Taco John's vs Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Taco John's vs Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Taco John's Franchise
Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise
Investment $475,000 - $1,599,000$264,500 - $454,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 4%-
Year Founded 19681992
Year Franchised 19691999
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1015 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1015 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Taco John's Franchise
Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesYes/No
    Equipment No/YesYes/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicksCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations 37% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 66% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Taco John's

    The story of Taco John's sounds more like a legend than the history of a business. In Cheyenne, Wyoming, a man named Juan opened a tiny taco house, serving uniquely seasoned and generously sized tacos and burritos. An immediate hit with the locals, the taco house was quickly purchased by local businessmen Harold Holmes and Jim Woodson in 1969. Renamed Taco John's, it began selling franchises right away and now has restaurants across America. The privately held company is still based in Cheyenne.

    "Entrepreneur

    #115 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #315 in Franchise 500 for 2021.


    About Desert Moon-Fresh Mexican Grille

    During a visit to Arizona, founder Kevin Rink fell in love with the area's Southwestern cuisine and decided to bring it back with him to New York. The company opened its first cafe in the Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown Heights, New York. The restaurants serve traditional as well as nontraditional Mexican fare at establishments throughout the East Coast.