Bring Cantina to Your Coast
Franchise
Beachside Mexican — palapas, mezcal, the mermaid. Proven concept, full kitchen system, and a working digital business you inherit on day one. Now opening to coastal partners across Australia.
Proven
9.47/10 First Table · 1.5K+ Manly regulars · cult Instagram
Trained
Mexican kitchen system, recipes, 2-week head-chef training
Branded
Mermaid recognition, full design playbook, signature menu
Digital
Plug into the entire Cantina tech stack on day one
What you get
A turn-key beachside Mexican.
- →Full recipe playbook from the Cantina kitchen
- →2-week on-site training for your head chef + 1-week ops training for your GM
- →Brand toolkit — logo, typography, signage, menus, uniforms, packaging
- →Construction & fit-out blueprints (palapa, bar, kitchen flow)
- →Marketing launch playbook + 90-day content calendar
- →Mezcal & tequila supply partnerships (preferred pricing)
- →Ongoing mentorship from the Cantina founding team (monthly calls)
Who we're looking for
People who get the vibe.
- •Coastal town or beachside city pocket
- •Hospitality experience — operator, chef, or seasoned investor
- •Site ready to fit out (or a clear lead on one)
- •Min. investment range $450K–$725K (incl. working capital)
- •Australian residency or partnership with same
- •You actually love Mexican food. Not negotiable.
The moat
You inherit the entire digital business.
Most franchises hand you a brand and a manual. We hand you a brand, a manual, and a working tech stack that's already producing leads and subscriptions today.
Branded location page
Your venue gets a co-branded page on cantinaacapulco.com — SEO-optimised from day one.
CRM + lead routing
Private chef, catering, and event inquiries in your territory route directly to your inbox + dashboard.
La Sirena Club integration
Members in your territory see your venue as their home. Recurring revenue you didn’t have to build.
Recipe SEO traffic
Our recipe blog ranks. That traffic feeds your local cookbook + experience sales.
Cookbook revenue split
Every cookbook sold in your territory pays a margin back to you. Passive revenue, zero ops.
Email automation
Pre-built sequences — welcome, weekly recipe, pop-up announcements, win-back. Plug in and go.
Social content templates
Monthly drop of branded reels, story templates, and recipe carousels — localised to your venue.
Pop-Up campaign integration
Your territory appears on the national pop-up voting map. Built-in audience research and demand signal.
Analytics dashboard
Sales, lead source, customer LTV — one view across web, CRM, and POS.
Reputation tools
Auto-aggregation of Google, TripAdvisor, Instagram reviews + reply templates.
The numbers, on the table
Investment overview
Ranges reflect site condition, location, and scope. Full disclosure document provided after qualification.
| Initial franchise fee | $55,000 | One-time, payable on signing |
| Build-out & fit-out | $280K–$420K | Varies by site condition & size |
| Equipment & kitchen | $75K–$110K | Includes signature bar setup |
| Training & launch support | Included | 3 weeks combined |
| Initial inventory & supplies | $18K–$28K | First 4 weeks |
| Working capital (6 mo) | $60K–$90K | Buffer to break-even |
| Ongoing royalty | 5% | Of gross revenue, monthly |
| Marketing levy | 2% | Funds national + local campaigns |
These are illustrative ranges. Actual investment is provided in the formal Disclosure Document under the Franchising Code of Conduct.
From hello to opening day
The process
01
Express interest
Submit the form below. We review every application personally.
02
Discovery call
30 min Zoom with the founding team. Mutual fit check.
03
NDA + financial review
Sign NDA, receive full prospectus + financial models.
04
Qualified applicant pack
Long-form application — capital, experience, territory plan.
05
Site visit + in-person meeting
You visit Manly. We visit your proposed location.
06
Disclosure + signing
Formal disclosure under the Franchising Code. Agreement signed. Build begins.
Read the fine print
Documents
Open docs are public. Gated docs unlock after you submit the Expression of Interest below and sign an NDA.
Franchise Prospectus
The full overview — concept, brand, market, ask.
Open — PDF
Digital Infrastructure Inclusion
Every tool, system, and revenue stream you inherit.
Open — PDF
Investment Breakdown
Line-by-line capital requirement.
Gated — submit EOI to unlock
Financial Performance Representation
Projected unit economics, AUV, margins.
Gated — submit EOI to unlock
5-Year Pro Forma
Revenue, COGS, opex, royalty, net cashflow.
Gated — submit EOI to unlock
ROI & Payback Model
Break-even, IRR, cash-on-cash return.
Gated — submit EOI to unlock
Royalty & Fee Schedule
Every fee, every term, no surprises.
Gated — submit EOI to unlock
Territory Criteria
Where Cantina works. How exclusivity is drawn.
Open — PDF
Brand Standards Summary
What’s standardised. What’s yours.
Open — PDF
Asked & answered
FAQ
Is the restaurant currently open? +
Our Manly venue is between seasons. The brand, kitchen system, and digital business continue to operate and grow.
How long does it take from signing to opening? +
Typically 4–7 months depending on site condition, council approvals, and fit-out scope.
Can I franchise outside Australia? +
Not yet. Australia first. International partners can register interest for future expansion.
Do I need to be a chef? +
No. But you (or your operating partner) need hospitality experience. Your head chef will be trained by us.
What’s the royalty structure? +
5% of gross revenue, paid monthly. Plus a 2% marketing levy that funds national campaigns + content production.
How big is my territory? +
Exclusive radius is negotiated per site — typically 3km in dense urban coast, up to 15km in regional coastal towns.
Do I get the recipes? +
Yes — the full playbook, with binding confidentiality. Recipes are the spine of the system.
What about the digital infrastructure — do I have to build any of it? +
No. The website, CRM, email system, La Sirena Club integration, recipe SEO traffic, and content templates are turn-key. You inherit a working digital business, not a blank dashboard.
What’s the minimum financial profile? +
Min. liquid capital $250K, total net worth $750K. We can introduce you to lending partners for the remainder.
Can I sell my franchise later? +
Yes, subject to franchisor approval of the buyer. Resale support included.
Step 01
Express your interest
2-minute form. We review every submission personally. Gated documents unlock once you sign an NDA.
Already submitted?
Next steps
Tap to open the form you need. Most applicants do them in this order.
1. Book a discovery call
30 min with the founding team — mutual fit check.
+
1. Book a discovery call
30 min with the founding team — mutual fit check.
2. Request the NDA
Sign a mutual NDA to unlock the full financial models and recipe samples.
+
2. Request the NDA
Sign a mutual NDA to unlock the full financial models and recipe samples.
3. Long-form application
Fill this out only after your discovery call. Review takes 5–10 business days.
+
3. Long-form application
Fill this out only after your discovery call. Review takes 5–10 business days.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit the sale of a franchise. Franchises will be offered only by means of a Disclosure Document delivered in compliance with the Australian Franchising Code of Conduct and other applicable laws. Cantina Acapulco does not currently offer franchises in any jurisdiction outside Australia.