TACO JOHN'S
Taco John’s International, Inc. franchises restaurants specializing in Mexican-inspired fast food, such as tacos and other traditional and cross-ethnic menu items, offered for dine-in, carryout, or drive-thru service. The business model involves granting single-unit franchises or area development rights to operate under the Taco John’s trademarks, recipes, and standardized restaurant system, including traditional (freestanding, endcap, drive-thru) and non-traditional locations. Their target market includes consumers seeking quick-service Mexican cuisine in various settings across 22 states.
Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.
Overview
Financial Requirements
5% royalty + 4% ad fund
Franchise Stats
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 312 franchised Taco John's Restaurants with drive-thru windows that operated for all of calendar year 2024 and reported their sales to us through our approved Point of Sale System (or an alternative reporting method that we believe to be accurate and have approved) for all of calendar year 2024.
* Weighted average gross revenue calculated from Chart 1 (259 units x $1,260,416), Chart 2 (28 units x $1,055,405), and Chart 3 (25 units x $982,531) divided by total 312 units. Weighted average median gross revenue calculated from Chart 1 (259 units x $1,185,932), Chart 2 (28 units x $1,039,332), and Chart 3 (25 units x $883,168) divided by total 312 units. Weighted average revenue top quartile calculated from Chart 1 (65 units x $1,881,809), Chart 2 (7 units x $1,472,820), and Chart 3 (6 units x $1,506,199) divided by total 78 top quartile units. Weighted average revenue bottom quartile calculated from Chart 1 (64 units x $771,452), Chart 2 (7 units x $714,016), and Chart 3 (7 units x $643,610) divided by total 78 bottom quartile units. The document explicitly states that it does not provide information on profits, earnings, or expenses (Note 8 on page 4), therefore all profit-related fields are null.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How TACO JOHN'S Compares to Other Fast Food Franchises
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TACO JOHN'S Current | N/A | $40K | 5.0% | 333 |
| Burger King | $2.1M - $4.7M | $50K | 4.5% | 19,732 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M - $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| AFC | $45K - $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.7M - $3.1M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,441 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | $366K - $728K | $35K | 6.0% | 2,647 |
Fast Food Average 127 franchises | $605K - $1.5M | $35K | 6.1% | - |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 127 Fast Food 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
+9 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for TACO JOHN'S franchisees (2010 - 2025)
Loans by Year
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Arbitration action brought by franchisor against franchisees and guarantors to collect royalty payments.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
Christopher & Banks Corporation (prior employer of CFO Richard Bundy) filed Chapter 11 on January 13, 2021.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much revenue does a TACO JOHN'S franchise make?
According to the 2025 FDD, the average gross revenue for a TACO JOHN'S franchise is $1,219,751.15. The median revenue is $1,148,515.65.
How many TACO JOHN'S franchise locations are there?
As of the 2025 FDD, TACO JOHN'S has 333 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1969.
Can you get an SBA loan for a TACO JOHN'S franchise?
Yes, SBA loans are available for TACO JOHN'S franchises. Historical data shows 22 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for TACO JOHN'S franchisees, with an average loan amount of $523,409. The historical default rate is 0.0%.
Is TACO JOHN'S a good franchise to buy?
TACO JOHN'S shows several positive indicators: established brand with 333+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.
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