1851 Franchise’s Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises of 2026: Surcheros

• Brand: Surcheros
• Number of Units: 35+
• Initial Investment Range: $301,000 - $1,400,000
• ROI Potential: Not publicly disclosed
• Units Sold Last Year: Not publicly disclosed

Surcheros Fresh Mex has officially earned a place on 1851 Franchise’s 2026 Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises list — a recognition that highlights brands shaping the future of franchising through innovation, momentum and strong demand. As interest from franchisees continues to climb, Surcheros is entering a pivotal phase of expansion.

History and Origin Story

Surcheros began in the small town of Douglas, Georgia. 

Founded by Luke Christian when he returned from college in 2007, the brand was built on the idea that small-town hospitality and high-quality, fresh ingredients shouldn't be mutually exclusive. What started as a local favorite quickly proved its strength, and it began franchising in 2017.

Since then, Surcheros has successfully scaled into multiple Southeast markets without losing the friendly, community-centric atmosphere that defined its first location, and it continues to be a fresh, friendly face in the Tex-Mex market.

Why the Franchise Stands Out

In a crowded Mexican fast-casual segment, Surcheros wins by staying focused on the fundamentals: unit economics and franchisee support. Surcheros’ disciplined approach to growth and commitment to maintaining a “white glove” approach to the franchisor-franchisee relationship has driven it to refine its build-out process and continue pushing for operational improvements. 

"I believe the largest competitive advantage we have is our cost to build out a restaurant against our AUV,” said Jake Philpotts, vice president of business development and franchise relations. “We are extremely competitive in this space, and it keeps franchisee prospects very interested and current franchisees excited to continue expansion.”

Beyond the numbers, the leadership team is committed to maintaining a high level of service and connection with franchisees — something that can be increasingly hard to find as brands grow their footprints. Instead of leaving operators to navigate the complexities of things like the supply chain or marketing strategies alone, the corporate team remains deeply embedded and connected to the success of every location.

“Also, the white glove support we provide to our franchisees is a big deal in our industry,” Philpotts said. “We consistently get feedback from them that we go above and beyond to make sure they are set up for success. We are purposefully investing meaningful resources to maintain that high level of support. We have noticed that larger brands seem to move away from such a hands-on approach as they grow, and the franchisees are usually the ones who feel that most.”

System Growth and 2026 Momentum

The past year served as a massive proof of concept for Surcheros’ scalability. Throughout 2025, the brand continued to grow beyond its Georgia roots, opening new locations in Tennessee and Florida while expanding its presence across its home state.

While sheer footprint growth is an important indicator for Surcheros, the brand’s consistent performance (25% year-over-year systemwide sales growth at the end of Q2 2025) points to something bigger. It’s a model with long-term potential and the ability to maintain its charm, even as unit counts climb. For multi-unit operators, Surcheros is an opportunity to capture market share and bring a refreshing, localized take on Tex-Mex to the community.

"Some of our momentum is driven by our ability to make quick, strategic adjustments as we grow,” Philpotts said. “The dedication to our franchisees and ourselves to prioritize profitability has kept our company moving in the right direction despite a changing atmosphere in the economy right now. Likewise, the commitment from our franchisee partners to fulfill their area development agreements continues to create steady growth year after year.”

Why Now Is the Moment for New Franchisees

For prospective owners, the "sweet spot" in franchising is a brand that has enough units to prove the model works and enough white space to allow for meaningful market share. Surcheros is in that spot. With a streamlined operational model that simplifies labor and a design that maximizes throughput, the brand is positioned for a massive breakout. The internal focus on franchisee profitability ensures that growth leads to long-term success, not just signing deals to fluff up the numbers.

Looking Ahead

As Surcheros moves deeper into 2026, the focus is on "relentless” refinement. This includes a wave of menu innovation designed to keep the guest experience fresh and a continued push to lower the barriers to entry for new builds. By prioritizing the feedback of both guests and team members leading day-to-day operations, Surcheros is building a feedback loop that drives genuine, long-term loyalty.

"For 2026, we are making some meaningful adjustments to our menu as we learn more and more about what our guests want. We also want to make our operations simple to create a streamlined process for our team members,” Philpotts said. “I personally get excited to share some of the menu innovation with our amazing Surcheros guests soon — I know they’ll love it! Also, our development team continues to refine our build-out design and process to maximize speed and lower cost. We believe relentless attention to this area of our business will help our entire organization now and in years to come."

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the month for 1851 Franchise's full Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises series to explore the other innovative brands making waves in the industry.