Moe’s Southwest Grill
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 2001 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Atlanta, GA United States Source: franchise.org
Moe's Southwest Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise serving Southwestern-style food. The menu includes burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos and stacks, with catering available at selected locations.
Headline figures
Moe’s Southwest Grill quick facts
- Is Moe’s Southwest Grill a franchise?
- Yes. Moe’s Southwest Grill offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 563 franchised and 5 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 85).
- How much does it cost to open a Moe’s Southwest Grill franchise?
- The Moe’s Southwest Grill Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $644,425 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 43). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Moe’s Southwest Grill initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $7,500 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 29). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Moe’s Southwest Grill charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 1% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 31). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Moe’s Southwest Grill disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Moe’s Southwest Grill FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 83). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Moe’s Southwest Grill locations are there?
- The FDD reports 568 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 85). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Moe’s Southwest Grill a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $644,425 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 5 separate groups: other measures for 116 Franchised locations; other measures for 464 Franchised locations; other measures for 116 Franchised locations; other measures for 116 Franchised locations; other measures for 116 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets declined by 28 in 2025, to 568 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Moe’s Southwest Grill head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 43
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- OTHER FEES Type of Fee 1 Amount Date Due Remarks Royalty Fee — 5%Main ongoing fee
78 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
5 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
116 locations
Other measures · 116 locations
- Who is counted
- Traditional eligiblefranchises Top Quartile
- Period
- median netsales
- Excluded
- Nontraditional,cobranded,affiliate,non52weekeligibleexcluded;11noneligibleincl5new;33permanentclosures>=12months;0reacquired. Noexpense/profitdata.
- Method
- Franchiseereportsunaudited/unverified. Tabletotal464vsnote463of474(97.7%) conflict retained;205attainingtotal asprinted. Netsales definitionPDF83–84.
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 85
Net −44 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($644,425) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units decreased from 596 to 568 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 43
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 29
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional eligiblefranchises Top Quartile · PDF p. 83
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional eligiblefranchises Total · PDF p. 83
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional eligiblefranchises 3rd Quartile · PDF p. 83
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional eligiblefranchises Bottom Quartile · PDF p. 83
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional eligiblefranchises 2nd Quartile · PDF p. 83
- [8]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 85
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
749 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | restricted cash - securitization | $8,082 |
| 2025 | cash and cash equivalents | $325 |
| 2025 | intercompany payables | $3,278 |
| 2025 | assets held for lease, net | $61 |
| 2025 | long-term other liabilities | $124 |
| 2025 | total member's equity | $284,502 |
| 2025 | income tax expense | $2,438 |
| 2025 | fees and expenses management fee to gtfl | $51,924 |
| 2025 | income before income tax expense | $268,206 |
| 2025 | net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash - securitization | $2,062 |
| 2025 | accrued expenses and other liabilities | -$1,129 |
| 2025 | deferred revenue | $2,000 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.