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Franchise 500 2023
2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#226 Ranked #269 last year
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Initial investment
$813K - $2.5M
Units as of 2023
595 Decrease

Del Taco, founded in 19764, is an American fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in American-style Mexican cuisine. Since beginning to franchise in 1967, Del Taco has grown to over 57 locations, about half of which are operated by franchisees. They strive to offer delicious fast food options for millions across the U.S. They have dedicated themselves to creating flavorful, fast, and affordable food.

As you run your franchise, you may provide quality meals to hundreds of people. The perfect candidate for a Del Taco franchise typically knows the local real estate market, has an understanding of the development and multi-unit restaurant experience, and harbors a passion for getting involved in the local community.

Why You May Want to Start a Del Taco Franchise

If you love the idea of offering customers delicious fast food with a twist, then opening a Del Taco franchise might be for you. They are usually known for their American-style Mexican cuisine that is made up of affordable tacos and burritos, but they also offer classic American fast food options, including burgers, fries, sodas, and milkshakes. Using their tasty and proprietary recipes, you may prepare some of the best dishes to serve loyal customers.

As a Del Taco franchisee, you may join an extensive network of specialty fast-food restaurants that are committed to providing quality, flavorful, and delicious food. You generally provide a place for people to come together and enjoy a great meal in a casual environment. You may also be providing an essential service to your community.

What Might Make a Del Taco Franchise a Good Choice?

Many times since its inception, Del Taco has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points that consist of areas in costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

To be part of the Del Taco team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be aware that ongoing fees including advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees will need to be paid. It may be a good idea to check with an attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you are financially stable enough to open and operate a Del Taco franchise. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. 

Del Taco may offer customized marketing plans and support, training, and ongoing operations support to most of their franchisees.

How Do You Open a Del Taco Franchise?

You may begin the process of opening a Del Taco franchise by filling out an application. After completing this step, a franchise representative may reach out to you with more in-depth information on their brand, vision, and available territory. They will also want to discuss your qualifications.

If you pass your initial interview, you may be asked to fill out an official application, and the director of development may interview you to see if you are a good fit for the brand. Next, Del Taco may send you their Franchise Disclosure Document. Once you decide to move forward, you will typically undergo a financial and background check. You may be asked to attend a discovery day at the Del Taco corporate offices in Lake Forest, California to meet the team and assess the business opportunity.

Once you’ve signed a development agreement, you may begin the search for the perfect Del Taco location. 

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Company Overview

About Del Taco

Industry Food
Related Categories Mexican Food
Founded 1964
Parent Company Jack in the Box Inc.
Leadership Tim Linderman, CDO
Corporate Address 25521 Commercentre Dr., #200
Lake Forest, CA 92630
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1967 (57 years)
# of employees at HQ 176
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia

# of Units 595 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Del Taco 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 Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$812,700 - $2,467,500
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$500,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
4%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
20 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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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 Del Taco 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 400 hours
Classroom Training 40 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 50
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Del Taco landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Del Taco ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022