of the world that can boast to be home to people of different nationalities and Mexico who happens to be their neighbors down south have a growing population.

Mexican restaurants are restaurants that mainly prepare and sell Mexican-style food to their customers. The Mexican Restaurant industry accommodates single-location, chain and franchised enterprises, as well as full-service and fast-food operators whose major delicacies are Mexican inspired. Players in this industry also sell alcoholic and other beverages as a means of generating more revenue and maximizing profits.

If you are a Mexican living in the United States and you looking towards leveraging on the vast population of Mexican descent in the US to generate revenue or you are not a Mexican but interested in starting a Mexican restaurant, then one of your best options is to buy the franchise of an established Mexican restaurant chain.

So, if you want to buy a Mexican restaurant franchise, in no particular order, here are the 20 best Mexican restaurant business franchise to buy in the United States of America and the amount their franchise goes for;

20 Best Mexican Restaurant Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost

  1. Taco Bell

Taco Bell is the most popular and profitable Mexican restaurant chain and of course the market leader of Mexican fast food in the United States of America. Taco Bell is known to serves a wide variety of Mexican inspired menu items. Recently, they came up with a goal to open 8,000 locations by 2023 via franchising.

Taco Bell was founded in 1962 and they have been franchising as far back as 1964, the number of locations where they have their franchise has continued to grow over the past 10 years from 5,820 in 2008 to the current total of 6,905, of which 606 are company-owned and 413 are located outside the U.S.

Taco Bell is looking for franchisees who have the ability to develop multiple units over time and who have restaurant experience.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $45,000
  1. Qdoba Mexican Eats

Qdoba Mexican Eats is yet another big name in the Mexican restaurant industry and they currently have their presence in 47 states in the U.S. and still sourcing for franchising units from interested investors. Qdoba Mexican Eats was acquired by Jack in the Box in 2003 but was recently sold to private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC for $305 million.

It started out by bringing San Francisco-style burritos to Denver as Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill. Qdoba offers chef-inspired creations like the Drunken Yardbird Taco, featuring tequila lime chicken topped with fresh Cotija cheese. Steak, chicken, and vegetables are fire-grilled in front of customers, and pulled pork is roasted daily.

Qdoba Mexican Eats was founded in 1995 and they have been franchising since 1997. Qdoba Mexican Eats locations has grown steadily over the past 10 years from 469 in 2008 to the current total of 741, of which 385 are company-owned and eight are located outside the U.S. It’s interesting to note that the company’s more recent growth in locations has been achieved by adding more company-owned units.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment (Development fee) – $10,000
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $30,000
  1. Moe’s Southwest Grill

Moe’s Southwest Grill is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers fresh Mexican inspired menu items. Moe’s Southwest Grill whose Mexican fare originated from the U.S. Southwest, is attracting millennials with its fresh menu items, music, and engaging atmosphere. Moe’s stands for “Musicians Outlaws and Entertainers,” and the restaurants play hand-selected music from legendary artists.

Moe’s Southwest Grill was founded in 2000 and they have been franchising since 2001. Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise unit locations has grown steadily over the past 10 years from 395 in 2008 to the current total of 721, only five of which are company-owned and two of which are located outside the U.S. Moe’s Southwest Grill is looking for franchisees willing to open a minimum of three units.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $1.5 million
  1. Del Taco

Del Taco is another big name in the Mexican restaurant industry that is into franchising. The restaurant offers a fusion between Mexican and American burgers-and-fries, which means customers can get fries with Mexican food.

Del Taco was founded in 1964 and they have been franchising since 1967. Del Taco franchise unit locations has grown steadily over the last 10 years and currently they have about 566 franchise unit, of which 314 are company-owned and all of which are located across the United States of America.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $1 million
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $35,000
  1. Taco John’s

Taco John’s is a Mexican restaurant chain that has its locations concentrated in and around the Central and North Central United States, but they have a goal to become one of the fastest-growing Mexican quick-service restaurant franchise brands in the United States of America. Hence the need to sell franchise to interested investors from the East coast.

Taco John’s was founded in 1969 and they started franchising same year (1969). Although, the number of their franchise units has declined slightly in recent years from 418 in 2008 to the current total of 393, ten of which are company-owned and all of which are located in the United States of America. Which is why they have been deliberate in spreading to the East Coast.

You need a minimum net worth of $500,000, with at least $350,000 in liquid assets to get started.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment (Minimum net worth) – $500,000
  • Liquid Assets – $350,000
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $35,000
  1. TacoTime

TacoTime is yet another major player in the Mexican restaurant industry that is seeking for new investors to buy into their franchise units. Interestingly, TacoTime is a relatively affordable restaurant franchise that interested investors should consider.

TacoTime was founded in 1958 and they have been franchising since 1961. TacoTime franchise unit locations has declined slightly in recent years from 295 in 2008 to the current total of 261, none of which are company-owned and 131 of which are located outside the U.S. Please note that TacoTime also provides training and ongoing support to all their franchisees.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Capital – $100,000
  1. Taco Bueno

Taco Bueno is a Tex-Mex chain that offers counter and drive-thru service; they are known for serving up basic Tex-Mex dishes, including breakfast items, with a number of two-entree combinations and seven different fajita platters. They are seeking for new franchise unites basically, they are accepting proposals for single and multi-unit developments.

