The Taco Maker vs McDonald's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Taco Maker vs McDonald's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
The Taco Maker Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Investment $221,000 - $400,000$1,314,500 - $2,306,500
Franchise Fee $19,000 - $29,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee -4%+
Year Founded 19781955
Year Franchised 19781955
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years20 years
Renewal Fee $5K$45K


Business Experience Requirements
 
The Taco Maker Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    The Taco Maker Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    The Taco Maker Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing Co-op advertising, National mediaCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 35

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 82% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    The Taco Maker Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About The Taco Maker

    After gaining valuable experience in successfully developing a large franchise system, Gil L. Craig founded
    The Taco Maker Inc. in 1968. Based in Ogden, Utah, The Taco Maker franchise system has locations in the United States, Latin America, Western Europe, and the Far and Middle East. Franchise sites include traditional freestanding buildings and mall food courts as well as the Express program, which complements
    The Taco Maker's co-branding relationship with companies including Blimpie and selected service station chains. Now seeking motivated, outgoing individuals looking to franchise and become a part of a fast growing community. We offer a winning combination of food brands that include The Taco Maker, Jake's Over the Top, and Mayan Juice - all available as part of the same outlet. We have locations in a variety of outlet types, with design formats to meet almost every need. Our facilities are designed to reflect specific motifs with state-of-the-art materials and equipment. All of this sets us apart from the competition. The creation of fine foods starts with kitchen and production lines that are clean and organized in such a way as to encourage efficiency and minimize waste. Franchise Opportunities are Available! The diversity of our multiple-brand outlets makes them the most successful opportunities available. Single-concept outlets are available when restrictive elements exist because of covenants or prior exclusivity on competing products. We have the ability to go into spaces from 400 square feet to 3500 square feet in traditional freestanding units, convenience stores, shopping malls, food courts, airports, and in-line strip centers, all of which have all proven their success.

    About McDonald's

    Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, ventured to California in 1954 to visit McDonald's hamburger stand, where he heard they were running eight mixers at once. Kroc was impressed by how rapidly customers were served and, seeing an opportunity to sell many more milkshake machines, encouraged brothers Dick and Mac McDonald to open a chain of their restaurants. Kroc became their business partner and opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.
    McDonald's brand is in 122 countries around the world. Thirty thousand locations serve 51 million customers each day. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent local business people. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The Drive-Thru, Auto-Mac, or McDrive as it is known in many countries, often has separate stations for placing, paying for, and picking up orders, though the former two steps are frequently combined. In some countries "McDrive" locations near highways offer no counter service or seating. In contrast, locations in high-density city neighborhoods often omit drive-through service.


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    #11 in Franchise 500 for 2021