What's Our Franchise Development Schedule?

Thinking about opening a Del Taco franchise? Then you've likely encountered our requirement for a three to five store minimum commitment in new markets.

This naturally leads to the question: "Do I have to open all those restaurants in the first year?"

If you're considering this, you're not alone. Let's break down our development schedule and clarify the timeline for opening your Del Taco locations.

Del Taco Development Schedule

When you sign a multi-store development agreement with most franchise brands, including Del Taco, you'll be provided with a development schedule. Think of this as a roadmap and timeline for your store openings. It outlines the expected dates for each store launch, giving you a clear picture of your obligations.

At Del Taco, you'll receive a detailed copy of this timeline. To further illustrate, let's walk through typical development schedules for both a three-store and a five-store commitment.

Three-Store Development Schedule

• Store 1: 18 months from the date you sign your development agreement.

• Store 2: After that 18 months for Store 1, you have 12 additional months to open Store 2.
• Store 3: At the end of the 12 months Store 2, you have 12 additional months to open Store 3.

In summary, your development timeline for three stores will be a total of 42 months.

If you have signed a Development Agreement and you will not be able to timely meet your development
schedule, provided that you are in full compliance with all agreements with us, you may request to extend
the development period for a particular Restaurant for one period of twelve (12) months, by: (i) providing
us with six (6) months’ advance written notice of such request, and (ii) paying a non-refundable $5,000
extension fee (“Extension Fee”) at least ten (10) days prior to the expiration of the original development
schedule. Please see our FDD for more information.

Five-Store Development Schedule

• Store 1: 18 months from the date you sign your development agreement.
• Store 2: After that 18 months for Store 1, you have 12 additional months to open Store 2.
• Stores 3 & 4: At the end of the 12 months for Store 2, you have 12 additional months to open Store 3 & 4.
• Store 5: At the end of the 12 months Stores 3 & 4, you have 12 additional months to open Store 5.

In summary, your development timeline for five stores will be a total of 54 months.

Putting the Timeline in Perspective

As you can see, a five-store development schedule typically spans a little less than five years. This structured approach allows you to strategically plan and execute your franchise expansion, rather than rushing to open all locations within a single year.

Key Takeaways

• Del Taco requires a three to five store minimum commitment in new markets.
• You are provided with a development schedule outlining the timeline for store openings.
• The schedules are designed to allow for a phased approach to opening multiple locations.
• Opening multiple stores happens over multiple years, and not all in the first year.

Check Out These Additional Resources

We hope this article and video gave you a better understanding of our development schedule.

At Del Taco, we work with our franchisees every step of the way to get their restaurants up and running.

Here are some additional online resources you may like to check out:

• How Much Does a Del Taco Franchise Cost?
• 15 Best Taco Franchises to Own
• Which Taco Franchise Makes the Most Money?

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Del Taco franchise team.