How to Finance a Hissho Sushi Franchise: In-Store Sushi Bar Costs
By Anthony Cornella
A Hissho Sushi franchise loan finances one of the smallest restaurant investments in franchising. Hissho franchisees run made-to-order sushi bars and Asian food bars inside grocery stores, hospitals, universities and other host locations, so there is no building to buy or dining room to build, and the financing questions are about equipment, working capital and how money flows through the host store.
This article covers the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) figures, how the host-store model changes underwriting, why SBA financing is not the usual route and which tools fit.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Hissho Sushi; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document and website can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Buyers should review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Hissho Sushi Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Franchisor: Hissho International, LLC, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
- Formats: Full Service Sushi Bars, Satellite Sushi Bars stocked from a Full Service bar, and Asian Food Bars.
- Initial franchise fee: $7,500 for a Full Service Sushi Bar or Asian Food Bar and none for a Satellite Sushi Bar, according to the 2026 FDD.
- Estimated initial investment: $26,789 to $144,429, plus $0 to $150,000 if you buy an existing unit.
- Compensation to the franchisor: typically 0% to 20% of gross sales, varying widely by unit.
- Brand fund: up to 2% of net sales.
- Host store commission: the host typically keeps 27% of gross sales, within a range of 0% to 40%.
- Capital requirement: the franchisor’s website lists a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000 in capital.
- System reach: the franchisor says franchisees operate in over 2,500 locations in the U.S.
- SBA Franchise Directory: Hissho Sushi is not listed, so conventional and franchisor financing are the main routes.
What Is Hissho Sushi?
Hissho Sushi places fresh sushi bars inside other businesses. Its franchisees prepare sushi on site, often in view of shoppers, and sell it through the host’s checkout. The franchising page says the company has been operating for more than 20 years and is headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
According to the 2026 FDD, the franchisor has offered similar franchises since September 6, 2013, and an affiliate has operated company units since November 2013. The FDD also notes that the franchisor’s parent companies are controlled by a private equity fund.
Unit formats. The FDD offers three formats. A Full Service Sushi Bar may operate full-time or part-time. A Satellite Sushi Bar is a display case of prepackaged items supplied from a nearby Full Service bar. An Asian Food Bar serves hot Asian-inspired food without sushi. Typical host locations include grocery stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, hospitals and universities.
Who franchisees are. Many Hissho owners are sushi chefs who work in their own units, supported by Hissho University training in sushi preparation, food safety and marketing.
How lenders view the brand. Lenders see a long-established franchise system with a very small per-unit investment, but also a franchisee that does not control its location or its register. That combination makes the owner’s personal credit and the host arrangement central to any loan.
How the Host-Store Model Works
The host-store structure is the single most important thing to understand before borrowing. According to the 2026 FDD:
- The franchisor or an affiliate negotiates the arrangement with the Retail Host directly.
- Sales are rung through the host’s point-of-sale system, not the franchisee’s.
- The host keeps a pre-negotiated Service Commission, typically 27% of gross sales and ranging from 0% to 40%.
- The franchisee receives Franchise Commissions after the franchisor and its affiliated supplier deduct amounts owed.
- The franchisee must follow the host’s rules, including pricing limits and minimum sales requirements.
- If the franchisor’s rights to a host location end, the franchisee’s rights to that location end too, with no compensation and no guarantee of another location.
What that means for a loan. There is no lease to assign and no real estate to pledge, and the franchisee is paid through commissions rather than collecting sales directly. A lender will want to see how and when commissions are paid, which deductions come first and how dependent the owner is on a single host. The risk that a host relationship ends is the main reason lenders keep loans for this brand small and short.
Hissho Sushi Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. According to the 2026 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $7,500 for a Full Service Sushi Bar or Asian Food Bar, with no fee for a Satellite Sushi Bar. Additional units cost $7,500, $3,750 or $1,875 depending on the remaining term.
Training. The FDD lists training fees of $2,000 per primary trainee per program, or $3,000 if both programs are taken together, and $2,000 for sushi chef training for each equity owner who needs it.
Equipment and small wares. The FDD lists $1,000 to $15,000 per Full Service Sushi Bar for equipment and small wares, plus $10,400 to $15,000 for a sushi robot if one is required. The Hissho label system is leased, with a $1,500 initial lease fee.
Opening food inventory. The FDD lists $5,000 to $25,000 per Full Service Sushi Bar or Asian Food Bar, plus $1,000 to $6,000 for a Satellite bar opened at the same time.
Real estate and build-out. There is no real estate or traditional build-out. The host owns and operates the premises, and display cases may be offered for purchase only if the host does not provide them.
