TacoTime has the lowest published cost of any Mexican food franchise to buy in 2027, at $365,650 to $844,300, ahead of Tijuana Flats ($490,050 to $878,000) and Barberitos ($505,500 to $720,000). Qdoba reports the highest top-quartile sales at $2.573M, and Del Taco has the highest published investment at $1,497,200 to $3,321,000.
Operators who want a catering-heavy fast-casual brand with flexible small footprints
Pick by what you want
Lowest entry cost
TacoTime
Lowest cash requirement
Barberitos
Highest top-quartile sales
Qdoba
Largest franchised base
Moe's Southwest Grill
Drive-thru with a published ad fee
Del Taco
The ranking
1
TacoTime
Answrs VerdictThe lowest published starting cost on this list.
Initial investment: $365,650 to $844,300 for a traditional restaurant, excluding landFranchise fee: $30,000Royalty: Not publishedBrand age: More than 60 years, from its founding in the Pacific Northwest
TacoTime lists $365,650 to $844,300 for a traditional restaurant, excluding land, with a $30,000 franchise fee. The brand says it has existed for more than 60 years in the Pacific Northwest. It does not publish a royalty on its franchise site.
Go ifBuyers who want the lowest published entry cost among Mexican quick-service brands
Skip ifYou need a published royalty before you call
Why #1 over #2: Its published starting cost is below every other brand here, including Taco John’s.
2
Taco John's
Answrs VerdictThe oldest franchisor here, with a very wide published cost range.
Initial investment: $457,175 to $2,039,250 (Entrepreneur listing, updated December 2022)Franchise fee: $15,000 to $40,000 (Entrepreneur, 2022)Royalty: 5% (Entrepreneur, 2022)Net worth and liquidity: $1M net worth and $500K liquid capitalTop-quartile sales: $1.8M AUV for freestanding restaurants with a drive-thru (2025 FDD)Franchising since: 1969
Taco John’s has franchised since 1969 and reports a $1.8M AUV for top-quartile freestanding restaurants with a drive-thru. Its franchise site asks for $1M net worth and $500K liquid capital, and an Entrepreneur listing updated December 2022 shows $457,175 to $2,039,250 with a 5% royalty.
Go ifOperators who want a drive-thru Mexican brand with development territory in the upper Midwest
Skip ifYou need a current Item 7 range; the published range is from a 2022 listing
Why #2 over #3: It starts lower than Tijuana Flats, though its published range is from 2022.
3
Tijuana Flats
Answrs VerdictA Tex-Mex brand back in franchising after its 2026 relaunch.
Initial investment: $490,050 to $878,000Franchise fee: $40,000 per unit, with a three-unit commitmentRoyalty: Not publishedAverage franchise unit volume: $1.447M (FDD 2022)Franchising relaunch: Relaunched in May 2026 with an updated FDD, per Restaurant Dive
Tijuana Flats lists $490,050 to $878,000 and a $40,000 franchise fee per unit with a three-unit commitment. Restaurant Dive reported in May 2026 that the brand relaunched franchising with an updated FDD; the $1.447M AUV on its page is from the 2022 FDD.
Go ifMulti-unit operators in the Southeast who want a Tex-Mex brand and a hot sauce bar
Skip ifYou want a single unit; the franchise page asks for a three-unit commitment
Why #3 over #4: Its range starts below Fuzzy’s and Barberitos.
4
Fuzzy's Taco Shop
Answrs VerdictA taco and margarita concept now owned by Dine Brands.
Initial investment: Starting around $500,000 for the taqueria-style concept (Item 7)Royalty and ad fund: 5% of weekly gross sales and 2% to the development fundNet worth and liquidity: $1.5 million net worth and $500,000 in liquid assetsAverage sales: Nearly $2M AUV for non-Texas stores (FDD)Franchise fee: $40,000 (Entrepreneur listing, 2022)
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop says investment starts around $500,000 for its taqueria-style concept and charges a 5% royalty plus 2% to its development fund. It asks for $1.5 million net worth and $500,000 in liquid assets, and reports nearly $2M AUV for non-Texas stores.
Go ifOperators who want a taco brand with a margarita bar and four day-parts
Skip ifYou want a low net worth requirement
Why #4 over #5: Its nearly $2M AUV is above Pancheros’ $1.66M, though the two brands measure sales differently.
5
Barberitos
Photo: Michael Rivera / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe lowest cash and net worth requirements of the ten.
Initial investment: $505,500 to $720,000 (2026 FDD)Franchise fee: $35,000Royalty: 6% of net salesBrand fund: 3% of net salesNet worth and liquidity: $350,000 net worth and $150,000 in liquid assetsFranchised units: 43 as of Sept. 28, 2025
Barberitos lists $505,500 to $720,000 from its 2026 FDD, with a $35,000 fee, a 6% royalty and a 3% brand fund. It needs only $350,000 net worth and $150,000 in liquid assets, and had 43 franchised units on Sept. 28, 2025.
Go ifBuyers who want the lowest net worth and liquidity requirement on this list
Skip ifYou want a 5% royalty; Barberitos charges 6%
Why #5 over #6: Its cash requirement is far below Qdoba’s $350,000 liquid capital.
6
Qdoba
Answrs VerdictThe highest published top-quartile sales here.
