Mala Yegua seeks franchisees with investment starting at €69,000 plus VAT

Mala Yegua, the vermouth and cocktail bar concept founded in Biescas, in the Spanish province of Huesca, is seeking franchisees across Spain with an advertised investment starting at €69,000 plus VAT. The offer combines artisan vermouth, gourmet tinned specialities and dishes assembled from prepared ingredients, in premises of at least 100 square metres, without the need for a conventional cooking kitchen.

From Biescas to a nationwide expansion plan

The first Mala Yegua opened in December 2024 in Biescas, in the Aragonese Pyrenees. Its founder, Toni Sánchez, had lived in the town for more than fifteen years when he launched the business. The brand began franchising in 2025 and already has a location in Santander, according to information published by L’Express Franchise on 28 October 2026.

The brand aims to reach 35–40 locations in Spain within five years. This is an expansion target, not a tally of contracted or confirmed openings. When searching for sites, it recommends towns and cities with at least 50,000 residents.

The plan represents a shift in scale: a concept born in a Pyrenean town is now looking to replicate its model in other markets through franchisees. For those in the franchise sector, the appeal lies both in this expansion and in its bar-led operating format, which does not require a conventional cooking kitchen.

What the advertised investment includes

Mala Yegua’s franchise page puts the initial investment at €69,000 plus VAT upwards. This includes an initial franchise fee of €18,000 plus VAT, so that fee should not be added again to the starting figure when assessing the offer.

The published terms specify an ongoing royalty of 6% of sales, with no advertising levy. Premises must cover at least 100 square metres. These are the main financial and space requirements the brand presents to prospective franchisees.

The words ‘starting at’ matter when evaluating the proposition: they indicate a minimum investment, not a fixed budget for every site. Before committing to premises, prospective franchisees should request a breakdown tailored to the property and clarify exactly what the advertised investment covers.

The absence of an advertising levy does not remove the ongoing royalty. These are separate charges and should be considered individually when forecasting costs and reviewing the contract terms.

A vermouth bar without a kitchen extraction system

The food offering centres on dishes assembled from prepared ingredients, alongside gourmet tinned specialities, artisan vermouth and cocktails. The bar is at the heart of the concept. According to the brand’s description, the format requires neither a kitchen extraction flue nor a gas connection, widening the range of potential premises.

This distinguishes the offer from a restaurant that relies on a conventional cooking kitchen. However, site selection must still take account of the stated minimum floor area and the suitability of the space for the intended operation. Prospective franchisees should check the property’s features against the project’s requirements before making any commitments.

The brand also publishes a projected average spend per customer of €20–€25 and a target EBITDA margin of around 20%. Both figures should be understood as the brand’s projections, not guaranteed results for each franchisee. The EBITDA target does not, in itself, represent the net profit available to the owner.

Potential locations and decisions for prospective franchisees

Alongside the Santander location, the published information, citing Jacetania Express, states that a site in Tarragona was due to open in the following weeks. Santiago de Compostela, Seville and Roquetas de Mar are listed as possible expansion locations. This list does not establish that those openings have taken place or that firm dates have been set.

The nationwide plan therefore combines an existing presence, a planned opening and cities under consideration for future growth. Distinguishing between these stages helps prospective franchisees assess the network’s current size without confusing it with its five-year target.

Practical takeaway: anyone considering joining Mala Yegua should verify the full budget for their chosen site, the sales-based royalty and the assumptions underpinning the projected average customer spend and EBITDA margin before deciding to invest.