Cookout vs Taco Bell Franchise Cost 2026
Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. Taco Bell runs $575K–$3.4M. The gap at midpoint: $1.1M.
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.1M
Cookout costs less
Taco Bell
$575K–$3.4M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cookout | Taco Bell | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $500K–$1.2M | $575K–$3.4M | Cookout |
| Franchise Fee | $0 | $45,000 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 5.5% | Cookout |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.25% | Cookout |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $1.5M | Cookout |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $750K | Cookout |
| Est. Break-Even | 2.8 yr | 46.1 yr | Cookout |
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
Taco Bell Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $575K–$3.4M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.9M
Bottom Line
Cookout costs $1.1M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cookout also wins on royalty rate.