Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Costa Vida Franchise

Costa Vida is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise founded in 2003 in Layton, Utah, built around coastal Baja-inspired cuisine. The menu centers on made-from-scratch burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salads, nachos, and baja bowls, with all items prepared fresh using high-quality ingredients in a customizable counter-service format. The brand’s relaxed beach-house atmosphere and focus on scratch-made food give it a distinct identity within the broader Mexican fast-casual segment.

Locations operate in endcap, free-standing, and drive-thru formats, giving franchisees flexibility across different real estate configurations. Costa Vida supports a branded digital rewards program and consumer app, providing franchisees with tools for customer engagement and repeat-visit marketing.

The franchise system has grown to approximately 90 locations across the US. Co-CEOs Sean Collins and Dave Rutter, who were the brand’s original franchisees before acquiring a controlling interest in 2008, continue to lead the business from headquarters in Lehi, Utah. Their franchisee background shapes a company culture centered on operational alignment between corporate and franchise owners.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Costa Vida resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a Costa Vida Franchise?

Deciding to buy a Costa Vida franchise means entering a fast-casual segment where demand for fresh, customizable Mexican food has proved consistently strong. The brand’s scratch-made approach and coastal-inspired menu give it a distinct position alongside higher-volume national competitors, and its established customer following gives resale units a built-in revenue foundation.

Franchise operations benefit from a structure built by leaders with direct franchisee experience; the co-CEO team operates corporate locations alongside franchisees, aligning support with real-world restaurant management. Training programs, marketing tools, vendor relationships, and ongoing field support are available throughout the franchise term. The real estate model, spanning endcap, free-standing, and drive-thru formats, supports diverse location configurations.

Costa Vida Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2003

    • Franchising Since

      2004

    • New Startup Cost

      $674,500 – $1,340,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $30,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Net Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      0.50%

      of Net Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      93

    • New Units Opened *

      1

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Costa Vida – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Costa Vida provides new franchisees with 250 hours of on-the-job training and 20 to 40 hours of classroom instruction, covering operational procedures, brand standards, recipes, and customer service practices. Initial training takes place at the Costa Vida corporate training facility. Ongoing support includes operational manuals, field support, and marketing guidance. Vendor relationships are structured to support food cost management and consistent ingredient sourcing. Resale buyers should confirm with Costa Vida what transfer training and system access are provided to incoming owners when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The Costa Vida model suits operators comfortable managing hourly employees in a high-pace food service environment. Prior restaurant or hospitality experience is an advantage, though not required; the training program covers brand standards and operational procedures from the ground up. The role is operations-led and customer-facing, requiring consistent attention to food quality, service standards, and staff performance. Multi-unit operators familiar with fast-casual management will find the model scalable, though single-unit operators with strong business fundamentals are also a good fit.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Costa Vida has built recognition in the fast-casual Mexican segment over more than two decades, with particular attention to food quality and its scratch-made approach to coastal cuisine. The brand appeared on Inc. magazine's Inc. 5000 list in 2014, reflecting strong system growth during that period. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local visibility, customer reviews, and community standing, which tend to carry greater weight than national rankings at the unit level.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US fast-casual restaurant market was valued at approximately $48.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at around 6.4% annually through 2035 (Expert Market Research). Mexican cuisine is among the fastest-growing segments within the category, driven by consumer demand for customizable, fresh meals and made-from-scratch ingredients. Digital ordering and health-conscious eating trends continue to expand the addressable customer base for fresh-Mexican concepts. For resale buyers, local demographics, nearby competition, and the unit's existing customer base are key factors in assessing long-term revenue potential.

Learn more about
how to own a Costa Vida franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.