Taco John's vs Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Taco John's Franchise
Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Investment $475,000 - $1,599,000$207,000 - $652,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$10,000 - $15,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee 4%-
Year Founded 19681967
Year Franchised 19691967
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1020 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1020 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Taco John's Franchise
Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicksCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, 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)

    		 Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

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

    Expansion Plans
     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Pepe's Mexican Restaurants 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 Pepe's Mexican Restaurants

    Pepe's concept began in 1954 as a taqueria in Chicago. Pepe's Incorporated has been franchising Pepe's Mexican Restaurants since 1967. Pepe's prepares and serves a full menu of Mexican food items for dining-in or carryout. It also operates a 57,000 square foot U.S. commissary where it produces food products for its franchised restaurants and its branded product program. The branded product program sells food products to schools, factories, and office cafeterias, as well as the U.S. Military for use at military bases in the United States and abroad.