Monterey Jack’s

About Monterey Jack’s

Scotland-based American-style restaurant chain, named after 19th century cheese smuggler ‘Mad’ Jack Wyatt, specialising in American classics such as burgers, hot dogs and fried chicken. It site, in Braehead, which opened in the autumn of 2022, was its first franchise opening. In February 2022, it opened its largest site to date, a 4,000 square-foot 250-cover restaurant at the M&D’s Scotland Theme Park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The company is planning to make its English debut, with sites in London, Manchester and Newcastle listed as “coming soon” on its website. In June 2024, Monterey Jack’s launched a new express format. “Jack’s Express is brought to you by one of Scotland’s best loved restaurant groups, Monterey Jack’s,” said franchise consultants Platinum Wave. “Being a company responsive to market trends, such as growing vegan and halal menus, Monterey Jack’s saw a strong opportunity for an additional format. Jack’s Express offers the biggest selling fan favourites, from its full menu of Americana classics and modern twists to award-winning restaurant quality burgers, dawgs, chicken and sides, plus a vegan range. Perfect for operators with an existing takeaway or small format restaurant that want to enjoy bigger sales and higher profits. Convert to a Jack’s Express from £50,000 for fit out and a £15,000 franchise fee, and you could be generating revenue of £5,000-plus per week. Create a new store from £75,000-£150,000 and your sales can be significantly more.” In June 2025, it opened a new Glasgow location and currently has eight sites.

Why franchise with Monterey Jack’s

• ✓The company is seeking franchisees, preferably multi-unit restaurant operators, with a clear track record of success, a minimum of £1m liquid assets and the ambition to open at least three restaurants over an agreed time scale. Franchise fee is £15,000 +VAT, with a monthly management fee of 6% of turnover, and monthly marketing fee of 3% of turnover. The level of investment for the fit out, equipment, stock, small wares and launch marketing package will range from approximately £250,000- £350,000 +VAT (excluding the initial franchise fee). This will vary depending on size and location of premises, seating capacity and level of refurbishment required. Each site will be subject to a full survey, design and individually costed fit-out. Equipment can be leased as opposed to purchased, reducing the initial upfront cash requirement for each store. It has a wide range of fit out options to fit locations of all shapes and sizes, but restaurants must seat at least 250 people, with high streets, retail parks and shopping/entertainment centres ideal locations. The company said: “We escalated our on-line sales for six regional branches during covid, achieving revenues of £4m over the pandemic, showing that Monterey Jacks is already a sharp shooter in the battle for online sales. We’ve opened nine restaurants in six years ourselves (without the covid restrictions we would be at 12), so we are a brand that’s on the way up, with a proven business model and slick take away, collection and delivery options. Our franchise model has been a long time in development and our rollout ambitions are very realistic. We’re looking to partner with franchisees who can take full advantage of everything Monterey Jack’s has to offer and create a local hero of a restaurant in their own town that buzzes with fun and excitement.” Franchisees will be offered a ten-year agreement; use of trademark, intellectual property and operations manual; a three-week induction programme and pre-launch marketing strategy. Post-launch, it will offer ongoing support and development programmes; direct customer service support; access to nominated suppliers and online training courses; centralised sales and marketing; national marketing promotion; website and strong social media support. Third-party funding is available through banks, but neither Monterey Jack’s, its directors, shareholders, employees or third-party advisors make any representations or warranties as to the performance of individual franchisees. Potential franchisees are required to prepare their own business plan based on their own local research, which should be validated by professional advisors.

Investment breakdown