Qdoba franchise
Qdoba is a fast-casual Mexican chain where customers build burritos, bowls and tacos from ingredients prepared in-house throughout the day, with queso and guacamole included at no extra charge. At the end of 2025 there were 827 Qdoba locations in the US, 652 franchised and 175 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $548K–$1.29M
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5%
- Locations, 2025
- 827+205 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1997
- First location
- 1995
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Qdoba Franchisor LLC’s 2025 filing.
How much a Qdoba franchise costs
Opening one traditional Qdoba restaurant, excluding real property and liquor licence costs an estimated $548,100 to $1,294,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| Non-traditional unit | $234,500 to $898,000 |
|---|
Source: Qdoba Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 24
Qdoba franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000, for a traditional unit ($20,000 for a non-traditional unit). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Qdoba Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 16
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|
Source: Qdoba Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 17
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Qdoba publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports sales growth and average net sales for franchised restaurants open fiscal 2023 to 2025. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Qdoba Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 59
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 571 (+124) | 176 | 16 |
| 2024 | 613 (+42) | 164 | 10 |
| 2025 | 652 (+39) | 175 | 18 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Qdoba Franchisor LLC, 2025 filing, page 63
How Qdoba compares
Of the 46 fast food franchises on this site, Qdoba is the 20th cheapest to open and the 28th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Qdoba | Typical fast food |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $548K | $701K |
| Royalty | 5% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 2.8% | 2% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +45.9% | +6.3% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 39 of 46 |
Typical is the median across the 46 brands in fast food franchises.
Other fast food franchises
Qdoba franchise questions
Does Qdoba help with financing?
No. Qdoba does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Qdoba franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Qdoba grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Qdoba can open nearby.
How long is a Qdoba franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Qdoba growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 249 franchised locations opened and 44 closed or left, a net change of +45.9%. About 2.8% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2% typical for fast food franchises.
How does Qdoba compare with other fast food franchises?
Of the 46 fast food franchises here, Qdoba is the 20th cheapest to open (low end $548K against a $701K median) and the 28th largest by number of locations. Its 5% royalty is in line with the 5% median.
Does Qdoba say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports sales growth and average net sales for franchised restaurants open fiscal 2023 to 2025. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Qdoba based?
Qdoba has sold franchises since 1997; the first location opened in 1995.