What information is required to be submitted to Del Taco for location review and acceptance?
Del_Taco Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Location Selection and Opening
We grant each franchise for a specific location. You select the proposed location for your Restaurant. We generally do not own the real estate for your location and lease it to you. You must submit the proposed location to us for our review and acceptance, together with all information we request relating to the location. After our receipt of the complete package, we may visit the proposed location at our sole discretion. Although we are under no obligation to, we may visit a proposed location with you prior to our receipt of the complete package; however, no site will be considered for acceptance or rejection until a complete package has been submitted and reviewed. We will send you written acceptance or rejection of the location within 45 days after our receipt of all relevant information. If we do not receive all relevant information within a maximum of 60 days after your initial submission of the location for our acceptance, you should consider the location rejected. The failure to obtain our approval for an acceptable location in a timely fashion will result in the termination of the Franchise Agreement.
For nontraditional locations, we may provide you with kitchen design options, image and operational specifications and various other standards, but we will not provide you with prototypical plans.
The review process largely depends on the time it takes you to submit a complete package. It generally takes 45 to 60 days but may take longer in certain instances. The factors that we consider in approving your location include the property's location, the general character and population density of the neighborhood, demographic characteristics, traffic patterns, lot size and configuration, parking accommodations and ratios established by local zoning ordinances, competition from other businesses and access and visibility of the property from adjoining roads or highways.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 31–38)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Del Taco's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a prospective franchisee must submit a proposed location for their Restaurant to Del Taco for review and acceptance. This submission must include all information Del Taco requests relating to the location. After Del Taco receives the complete package, they may visit the proposed location at their discretion. However, no site will be considered for acceptance or rejection until a complete package has been submitted and reviewed.
Del Taco will provide written acceptance or rejection of the location within 45 days after receiving all relevant information. If all relevant information is not received within 60 days after the initial submission, the location is considered rejected. Failure to obtain approval for an acceptable location in a timely manner can result in the termination of the Franchise Agreement.
The factors that Del Taco considers in approving a location include the property's location, the general character and population density of the neighborhood, demographic characteristics, traffic patterns, lot size and configuration, parking accommodations and ratios established by local zoning ordinances, competition from other businesses, and access and visibility of the property from adjoining roads or highways. Del Taco may also require a Trade Area Survey Analysis and a business impact payment to an existing franchisee if the proposed location is within a specified proximity of an existing restaurant and is anticipated to have a specified business impact upon the existing restaurant.