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COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL

COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL

Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill franchises operate fast-casual restaurants specializing in the retail sale of fresh Mexican-inspired menu items such as burritos, salads, enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, tropical beverages, desserts, and related merchandise, emphasizing a coastal ambience with take-out and dine-in seating. The franchisor grants licenses and franchises for operating under the Costa Vida brand and proprietary system standards, including area development agreements for multi-unit growth. They target general consumers seeking high-quality Mexican fare with the convenience and speed of traditional fast food.

47locations
Since 2004
Food & BeveragePleasant Grove, UTCV Holdings, LCwww.costavida.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$30,000
Initial Investment
N/A
Royalty Rate
N/A
Brand Fund
N/A

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$2,158,661
Median Gross Revenue
$2,016,503
EBITDA Margin
18%
Top Quartile Revenue
$3,214,709
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$1,304,068
Average EBITDA
$382,200.27

Data Based On: 83 U.S. franchise locations based on monthly profit and loss statements for the entire twelve months of 2024, segmented into Top 20, Middle 43, and Bottom 20 performance tiers.

* Weighted average gross revenue calculated from Table 1 segments: (20 units * $3,214,709 + 43 units * $2,064,961 + 20 units * $1,304,068) / 83 total units = $2,158,661.0. This matches the 'Average Net Sales' in Table 3. Revenue top/bottom quartile are the 'Average Unit Volume' for the Top 20 and Bottom 20 segments, respectively, as these segments represent approximately 24.1% of the total units. Weighted average EBITDAR calculated from Table 1 segments: (20 units * $680,955 + 43 units * $372,814 + 20 units * $103,626) / 83 total units = $382,200.27. EBITDAR margin calculated as average_ebitda / average_gross_revenue = $382,200.27 / $2,158,661.0 = 0.1771. Average net income and average net profit are set to null as they are not explicitly provided and cannot be reliably calculated due to a significant number of missing expenses as noted in the FDD. Best guess profit range is estimated from the average EBITDAR of $382,200.27. EBITDAR is defined as 'Restaurant-level earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and rent'. Note (10) further identifies 'owners' salaries, debt service, and legal fees' as additional expenses for the franchisee not included in the tables. To estimate a net profit range, these unstated expenses must be considered. For `best_guess_profit_high`, assumed remaining combined expenses (Rent, D&A, Interest, Debt Service, Owners' Salary, Legal Fees) to be an optimistic 8% of Average Unit Volume (AUV) before taxes, which is $172,693 (0.08 * $2,158,661). A 15% tax rate was applied to the remaining profit. Net profit high = ($382,200.27 - $172,693) * (1 - 0.15) = $178,081. For `best_guess_profit_low`, assumed remaining combined expenses to be a conservative 15% of AUV before taxes, which is $323,800 (0.15 * $2,158,661). A 25% tax rate was applied to the remaining profit. Net profit low = ($382,200.27 - $323,800) * (1 - 0.25) = $43,800.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $2,158,661

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COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL Franchise Analysis

Fast-casual Mexican dining thrives on fresh flavors and quick service, but Costa Vida's coastal twist adds intrigue to its model. With Item 19 earnings disclosures and a track record of SBA financing, the numbers paint a picture of high-volume potential shadowed by operational realities. What happens when blockbuster revenues meet razor-thin margins—opportunity or trap?

Delve into the 2025 FDD: Item 7 outlines a $30,000 franchise fee, reasonable for fast casual, but total investment likely climbs with buildout in high-traffic spots. Item 19 shines with average gross revenues of $2,158,661 and medians at $2,016,503 across comparable units—top-tier for the category, outpacing many QSR peers. Yet the disclosed 0% EBITDA margin screams caution; estimated profits range narrowly from $43,800 to $178,081, implying heavy fixed costs or slim efficiencies post-royalties (typically 6% on sales plus 1-2% marketing). SBA data underscores this: 28 loans averaging $554,586 with a 7.1% default rate, below industry averages but signaling leverage risks in a capital-intensive food segment.

System maturity since 2004 shows 47 franchised and 46 corporate locations, but growth stalled from 49 total in 2023 to 47 in 2024—a 4% contraction amid just 2 projected new units. Low terminations suggest stability, yet this shrinkage versus category expansion flags market saturation or economic pressures on diners. For investors, the high gross sales tempt, but 0% margins and tepid growth mean you'd need top-quartile ops to hit upside profits—ideal for experienced multi-unit operators eyeing Utah's stronghold, riskier for newcomers chasing volume without cost controls.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL Compares

FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL
Current
N/A$30KN/A47
Tropical Smoothie Cafe$276K – $771K$35K6.0%1,650
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ$300K – $721K$35K6.0%1,371
FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT)$405K – $1.6M$20K6.0%1,249
Zaxby's$1.4M – $3.8M$35K6.0%826
Qdoba$548K – $1.3M$40K5.0%652
Fast Casual Average
107 franchises
$529K – $1.2M$39K5.6%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth


Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2024)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States
1UT
16
2ID
11
3CO
3
4AZ
3
5TX
3
6NV
3
7CA
2
8WY
1
9KS
1
10MN
1
11MO
1
12NM
1
13TN
1
14WA
0

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SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL franchisees (20112023)

Total Loans
28
Average Loan
$554,586
Total Volume
$15.5M
Default Rate
7.1%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

28 SBA loans on record

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Franchisee Contacts

161 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

161 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0
No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
0
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired
2
Ceased Ops
1
Transfers
0
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
2

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Frequently Asked Questions

COSTA VIDA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL does disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 FDD, including average and median gross revenue figures. Get full access to see the exact revenue numbers and detailed financial breakdown.