FDD-based analysis. Item-level data. No franchisor input.
Taco John's franchises single-unit restaurants, and multi-unit development rights, for Taco John's Restaurants that prepare and sell mainly Mexican food featuring a wide variety of traditional and cross-ethnic menu items for dine-in, carryout, or drive-thru purchase. As of December 31, 2025, there were 327 Taco John's Restaurant units, including 316 franchised and 11 company-owned and operated locations. Taco John's offers two formats, traditional restaurants built as freestanding buildings, mall endcap locations, or drive-thru-focused DT Digital Ole buildings, and non-traditional restaurants placed in venues such as airports, travel plazas, hospitals, college campuses, and convention centers where dining is not the visitor's primary purpose.
Source: Entrepreneur 2026 ranking/profile data and Franchise Disclosure Document, rewritten by Zorzee
Every value here comes straight from the FDD; anything not yet source-verified stays blank rather than estimated. The Pro figures and full interpretation unlock with a Pro membership.
Every data point Zorzee tracks for this brand, in FDD Item order. Missing source data stays blank; Pro-only interpretation remains locked.
| Item | Data Point | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 3 | Litigation Actions (total) | 1 action disclosed | FDD Item 3 |
| Item 5 | Initial Franchise Fee | The Initial Franchise Fee is $40,000. | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 5 | Development Fee | Under an Area Development Agreement, a non-refundable Development Fee of $5,000 multiplied by the number of Taco John's Restaurants to be developed, payable in a lump sum at ADA signing; $5,000 per Restaurant is later applied to the Initial Franchise Fee due under each Franchise Agreement. | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 6 | Royalty Fee | 5% of Net Sales, currently due monthly on the 20th; franchisor reserves the right to change payment frequency/due date on 60 days' notice. | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | National Media Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Corporate Ad & Development Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Total Ongoing Fee Burden | Pro | Calculated (Item 6) |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (low) | $811,400 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (high) | $2,034,250 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 8 | Required Purchases (food/supplies) | Pro | FDD Item 8 |
| Item 11 | Franchisor Assistance | Pro | FDD Item 11 |
| Item 12 | Exclusive Territory | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 12 | Territory Size | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 15 | Operating Participation | Pro | FDD Item 15 |
| Item 17 | Initial Term Length | Pro | FDD Item 17(a) |
| Item 17 | Renewal Terms | Pro | FDD Item 17(b)-(c) |
| Item 17 | Required Remodel at Renewal | Pro | FDD Item 17(c) |
| Item 17 | Termination Triggers | Pro | FDD Item 17(f)-(h) |
| Item 17 | Transfer Fee | Pro | FDD Item 17(m), Item 6 |
| Item 17 | ROFR Provisions | Pro | FDD Item 17(n) |
| Item 17 | Post-Termination Non-Compete | Pro | FDD Item 17(r) |
| Item 19 | Revenue Metric Disclosed | Pro | FDD Item 19 |
| Item 20 | Total Franchised Units (2025) | 316 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Company-Owned Units (2025) | 11 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Total System Net Unit Growth (YoY) | -41 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Terminations | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Agreements Signed, Not Yet Open | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 21 | Audited Financials | Pro | FDD Item 21 |
Each signal turns one part of the filing into a read a buyer can act on. Strength means the disclosed data is favorable. In Line means it is typical for the category. Deal-Specific means the term is populated but you still have to model it against your own deal. Concern means the disclosed data is a real risk. The read is free. The reasoning behind it is the Pro read.
Item 19 earnings data is disclosed for Taco John's. The unit sales or revenue metric itself remains locked in Pro; the caution below stays free.
Taco John's trajectory is shown only where source-backed. Missing Item 20 fields stay blank inside the locked layout instead of removing the section.
Source: FDD Item 20 where present. Total system units, franchised plus company-owned. Not financial advice.
1 action disclosed in FDD Item 3. Case-level detail remains locked in Pro.
Zorzee editorial. Independent analysis. No franchisor review or approval. Not financial advice.
The filing tells you what Taco John's costs to open. Pro adds the read on whether the numbers work for you, in your market, and whether this brand is a business or a job you bought.
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