Del Taco Available Territories

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which Territories Are Available to Open My Del Taco?

  Del Taco is based out of beautiful Orange County, California and has had a long and prosperous track record of opening successful stores in the Western region of the United States. In recent years, Del Taco has successfully opened new markets in states including Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Michigan etc. and is looking to carry on this tremendous momentum in selected markets throughout the United States. We are currently looking for capable, franchise partners to bring our superior product to markets where there is a need for a fresher alternative for Mexican fast food.

• Does Del Taco Help Me Find Real Estate?

  Whether you decide on a new free-standing building or a conversion of an existing building, we have flexible restaurant footprints to help you gain access to many real estate opportunities. Del Taco has a sophisticated in-house Real Estate Department that works hand in hand with franchisees and preferred commercial brokers. This team will work to create a market plan map and identify key trade areas to ultimately find suitable real estate locations for each future Del Taco. Through sophisticated site selection and market planning support, as well as an in-house construction and design team, we support you every step of the way.

• Will Del Taco Help Build My Restaurant?

  Yes! Franchisees are assigned a Construction Manager who will support them throughout the construction process.

• Can I Use My Own Real Estate Broker?

  Yes, we allow franchisees to use their own real estate brokers with several exceptions. For all third-party brokers and agents, we require an internal vetting process with our Real Estate Leadership Team to ensure they have the experience required to find and identify commercial real estate that meets the standards for Del Taco franchise restaurants.

• Do I Have to Live in the Market Where I Build My Stores?

  Today's competitive quick-serve restaurant industry calls for ownership groups with strong restaurant operational backgrounds. To qualify, your group must have at least one person with recent multi-unit restaurant operations experience and the ability and desire to enrich people’s lives through exceptional customer service, guest experience, and employee satisfaction. This operating partner must live in the market and have at least a 10% ownership in the Del Taco operations.

• How Does Del Taco Find Locations to Build Restaurants?

  We use a multi-pronged approach to help you find real estate for your markets. Our team can give you a comprehensive market analysis utilizing various tools. This will give you a better understanding of options to build your restaurant.

  • Industry Leading GIS Software: We utilize sophisticated GIS software to help identify potential market points using dozens of data points to narrow down your search for great potential locations.

  • Boots-on-the-Ground: Additionally, we also employ a traditional "boots on the ground" approach by having our internal Real Estate Development Managers visit markets to confirm what our GIS software shows as potential locations.

  • Leveraging Third Parties: In some cases, we will work with third-party brokers to provide additional insights to expand on our digital and physical site identification tools.

  At Del Taco, we are here to support you with all your real estate needs.

• Does Del Taco Offer Non-Traditional Franchise Locations?

  Yes, we do! Our flexible design allows us to adapt our model to fit in areas such as stadiums, airports, college campuses, and many others!

• What Are the Site Requirements to Build a Del Taco?

  From high school seniors to senior citizens, Del Taco has broad appeal in communities with these characteristics:

  • Population: 35,000+ residential population with 10,000+ daytime population in primary trade area

  • Median Household Income: $40,000 – $100,000

  • Age Groups: Prefer areas with higher concentrations of 18 – 49-year-olds

  • Ethnicity: Menu appeals to broad consumer audience

  • Traffic: Minimum 25,000+ cars per day at intersection

• Does Del Taco Own the Real Estate or Can I Purchase My Own?

  As a franchisee, you will be required to purchase or lease the property where your restaurants are located. We have an entire real estate and leasing team here to help you find available real estate and assist with lease negotiations.