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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise

Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2000 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The brand serves customizable Mexican-inspired dishes including burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, quesoritos, nachos, and salads, all prepared fresh daily with house-made salsas and seasoned proteins. Phil Friedman acquired the concept in 2011 and has led the brand as CEO since, initiating franchise development the same year.

The format model is a notable differentiator: Salsarita’s operates traditional dine-in restaurants, drive-thru units, and non-traditional venues in airports, university campuses, and stadiums, in spaces ranging from around 1,800 to 2,600 square feet. Catering is a significant revenue component, accounting for roughly 21 percent of sales at many locations, supported by an in-house call center and Olo-powered online ordering.

The network spans roughly a dozen states, concentrated in the Southeast with its strongest markets in the Carolinas and Tennessee. A loyalty program of around 10,000 members per store and a PAR Technology unified stack covering POS, loyalty, and back-office reporting underpin operations. More than 55 percent of franchisees own multiple locations.

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Why buy a Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise?

Salsarita’s competes in the fast-casual Mexican segment as a fresh-made, customizable alternative with a multi-unit track record. The format flexibility — traditional, drive-thru, and non-traditional venues — gives operators options that few single-format concepts offer. Catering at roughly 21 percent of average sales adds a margin-efficient revenue channel through batch cooking and efficient labor scheduling.

The brand’s technology infrastructure is built on a PAR Technology stack covering POS, loyalty, back-office, and payments, integrated with Olo for online ordering. An in-house digital marketing function manages geo-targeted campaigns for active locations, and the loyalty program supports repeat traffic without franchisee-managed CRM overhead. To buy a Salsarita’s franchise is to inherit an established, tech-forward operating system with two decades of brand history.

Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2000

    • Franchising Since

      2011

    • New Startup Cost

      $371,400 – $856,100

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $30,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      30%

      of initial franchise fee if to existing franchisee; 100% otherwise

    • Royalty Fee

      5–6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Net Revenue

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      65

    • New Units Opened *

      1

    • Units Transferred *

      1

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $1,244,494

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Salsarita's initial training covers 27 days of classroom instruction and 10 days of on-the-job training. Ongoing support includes co-op advertising, regional marketing, and a toll-free operations support line. The brand's technology stack — built on PAR Technology and covering POS, loyalty, back-office reporting, and payments — integrates with Olo for online ordering and catering, and includes a branded mobile app. An in-house digital marketing team manages geo-targeted campaigns for active locations. Resale buyers should confirm what initial onboarding and PAR Technology system access are available when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Salsarita's operator has restaurant or quick-service experience and the operational depth to manage a kitchen-focused team consistently. The brand is oriented toward multi-unit development and favors franchisees who either carry direct restaurant operations experience or partner with a seasoned QSR operator. Comfort with digital ordering platforms and an active approach to catering sales will find strong support in the brand's infrastructure. A willingness to develop multiple locations within a defined territory aligns with the franchisor's preferred model.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Salsarita's has received industry recognition through the achievements of its CEO, Phil Friedman. Fast Casual Magazine has listed Friedman among its Top 5 Fast-Casual Executives to Watch, and Restaurant News recognized him with the Golden Chain Award. QSR Magazine has featured the brand as a technology-forward fast-casual operator. The brand's PAR Technology and Olo partnerships have been cited in trade press as examples of effective digital infrastructure in the fast-casual segment. For resale buyers, brand-level visibility should be assessed alongside the unit's local reputation, online reviews, and community standing.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US fast-casual restaurant segment continues to attract consumer spending away from full-service dining, with Mexican cuisine one of the most-visited and fastest-growing categories. Consumer preference for fresh, customizable, and value-oriented meals supports steady demand in this space. Catering is an expanding revenue layer within fast-casual, driven by corporate events and social gatherings, and can materially affect individual location economics. For resale buyers, the unit's existing catering relationships and local competitive standing are important factors in evaluating the opportunity.

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