Initial investment: $548,100 to $1,294,000 for a traditional restaurant (Item 7 table)Franchise fee: $40,000Royalty and marketing: 5% royalty and 4.5% marketing feeNet worth and liquidity: $1,000,000 net worth and $350,000 liquid capitalTop-quartile sales: $2.573M AUV (2025 FDD)
Qdoba lists $548,100 to $1,294,000 for a traditional restaurant, a $40,000 fee, a 5% royalty and a 4.5% marketing fee. It reports a $2.573M top-quartile AUV from its 2025 FDD and asks for $1,000,000 net worth.
Go ifOperators who want the largest Mexican fast-casual franchise system and the highest top-quartile sales
Skip ifYou want a single, simple cost figure; its franchise pages show two different ranges
Why #6 over #7: Its top-quartile sales are the highest published here, above Moe’s average of $1,184,316.
7
Moe's Southwest Grill
Answrs VerdictThe largest franchised base here, backed by GoTo Foods.
Initial investment: $644,000 to $1.4M for endcap and inline restaurants (2026 FDD)Net worth and liquidity: $1,000,000 net worth and $300,000 liquid capitalAverage net sales: $1,184,316 for traditional stores in 2025Franchises operating: 563 as of 12/28/25Fee and royalty: $35,500 franchise fee and 5% royalty (Entrepreneur, 2022)
Moe’s Southwest Grill lists $644,000 to $1.4M from its 2026 FDD and reports 563 franchises operating as of 12/28/25. Average net sales for traditional stores were $1,184,316 in 2025, and it asks for $300,000 liquid capital and $1,000,000 net worth.
Go ifBuyers who want a GoTo Foods multi-brand system and a large franchised base
Skip ifYou want the highest sales per restaurant
Why #7 over #8: It has a larger franchised base than Pancheros, which lists 70+ locations.
8
Pancheros Mexican Grill
Answrs VerdictA burrito brand that reports sales across all mature units.
Initial investment: $754,500 to $1,552,500Franchise fee: $30,000Royalty and marketing: 5% royalty, 3% marketing and 3% local marketingNet worth and liquidity: $1M net worth and $500,000 liquid capitalAverage sales: $1.66M AUV across all 67 restaurants open three full years (2026 FDD)Locations: 70+ in 12 states
Pancheros lists $754,500 to $1,552,500, a $30,000 franchise fee, a 5% royalty and 3% marketing. Its $1.66M AUV covers all 67 restaurants open three full years in its 2026 FDD, and it has 70+ locations in 12 states.
Go ifOperators who want a hand-pressed tortilla burrito brand with every restaurant in the sales average
Skip ifYou want a low cost; its FAQ page shows an older range
Why #8 over #9: Its sales average covers every mature restaurant, not only a top slice.
9
Del Taco
Answrs VerdictThe highest published investment on this list.
Initial investment: $1,497,200 to $3,321,000Franchise fee: $35,000 per locationRoyalty and advertising: 5% royalty and 4% advertising fee, both of net salesNet worth and liquidity: $1MM+ net worth and $500,000+ liquidity, varying by commitmentAverage unit volume: $1,613,899
Del Taco lists $1,497,200 to $3,321,000, a $35,000 fee, a 5% royalty and a 4% advertising fee. Its page shows a $1,613,899 AUV and asks for $500,000+ liquidity and $1MM+ net worth, which vary by commitment.
Go ifWell-capitalized operators who want a drive-thru brand with a published royalty and ad fee
Skip ifYou want an entry cost under $1,000,000
Why #9 over #10: It publishes a full fee schedule, which Salsarita’s does not.
10
Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill
Answrs VerdictStrong catering, but no published cost.
Initial investment: Not publishedNet worth and liquidity: Minimum net worth of $1 million and $300,000 in liquid capitalLocations: 65 across 12 statesAverage sales: $1.9M AUV for the top third of traditional locations (2024 gross sales)Catering: 21% of sales
Salsarita’s lists no investment range or fee on its franchise page. It asks for $1 million net worth and $300,000 in liquid capital, has 65 locations across 12 states, and reports catering at 21% of sales and a $1.9M AUV for its top third of traditional locations.
Go ifOperators who want a catering-heavy fast-casual brand with flexible small footprints
Skip ifYou want the investment range and fee in writing before you call
How we ranked these
We ranked brands by the lowest published starting investment from each franchisor’s own page, or from its Entrepreneur or FDD-based listing where it does not publish one, and listed the brand with no published cost last. Franchisors publish costs from different FDD years, so confirm every figure in the current FDD before you sign. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
How much does a Mexican food franchise cost?
Published starting costs run from $365,650 for TacoTime to $1,497,200 for Del Taco, with Qdoba at $548,100 and Moe’s at $644,000.
What is the cheapest Mexican franchise to buy?
TacoTime publishes the lowest range, $365,650 to $844,300 for a traditional restaurant, with a $30,000 franchise fee.
What royalty do Mexican franchises charge?
Del Taco, Qdoba, Pancheros and Fuzzy’s publish a 5% royalty, while Barberitos charges 6%.
How much cash do you need to open one?
Barberitos asks for $150,000 in liquid assets, Moe’s $300,000, Qdoba $350,000, and Pancheros, Fuzzy’s and Taco John’s $500,000.
Lowest published initial investment (USD) at a glance
TacoTime$365,650
Taco John's$457,175
Tijuana Flats$490,050
Fuzzy's$500,000
Barberitos$505,500
Qdoba$548,100
Moe's$644,000
Pancheros$754,500
Del Taco$1,497,200
Lowest published initial investment (USD), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
