Each answer stands on its own. Numbers come from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.
The total initial investment to open a Café Mexicali restaurant is $668,200 to $1,252,500, as disclosed in Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. That range includes the $45,000 franchise fee.
You need at least $167,500 in liquid capital to qualify for a Café Mexicali franchise. That is the qualifying minimum Café Mexicali sets for applicants, not the full cost of opening. The total initial investment is $668,200 to $1,252,500.
The ongoing royalty is 6% of gross sales. Other fees, including advertising contributions, are listed in Item 6 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Café Mexicali provides three weeks of initial training before you open, followed by one week of on-site opening support. You also receive a confidential operations manual and proprietary technology tools.
The process has seven steps, and the only fixed period is the 14-day Franchise Disclosure Document review. Jim DelVecchio calls within two business days of your application if your capital and timeline fit. After that, the pace depends on how quickly you review the FDD, choose a site, and build out.
Café Mexicali is franchising in Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, and Utah. South Dakota is coming once state registration is complete. Your territory is defined by a stated radius around your approved location, and it is not an exclusive territory under Item 12 of the FDD, though Café Mexicali will not open another full-size restaurant inside it while you are in compliance.
Restaurant or food service experience is helpful, and the FDD notes that franchisees typically have some. It is not the only factor. Jim talks through your operating and management background on the first call, and every owner completes three weeks of initial training.
No. Café Mexicali does not offer direct or indirect financing (Item 10 of the FDD) and makes no guarantee that any lender will approve you. You arrange financing on your own, and you still need at least $167,500 in liquid capital to qualify.
You receive at least 14 days to review the Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign anything or pay any money. Federal law requires this review period, and the process is built around it.
The first call with Jim DelVecchio covers your background, your liquid capital, the market you want, and your timeline. Jim explains what ownership looks like day to day and answers your questions. The call is a conversation, not an offer, and any offer is made only through delivery of the FDD.
The FDD estimates 90 to 180 days from site approval to opening day (Item 11). The Franchise Agreement typically sets a required opening date 270 days from the date you sign. Financing, construction, permits, and equipment delivery affect the timing.
You should not apply if you have less than $167,500 in liquid capital, want a fully absentee investment, or are not ready to complete a Franchise Disclosure Document review. Café Mexicali also cannot make offers in states where it is not yet registered, including South Dakota for now.
Ask Jim on your first call. He answers every question, and you will get at least 14 days with the FDD before you decide.
