Taco Bell (Traditional)
Health Score
70 Our derived Health Score (1–100) = growth (30%) + fees (20%) + scale (20%) + transparency (15%) + data quality (15%) no_historical_revenue_data_item19_forecasts_onlyout_of_state_dispute_resolutionhigh_total_investment
Investment Range Total estimated initial investment from the FDD, including franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital.
$935K–$4.3M
Franchise Fee One-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor for the right to operate under their brand.
$25,000–$45,000
Royalty Ongoing fee paid to the franchisor, typically a percentage of gross revenue, paid weekly or monthly.
5.5%
Gross Sales (called 'Period Franchise Fee')
Total Units Total number of franchised and company-owned locations currently operating.
7,847
+2.2% growth
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Sample Size Number of franchise locations included in the financial performance data. Larger samples are more reliable.
346
Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31
Unit Growth
| Year | Total Units | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7,520 | — | — |
| 2023 | 7,681 | — | — |
| 2024 | 7,847 | — | — |
Other Ongoing Fees
| Fee | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| All Access Fee (technology/POS) | $$750/year per restaurant | annually |
| Digital Transaction Fee | $$0.19 per digital transaction | per transaction |
| Gift Card Transaction Fee | $$0.19 per gift card transaction | per transaction |
| Merchandising Fee | $$715/quarter | quarterly |
| Transfer Fee (3rd party, 1–5 units) | $$7,500 per transfer | upon transfer |
| Transfer Fee (3rd party, 6+ units) | $$1,500 per unit transferred | upon transfer |
| Transfer Fee (relationship/family transfer) | $Greater of non-relationship fee or $150,000 | upon transfer |
| Successor/Renewal Fee | $Greater of $22,500 or 50% of then-current IFF (Traditional Unit) | upon renewal |
Quick Facts
Fee Burden Combined percentage of gross revenue paid in ongoing fees (royalty + advertising/marketing fund).
10%
royalty + ad fund
Franchised Number of locations owned by independent franchisees, not the franchisor.
7,349
Company-Owned Locations owned directly by the franchisor. High ratios can signal corporate confidence — or difficulty selling franchises.
498
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Source: FDD filed in MN, 2025. Extracted 2026-04-05.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Taco Bell (Traditional) a franchise?
- Yes, Taco Bell (Traditional) is a franchise with 7,847 locations worldwide. Prospective owners purchase the right to operate under the Taco Bell (Traditional) brand and system by signing a franchise agreement and paying a franchise fee. The full terms are disclosed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- How much does it cost to open a Taco Bell (Traditional) franchise?
- The total initial investment for a Taco Bell (Traditional) franchise ranges from $935K to $4.3M, according to the 2025 FDD. This includes the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
- Does Taco Bell (Traditional) disclose franchise earnings?
- Taco Bell (Traditional) does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not publicly disclose revenue or earnings data for franchisees. Prospective buyers should request this information directly from existing franchisees listed in Item 20.
- How many Taco Bell (Traditional) franchise locations are there?
- As of the 2025 FDD, Taco Bell (Traditional) has 7,847 total units (+2.2% growth rate).