Taco Palace vs Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Taco Palace 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 Palace Franchise
Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Investment $53,200 - $133,100$207,000 - $652,000
Franchise Fee $33,950$10,000 - $15,000
Royalty Fee 0-4%4%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19851967
Year Franchised 19961967
Term Of Agreement 1 year+20 years
Term Of Agreement 1 year+20 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Taco Palace Franchise
Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    Taco Palace Franchise
    Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
    Training --
    Support Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Ad slicksCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 12

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% 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 Palace Franchise
    Pepe's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Taco Palace

    Husband-and-wife team Larry and Sandi Faria bought Taco Palace from Kirk Davison in 1985. The Farias had previously owned a pair of Chevron Oil Co. franchises and brought to Taco Palace 16 years of franchise experience. In developing Taco Palace's franchise program, the Farias were driven by the goal to develop a franchisee-friendly system. Taco Palace franchisees are not required to pay a franchise fee and are strongly encouraged to rent or lease an existing building and then dress it up, rather than construct a new one, a practice that helps to lessen start-up costs. The privately held company is headquartered in Monett, Missouri, and has a co-branding relationship with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

    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.