Moe's Southwest Grill
Food & Beverage · Fast Food
Description
What is Moe's Southwest Grill?
What sets Moe's apart is their commitment to quality and generous portions. Each location offers over 20 fresh ingredients daily, allowing customers to create personalized burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and their famous 'Moe Bowls.' A standout feature is their complimentary chips and salsa bar with every meal, offering multiple varieties of house-made salsas to enhance the dining experience.
The menu caters to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, low-calorie, and kid-friendly options. Their signature queso, consistently praised by customers, has become a brand hallmark. The restaurant's flexible format accommodates dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering services, making it ideal for both individual meals and group events.
Moe's reward program adds value for regular customers, offering perks like birthday burritos and points towards free meals. Their commitment to customer service is evident in their well-trained staff and clean, welcoming environments. With locations across numerous states, Moe's has successfully maintained consistency in food quality while adapting to local market preferences.
The brand continues to innovate with digital ordering options, mobile app integration, and creative menu additions, positioning itself as a modern choice in the competitive fast-casual dining sector.
- 24 years proven franchise system
- 612 locations nationwide market presence
- Above average gross revenue performance
- Established fast-casual Mexican brand recognition
- Multi-state geographic footprint diversity
- Mature franchisor operational infrastructure
Location Analysis
Where Moe's Southwest Grill wins
The franchise's geographic distribution reveals strategic clustering in high-population, urban-suburban markets, particularly in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This pattern indicates optimal performance in areas with diverse demographic profiles and strong lunch-time business traffic. Notable expansion opportunities exist in the Midwest and Western states, where market presence is currently more limited.
Ideal locations for Moe's typically feature high-visibility sites in retail corridors, proximity to office complexes or universities, and areas with median household incomes above $50,000. Success factors include locations with strong daytime population density, accessible parking, and complementary retail mix. The franchise shows particular strength in college towns and urban areas with young, professional demographics.
Prospective franchisees should focus on markets with similar characteristics to existing successful locations, particularly in underserved territories within the franchise's current footprint or expansion markets with compatible demographics.
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Financial Analysis
The numbers behind Moe's Southwest Grill
The fast-casual Mexican segment benefits from strong consumer demand for customizable, fresh-prepared meals and growing acceptance of Mexican cuisine across diverse demographics. This mature market segment shows resilience through economic cycles, though increased competition requires strategic location selection and operational excellence.
With 612 units and 24 years of operation since 2000, Moe's demonstrates substantial system maturity and brand recognition. The extensive footprint across multiple states indicates proven scalability and franchisor infrastructure capable of supporting multi-unit development. However, the discrepancy between reported units (612) and website locations (569) suggests recent system contraction requiring investigation.
The reported gross revenue of $1,225,863 exceeds sub-sector averages ($1,149,168), potentially indicating stronger brand performance or premium market positioning. Investment considerations include high capital requirements necessitating substantial liquid assets, complex food service operations requiring experienced management, and competitive market dynamics demanding strong local marketing execution.
Ideal investors should possess significant restaurant industry experience, substantial liquid capital exceeding $500,000, and proven multi-unit operational capabilities. Prime demographics include established markets with diverse populations and strong disposable income levels. Prospective franchisees must thoroughly review the FDD and conduct comprehensive due diligence before investment decisions.
Financing partners
Vetted partners, tailored to franchisees
Your Franzy advisor can connect you with these partners later in the process — competitive rates, specialized in franchise financing.
FranFund
CRF USA
Nonprofit SBA lender; provides financing for franchise acquisitions, startups, and expansion.
First Bank of the Lake
Pension Pros
FDD Item 7
Initial investment range
Per FDD Item 7, total initial investment ranges from $745,325 to $1,819,050. The midpoint $1,282,188 is what most franchisees report at signing — financing typically reduces cash-at-close by 80–90%. Knowing the investment range helps you plan confidently and ensure you're fully prepared to make the leap.
FDD Item 19
Average gross sales
According to Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, Moe's Southwest Grill has an average gross revenue of $1M. (Note: This information is based on the latest FDD in our records. Please review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and confirm this information directly with the brand. We make no claims of accuracy for the information presented.)
Growth over time
Franchise footprint
2024 Franchise Disclosure
FDD documents
Below are items 2, 3, 4, 7, 11 and 19 for Moe's Southwest Grill's 2024 FDD. The complete FDD is delivered to you directly by the franchisor, per the FTC Franchise Rule.
Connect to download Items 2, 3, 4, and 11 — direct from the franchisor.
Buyer FAQs
Frequently asked questions
The initial investment for a Moe's Southwest Grill franchise typically ranges between $745,325.00 and $1,819,050.00. This includes the franchise fee, equipment, real estate, and other startup costs. To get a detailed breakdown and better understand the financial requirements, we recommend scheduling a call with the Franzy team. We'll walk you through the specifics and answer any questions you might have. For more detailed information, refer to the financial sections of the FDD.
Disclaimer. The information provided on this page is based on the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) that is publicly available and that we have on record, which was issued in 2024. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or business advice. We make no guarantees or claims regarding the completeness or accuracy. For the most current and detailed information, we recommend consulting the franchisor directly for the most recent FDD and regarding any questions that you may have about the information provided.
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