How Much Does It Cost to Open a Taziki's Franchise? (2026 Guide)
According to Taziki’s 2026 FDD, opening a Taziki's Mediterranean Café franchise typically costs between $567,000 to $1.2 million in total start-up costs, including a $35,000 initial franchise fee. Franchise partners pay a 4% royalty and a 0.75% general marketing fundcontribution. To qualify as a franchise group, we look for $1.5 million in net worth and $500,000 in liquid assets. Here is what those numbers cover, how they compare and what happens between your first call and your ribbon-cutting.
We've been serving fresh Mediterranean food since Keith and Amy Richards opened the first Taziki's in Birmingham, Alabama in 1998. Today we have over 100 restaurants across 19 states. We know that "what does it cost?" is the first serious question every prospective partner asks, so here is a straight answer.
Taziki's Franchise Costs at a Glance
Total start-up costs: $567K – $1.2M (see our Investment page)
Average total FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment): $160K – $210K
Initial franchise fee: $35,000 for your first location, with a $5,000 discount on each additional unit
Multi-unit deposit: $5,000 for each additional planned unit
Application fee: None
Royalty: 4%
General marketing fund: 0.75%
Net worth / liquidity: $1.5M net worth, $500K liquid
Typical timeline: 9–12 months from application to ribbon-cutting
All figures come from our Investment and FAQ pages, which reflect our 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The FDD always has the final say, so be sure to review it in full. Reach out to agarmezy@tazikis.com to get access.
What Drives the Range in Start-Up Costs?
A spread from roughly $567,000 to $1.2 million can look wide. The difference usually comes down to real estate and construction rather than anything about the Taziki's model itself. The biggest variables are:
Site type and condition. A second-generation restaurant space needs far less work than a raw shell or a new freestanding build.
Local construction and labor costs. These vary from market to market.
Size and layout. Dining room seating, patio space and drive-thru or pickup features all affect build-out.
Equipment and FF&E. On average this runs $160,000–$210,000 and covers the kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, etc.
Our Real Estate team works alongside you through site approval and architectural plan approval. That way you go into a lease or build with a clear picture of the investment.
Ongoing Fees: Why a 4% Royalty Matters
Start-up cost is only half the equation. Ongoing fees shape your margins every month for the life of the agreement. At Taziki's, partners pay a 4% royalty and 0.75% to the general marketing fund.
For comparison, Nick the Greek's 2026 FDD lists a 6% royalty plus a 2% marketing fee, and many fast-casual systems charge in that range. We encourage every candidate to compare Item 6 across the FDDs they're reviewing. A lower ongoing fee structure leaves more of each sales dollar working for your business and your team.
What Do Taziki's Restaurants Earn?
We publish financial performance information in Item 19 of our FDD. Our 2026 FDD includes 96 reporting restaurants:
Franchised restaurants averaged roughly $1.88 million in annual net sales.
Affiliate-operated restaurants averaged roughly $2.21 million.
Multi-unit markets averaged roughly $2.16 million.
You can read more in our post on the release of our 2026 FDD.
These are historical averages, not a guarantee. Individual results vary. Review Item 19 in full, including how many restaurants met or exceeded each average and the underlying assumptions, before making any investment decision. Our FDD is available upon completion of our application.
Who Qualifies to Own a Taziki's?
Beyond the $1.5 million net worth and $500,000 liquidity requirements, we look for partners who bring:
Restaurant experience on the team. Multi-unit or franchise experience is preferred, and it can come from an operating partner.
A vision for a local market. We ask every candidate the same opening question: what is your vision for developing your market?
A real passion for hospitality. Our Culture Compass (Connection, Challenge, Collaboration, Details and Fresh) hangs in every restaurant, and we want partners who will live it.
Full details are on our Qualifications page.
Financing a Taziki's Franchise
Taziki's doesn't offer direct financing or guarantee loans. We are an approved SBA franchise, and we share a preferred lender list during the process. Many partners pair SBA lending with their own liquid capital. A lender who knows restaurant franchising can help you weigh your options against the investment ranges above.
Single Unit or Multi-Unit?
Multi-unit development is becoming the standard for medium and larger markets. Our area agreements are drawn around each market's population, demographics and density, often along county lines. That's also where our strongest numbers have come from: in our 2026 FDD, multi-unit markets averaged about $2.16 million in annual net sales. If you're looking at more than one restaurant, the $5,000-per-unit discount on additional franchise fees helps too. Explore the 18 priority markets we're focused on, including Oklahoma City, Houston, Orlando, Austin, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C., on our Availability page.
From Inquiry to Grand Opening: What to Expect
Inquiry and application. You'll have a discovery call, submit your application and review the FDD.
Financial review. You share personal financial statements, operator résumés and your business plan.
Discovery and approval. You visit us in Birmingham, Alabama, or Nashville, Tennessee. While you're here, you meet our Operations, Training, Marketing, Real Estate, Purchasing and Accounting teams, tour a training store and share a meal with us.
Securing your market. Our Development Team guides you through due diligence and signing.
Training, support and grand opening. We support you through site and plan approval, vendor introductions, management training, PR, marketing and grand opening planning.
Most partners move from application to ribbon-cutting in 12-18 months. You can see each step on our Process page.
Why Mediterranean, and Why Taziki's?
Guests are looking for food that feels fresh and good for them, and Mediterranean fits. Our menu has stayed true to what Keith and Amy started in 1998:
scratch-made dips like hummus and taziki
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup made in-house
grilled Feasts and Kýpelos bowls
Family Feasts that serve four to six
Behind the food is a franchise system built for the long run. We have more than 25 years of brand history, a culture recognized in our industry (including being named one of QSR's 7 Franchisors to Watch for 2026), and a model designed with multi-unit growth in mind.
Take the Next Step
If the numbers fit your plans and the culture fits your values, we'd love to talk. Request information to start the conversation. You can also review the full investment breakdown or see which markets are available near you. Our development team is also available at (205) 855-2654.
This information is not an offer to sell a franchise. An offer can be made only by means of a Franchise Disclosure Document.
