Taco Cabana
Franchise research report · reviewed 2025 disclosure data
Researching Taco Cabana franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Taco Cabana franchise specializes in fresh Tex-Mex cuisine served in a fast-casual restaurant setting, known for its made-from-scratch approach and vibrant atmo
Headline figures
Taco Cabana quick facts
- Is Taco Cabana a franchise?
- Yes. Taco Cabana offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 6 franchised and 140 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53).
- How much does it cost to open a Taco Cabana franchise?
- The Taco Cabana Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,334,500 for development chart total lower estimate excluding land (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 19); $1,266,500 for total single restaurant investment lower estimate excluding land (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Taco Cabana charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 11). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 3% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Taco Cabana disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Taco Cabana FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2025 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 52). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Taco Cabana locations are there?
- The FDD reports 146 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Taco Cabana 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
- 1The 2025 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,334,500 (Development chart total lower estimate excluding land); $1,266,500 (Total single Restaurant investment lower estimate excluding land); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 6 separate groups: revenue and other measures for 75 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations; revenue and other measures for 36 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations; revenue and other measures for 108 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations; revenue and other measures for 143 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations; revenue and other measures for 143 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations; revenue and other measures for 143 Parent/predecessor-operated company restaurants locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets declined by 3 in 2024, to 146 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Taco Cabana 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
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2025 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total single Restaurant investment lower estimate excluding landPDF p. 17$1,266,500
- Development chart total lower estimate excluding landPDF p. 19$1,334,500
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Weekly royalty on Gross SalesMain ongoing fee
21 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?
6 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
75 locations
Revenue and other measures · 75 locations
- Who is counted
- Top 50% company restaurants
- Excluded
- Six franchised restaurants provided no financial data
- Method
- Unaudited; uniform accounting methods consistent with GAAP; gross sales excludes paid sales taxes, refunds, used equipment, authorized promotions and employee discounts.
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 2024 of each year.
2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53
Net −3 outlets, 2022–2024
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 2024 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 2025 Item 7 estimate ($1,266,500 – $1,334,500) 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 149 to 146 in 2024. 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 (2025 FDD)
- [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 50% company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 25% company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 75% company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — High company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Median company restaurants · PDF p. 52
- [7]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 53
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | accounts receivableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $84,803 |
| 2024 | total current assets | $647,740 |
| 2024 | intangible assets, net | $137,373 |
| 2024 | retained earnings | $285,113 |
| 2024 | total stockholder's equity | $785,113 |
| 2024 | total liabilities and stockholder's equity | $785,113 |
| 2024 | royalty revenue | $741,061 |
| 2024 | advertising fund revenue | $154,051 |
| 2024 | general and administrative | $181,715 |
| 2024 | total operating expenses | $181,715 |
| 2024 | net income | $713,397 |
| 2024 | accounts payable and accrued liabilities | -$5,250 |
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.