Taco John's vs Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Taco John's vs Diamond Dave'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
Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Investment $475,000 - $1,599,000$189,000 - $325,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$15,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee 4%-
Year Founded 19681979
Year Franchised 19691980
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1010 years+
Term Of Agreement 20 years+10+10+1010 years+
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Taco John's Franchise
Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesYes/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesYes/No
    Equipment No/YesYes/No
    Inventory No/YesYes/No
    Receivables No/NoYes/Yes
    Payroll No/NoYes/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Diamond Dave'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, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicksAd slicks
    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)

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    Taco John's Franchise
    Diamond Dave'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 Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants

    Native Texan Warren David Cohen founded Diamond Dave's Mexican Restaurants in 1979. Wanting to share the Tex-Mex cuisine of his childhood with families in the Midwest, Cohen created the restaurant chain that by 2000 had more than 30 locations.

    Diamond Dave's restaurants serve Mexican favorites like quesadillas, tacos and chimichangas as well as salads, hamburgers and sirloin steak.