Taco Bell vs McDonald's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Taco Bell Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Investment $152,250 - $3,049,100$1,314,500 - $2,306,500
Franchise Fee $25,000 - $45,000$45,000
Royalty Fee 5.5%4%
Advertising Fee 4.25%4%+
Year Founded 19621955
Year Franchised 19641955
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Renewal Fee -$45K


Business Experience Requirements
 
Taco Bell Franchise
McDonald's Franchise
Experience Multi-unit Operations Background

Restaurant, retail and/or gas convenience experience

Geographically Desirable

Open to locate in a strategic market and have local market knowledge

Experience/skills

Run a successfull business, with p/l responsibility, and development experience

Team Builder

Experience in staffing and retaining employees, demonstrated leadership skills

A culture fit with taco bell

Commitment to world class operations with strong recognition mindset

Financial Strength

Minimum of $750,000 liquid assets and $1,500,000 net worth


  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		•

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

    Training & Support
     
    Taco Bell Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    Training Available at headquarters, Additional training available On-The-Job Training: 500 hours Classroom Training: 72 hours Additional Training: At local McDonald's restaurant
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluationsPurchasing 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 media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% 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
     
    Taco Bell Franchise
    McDonald's Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Taco Bell

    After leaving the Marine Corps at 23, Glen Bell came home to San Bernardino, California and opened a hot dog stand. But his real interest was in alternative menu items, so he began selling tacos for 19 cents from a side window of the hot dog stand. When the tacos proved as popular as he had hoped, he started opening Taco Tia stands where tacos were the stars of the menu. In 1962, Bell sold the Taco Tia brand to his partners and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey, California. Franchising began two years later. Taco Bell is the country's driving Mexican-propelled snappy administration eatery (QSR) mark. We serve made-to-request and adaptable tacos and burritos, among other craveable decisions, and are the primary QSR eatery to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA)- confirmed menu items. Taco Bell and our more than 350 establishment associations work over 6,500 eateries throughout the United States that gladly serve around 40 million clients consistently.

    Outside of our eateries, individuals can simply get to the Taco Bell mark through our Mobile Ordering and Payment App. In 2014, Taco Bell turned into the main QSR to dispatch a versatile application at eateries across the nation for both drive-through and feasting orders. Notwithstanding the portable application, individuals can arrange their most loved menu things by means of desktop on Ta.co or for conveyance through our association with DoorDash.

    While Taco Bell is fundamentally a U.S. mark, Yum! Brands managed to make it the Company's third worldwide brand. Outside the U.S., we have over 300 Taco Bell units in 24 nations, barring the Yum! China Division.

    The initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Taco Bell Express Unit ranges from $252,550 to $580,100 for a Custom Façade Unit, including $22,500 that must be paid to the licensor and $2,000 to $5,000 that must be paid to its affiliate for the first unit only.
    For a Power-Pumper or In-Line Unit, the total investment ranges from $345,950 to $701,100, including $22,500 that must be paid to the licensor and $3,500 to $5,000 that must be paid to its affiliate for the first unit only.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of an existing restaurant ranges from $152,250 to $1,766,250 or more, excluding real property, all of which must be paid to licensor or an affiliate.

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    #1 in Franchise 500 for 2021









    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.


    "Top   ""  "Entrepreneur

      "franchiserankingscom"                                                                                                                         
    #7 on Franchise Rankings.com                                                                                                                                                            
    #3 in Canada's top franchises.
    #3 in Franchise 500 for 2020
    #11 in Franchise 500 for 2021