Taco Bueno was founded in 1967 and they just started franchising in 2004. They are not doing badly when it comes to their locations and currently, they are active in 182, 160 locations across the United States of America. These locations are company-owned.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $35,000
  1. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is another fast-growing Mexican restaurant that is seeking for new investors to buy their franchise units. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was launched in Fort Worth, and currently they have the largest percentage of their locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was founded in 2003 and they have been franchising since 2009, Presently, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has a total of 146, ten of which are company-owned and all of which are located within the United States of America.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $25,000 to $35,000
  1. Quesada Burritos & Tacos

Quesada Burritos & Tacos was launched in Toronto, Ontario, in 2004, and currently they are the fastest-growing Mexican franchise in Canada and they are seeking for interested investors from the U.S. to buy their franchise units.

Quesada Burritos & Tacos was founded in 2003 and they have been franchising since 2010. They currently have 105 franchise locations and only three of which are company-owned and all of which are located outside the United States of America. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill

Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill is Canada’s largest premium fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain, and they are seeking for new investors to buy their franchise units.

Mucho Burrito Fresh Mexican Grill was founded in 2006 and they started franchising same hear (2006). Interestingly, ever since then, the number of locations has grown to a total of 104 units, only one of which is company-owned and 101 of which are located outside the United States of America. Only 2 of these locations are in the U.S. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Costa Vida

Costa Vida is yet another fast-growing Mexican restaurant that was started by J.D. and Sarah Gardner, who were inspired on a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to bring the cuisine and bold vibe back home to Layton, Utah. The chain’s specialties are enchiladas and nachos, Mango Chicken Salad, Sweet Shrimp Salad, Sweet Shrimp Tacos, and Mahi Mahi Tacos.

Costa Vida was founded in 2003 and they started franchising the following year that is in 2004. Currently, they have about 100-unit locations, of which 4 of the locations is outside the United States of America and the rest are in and around the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Taco Casa

Taco Casa is yet another fast-growing Mexican restaurant franchise that was started by Shelda and Roy Upshaw using their experiences as Taco Bell franchisees to start their own business in the early 1970s. They are planning to sell their franchise units to interested investors who want to open in Texas and Oklahoma.

Taco Casa was founded in 1972 and they started franchising same year that is in 1972. Interestingly, the number of their locations has grown in recent years from 58 in 2012 to 86. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill

Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill is one of the upscale quick-service Mexican restaurant brands that is in operational in the United States of America. You can easily find Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill in shopping centers and on college campuses, and private business premises across the United States of America.

Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill was founded in 1999 and they have been franchising since 2000. Currently, they have about 77 franchise locations. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Pancheros Mexican Grill

Pancheros Mexican Grill is a fast – growing Mexican restaurant that is based Iowa and sourcing for new investors to buy their franchise across the United States of America as long as they are passionate about the food they serve, even if they don’t have official restaurant experience. Pancheros Mexican Grill specializes in burritos.

Pancheros Mexican Grill was founded in 1992 and they have been franchising since 1995. Pancheros Mexican Grill currently has a over 70 franchise locations in 19 states across the United States of America. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. Chronic Tacos

Chronic Tacos is another fast – raising Mexican restaurant that offers up authentic Mexican recipes as its main selling point. They are seeking for new investors to buy their franchise and when buying this franchise, you will benefit from ongoing support such as site selection, marketing, training and online support.

Randy Wyner Chronic is the founder of Chronic Tacos and the company was founded in 2002 and they have been franchising since 2006. Currently, they have a total of 51 franchise locations. Out of this number, 6 are company-owned and 2 are located outside the United States of America. If you are interested in buying this franchise, you can contact them via their website for details.

  1. El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco is another fast – raising Mexican restaurant in the United States that specializes mainly in preparing and serving chicken burritos, quesadillas and other Mexican inspired dishes. El Pollo Loco is seeking for investors to buy their franchise all across the United States of America.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $40,000
  1. La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill

La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill is a Mexican restaurant that is seeking for new investors to buy their franchise in the United States of America. La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill was established in 1979 and they started franchising since then. If you buy this franchise, the company will provide support for real estate, marketing and training for you.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment (Minimum net worth) – $500,000
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $50,000
  1. America’s Taco Shop

America’s Taco Shop is one of the Mexican quick services restaurants that specializes in preparing and serving Carne Asada and food made with fresh, and quality ingredients. They are seeking for investors to buy their franchise across the United States of America. Please note that despite the fact that the initial franchise fee is $30,000, if you buy additional franchise, you will pay a lesser.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $30,000
  1. LA Paella

LA Paella is a Mexican inspired restaurant that offers a fresh Spanish experience to diners. They are looking for investors to buy their franchise units and help spread their brand all across the United States of America. If you buy this franchise, you will receive training, access to recipes and ongoing support.

Financial Requirements

  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $40,000
  1. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is a Mexican inspired restaurant that is based in New England and they are currently looking for interested investors to buy their franchise throughout the United States of America. Margaritas has been in business for more than 25 years and they currently have 25 active franchise locations in the United States of America.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Development fee – $10,000
  • Ongoing Fees (Initial Franchise Fee) – $40,000