Q&A: Does Taco Bell Franchise in the UK?

When it comes to fast and delicious food, there are few more mouth-watering options than a taco. A Mexican treat that’s been popular in the States for decades, when tacos hit British shores, there was no going back. And with fast food continuing its all-conquering popularity, ambitious business owners with an eye for good food will no doubt already have their eyes on a potential Taco Bell franchise.

The crunch of a hard shell taco. The soft and delicious first bite of a packed-out burrito. Or the shareable nachos. If you’ve ever been to a Taco Bell restaurant, you know there’s a mountain of Mexican choice to get the taste buds tingling for food lovers everywhere. And when a product or service is popular, you can bet there is money to be made. But the big question - does Taco Bell franchise in the UK?

Does Taco Bell franchise in the UK?

We all know the taste of fast and fantastic Mexican is often synonymous with the big purple logo of Taco Bell. Unfortunately though, at the moment the tacos franchise isn’t ringing its famous bell for franchisees in the UK. A shame, yes, but a disaster? Absolutely not. 

When one door closes, another door opens, and if you’ve got your heart set on a fast food franchise that’s going to get customers in your area and beyond queueing out the door and coming back for more, there are still some first rate fast food franchises waiting for you to get in touch.

The history of Taco Bell

The Taco Bell business originated in California, United States of America. Back in 1962, the first Taco Bell restaurant - in Dowey, CA - was founded and opened by Glen Bell. Now you know where the name comes from!

Prior to the Taco Bell adventure, Glen originally owned and operated a hamburger stand called Bell’s Hamburgers. He opened his first taco stand, Taco Tia in 1954, before opening Taco Bell eight years later. 

In Southern California, our courageous Taco Godfather, Glen Bell had a dream. This dream saw the introduction of food you could hold in your hands, and in your heart. Food that was as much about what’s in it, as who’s around you when you’re enjoying it. And so, Taco Bell became a global sensation, symbolising a movement of agile, trailblazing individuals unafraid to Live Más.
- Taco Bell

Start a franchise in the fast food sector today

If all this talk of tacos has got your taste buds - and your business mind - tingling, then don’t be put off by the fact that opportunities with a Taco Bell franchise don’t extend to the UK. While a popular option in the quick service restaurant (QSR) sector, there is an enormous range of alternative opportunities for you to tuck into. 

So, what’s out there? Below, we talk you through some of the best fast food franchising opportunities out there, where ambitious franchisees can make a career change with a fast food franchise. 

1. Street Greek

Finding its niche in the delights of modern Greek cuisine, Street Greek is one of the UK’s market leaders in quick service, and is one of London's fastest-growing QSR franchises. As a franchisee, you’ll be serving a tempting menu of hellenic treats, from juicy souvlaki skewers and wraps, to stuffed gyros and fresh Greek salad, and can expect to be raking in customers in no time.

• Becoming a Street Greek franchisee: As an ideal Street Greek franchisee, you should be passionate about the Street Greek brand, have a real drive and determination to succeed with the business, have effective management skills, and a good understanding of business and operations.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £120,000, and franchise fees of £15,000, with a total investment cost of £200,000. 
• What you get for your investment: For this investment with Street Greek, you’ll be joining a unique and highly successful QSR franchise with an established business model. As part of the franchise package, you can expect full support with site sourcing and project managing your site fit-out, a comprehensive six weeks of training pre and post-launch, as well as on-site operational training and guidance on employee recruitment and legislation. 

2. Camile Thai

Another great international cuisine is Thai, and who better to franchise with than Camile Thai? Its sustainable and profitable business model has seen the business expand in recent years, and with more than 45 restaurants already established, the time to get involved with this flourishing franchise is now. 

• Becoming a Camile Thai franchisee: Camile Thai recruits carefully, with an ambition to create a culture of great service, full of inspired staff. If you’re hard-working, business savvy and have an eye for business, you could just be what Camile Thai are looking for. 
• How much you need to invest: To join the Camile Thai franchise, you’ll need to make a minimum investment of £100,000, with franchise fees of £20,000. Total investment costs will of course vary depending on your site and location. 
• What you get for your investment: Becoming a part of the Camile Thai family is a truly unique opportunity in the QSR sector. Innovative and contemporary, you’ll be joining an already-established business with plenty of franchisee perks. Prior to your opening day, these include market research on the proposed development area, assistance with site and equipment selection, and a 6-week fast track franchisee training programme. Once you’re open, you can expect the support to continue, with ongoing communications with the Camile community, central purchasing of food, consumables and uniforms, and plenty of marketing and advertising support. 

Start a fast food franchise in the QSR sector today

While it’s a shame that Taco Bell franchise opportunities are unavailable in the UK at present, it’s clear that there are plenty of other exciting opportunities out there in the fast food sector. So, if you’ve got a taste for living the life of a fast food franchisee, or want to find out about some of the other top fast food franchises in the UK, stick around on Point Franchise.