Cilantro Taco Grill^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

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What Is Cilantro Taco Grill?

Cilantro Taco Grill is a fast-casual franchise offering authentic Mexican cuisine such as tacos, burritos, salads, and tortas. Franchised businesses provide dine-in and take-out services and, after three months of operation and with the franchisor's prior written approval, may offer catering and delivery. With the franchisor's approval and subject to applicable laws and permits, restaurants may also sell beer and wine. Typical locations are high-traffic sites including strip mall complexes, shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and free-standing locations.

Cilantro Taco Grill Franchise: Pros and Cons

A standout strength is its training score of 100 (top quarter), showing unusually strong onboarding and ongoing support, but the system is very early-stage with zero franchised units (bottom 5%), which makes peer benchmarking and due diligence difficult; it also reports zero disclosed lawsuits and 0% manager-required equity.

Pros

Training and support score of 100 (top quarter) - well above typical, which means you'll get unusually strong onboarding and ongoing operational support as you launch and scale.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and zero government penalties - well below typical for Food & Beverage - indicating a clean legal and regulatory record that reduces compliance and administrative friction.

No manager-required equity (0%) - well below typical - gives you flexibility to structure manager pay and ownership without a franchisor-mandated stake.

Cons

Zero franchised units (bottom 5%) - well below typical - the system is very early-stage, so you won't have existing franchisees to interview and will be among the first operators, which makes practical due diligence and peer benchmarking difficult.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

Cilantro Taco Grill reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

35/100

NORMAL

Cilantro Taco Grill grants a site-specific protected Territory defined after site approval and scaled to market density that allows exclusive operation within those boundaries during the term. Rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas and development schedules; the franchisor may sell via alternative channels and open nearby units without right of first refusal.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

Cilantro Taco Grill provides a comprehensive 126-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site operational readiness and launch support; franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging, living expenses, and any additional fees associated with on-site assistance.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Cilantro Taco Grill Franchise?

Opening a Cilantro Taco Grill franchise requires a total initial investment of $273,000 to $730,800, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$273,000

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$730,800

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$35,000

Real Estate$115,000

Equipment & Assets$78,000

Reserves$25,000

Training$1,500

Other$18,500

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$44,000

Real Estate$330,000

Equipment & Assets$222,000

Reserves$100,000

Training$8,800

Other$26,000

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Cilantro Taco Grill Franchise Owners Make?

Cilantro Taco Grill franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,441,658 and median gross sales of $1,068,976 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$1,441,658

Median Gross Sales:

$1,068,976

High Gross Sales:

$2,656,918

Low Gross Sales:

$807,971

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

38.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Only affiliate-owned outlet data are provided for 2023, so no direct comparison to franchised-unit performance is possible; the affiliate outlets averaged about 1.44 million in gross sales.

Performance Variability Analysis: Performance varies materially across outlets, with 2023 gross sales ranging from 807,970.83 to 2,656,917.84 and only 5 of 13 outlets exceeding the average, indicating a skewed distribution.

Data Scope and Limitations: The sample is small (13 affiliate-owned locations) and these outlets differ from franchised outlets in fees and marketing obligations, so results may not predict franchisee outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cilantro Taco Grill a good franchise to own?

Whether Cilantro Taco Grill is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Cilantro Taco Grill operates 15 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Cilantro Taco Grill franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Cilantro Taco Grill franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $273,000 to $730,800. Cilantro Taco Grill disclosed average gross sales of $1,441,658 in 2024. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Cilantro Taco Grill franchise?

Break-even timelines for Cilantro Taco Grill franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Cilantro Taco Grill a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Cilantro Taco Grill operates 0 franchised locations and 15 company-owned locations. Cilantro Taco Grill currently operates as a predominantly company-owned system, though franchise opportunities are being offered through the FDD.

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