Total investment. The 2026 FDD estimates a total initial investment of $26,789 to $144,429, plus $0 to $150,000 if you buy an existing food retail unit. Of that total, $18,590 to $106,330 is payable to the franchisor or its affiliates. A Hissho Sushi franchise loan request is typically organized around these cost categories:
- Initial franchise fee ($7,500 per Full Service or Asian Food Bar)
- Training fees
- Equipment and small wares ($1,000 to $15,000 per Full Service bar)
- Sushi robot, if required ($10,400 to $15,000)
- Label system lease fee ($1,500)
- Opening food inventory ($5,000 to $25,000)
- Licenses, permits and first-year insurance
- Purchase price for an existing unit, if applicable ($0 to $150,000)
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Read the full Item 7 table for each line’s assumptions. Our overview of franchise start-up financing explains how lenders size small start-up loans.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Compensation to the franchisor. The 2026 FDD describes compensation to the franchisor of typically 0% to 20% of gross sales, varying widely by unit.
Brand fund. Up to 2% of net sales.
Technology and administration. The FDD lists a technology fee of $150 per unit per monthly statement, up to $300, and an administration and web fee of $100 per statement, up to $250.
Transfer and renewal. The transfer fee is $2,500 per transferred unit. The renewal fee is 100% of the then-current franchise fee, or 12.5%, 25% or 50% depending on sales and other requirements.
How lenders factor these costs in. Because the host commission and the franchisor’s share both come off gross sales before the franchisee is paid, lenders work from net commission income rather than register sales. They then subtract food purchases, labor and loan payments. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains how to present these deductions.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor’s website lists these requirements for candidates:
- A minimum of $10,000 to $15,000 in capital
- Age 21 or older and legally able to work in the U.S.
- Passing drug, background and credit checks
- Three months of bank statements
- Business insurance
- The ability to speak and understand English
- Attending training in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and having reliable transportation
The FDD adds that the franchisee must be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other approved entity, not an individual or sole proprietorship.
What that means for financing. With a low capital threshold, a loan is most useful for equipment, a sushi robot, inventory and a cushion, or for buying an existing unit.
Ways to Own a Hissho Sushi
A new unit in a host location. The franchisor places you in a host location under its own agreement with the host.
Buying an existing unit. The FDD lists a purchase price of $0 to $150,000 for goodwill on an existing unit, with a prorated or full franchise fee at the franchisor’s option. Certain acquired units come with a new franchise agreement with a three-year term. Transfers of control generally are not allowed until a unit has operated for at least one year, and an owner cannot transfer less than all of its units. See our guide to buying a franchise resale and our page on franchise acquisition financing.
Adding Satellite bars. A Full Service owner can add Satellite Sushi Bars, which carry no initial franchise fee and are stocked from the main bar.
Financing Options for a Hissho Sushi Franchise
Franchisor financing. According to the 2026 FDD, the franchisor may finance part of the equipment and small wares, and financing may be available for sushi robots, documented by a promissory note. Compare those terms with outside options before signing.
Conventional term loans. A small Hissho Sushi franchise loan from a conventional lender can cover the fee, training, inventory and working capital. Because collateral is limited, a conventional business loan leans on the owner’s credit and personal guarantees.
Equipment financing. Refrigerated display cases, rice cookers, prep equipment and sushi robots can be financed or leased on their own. Learn more about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Owners buy fish, rice and packaging continuously while waiting for commission payments, and some host locations have seasonal traffic, such as universities during breaks. A modest line of credit can smooth those gaps. See our restaurant working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. A selling franchisee may carry part of the goodwill price. Any seller note is typically subordinate to a senior loan and needs franchisor approval of the transfer.
SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. The SBA 7(a) program is widely used for franchise purchases, but it generally requires the brand to be on the SBA Franchise Directory. The 504 program, designed for real estate and long-lived fixed assets, does not fit a host-store unit.
SBA Loans for Hissho Sushi Franchisees
SBA lending for franchises runs through the SBA Franchise Directory, a list of brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a brand to appear on the directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees.
Hissho Sushi is not on the SBA Franchise Directory. In plain terms, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans are generally not available for a Hissho Sushi unit as things stand, so buyers should plan on conventional financing, equipment financing or the franchisor’s own financing. The absence of a listing is not a judgment about the brand.
Directory status can change, so confirm it with your lender. If the brand were ever added, the SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
How Lenders Evaluate a Hissho Sushi Deal
Personal credit and financial history. With little business collateral, personal credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement carry more weight than usual, and lenders typically require personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders look for cash beyond the franchisor’s capital minimum so the owner can absorb a slow month or an equipment repair. Our article on how much franchise you can afford walks through the math.
Industry and management experience. Sushi chef or food service experience is a major plus, since many units are owner-operated.
Business plan and projections. A credible plan starts from expected gross sales at the host location, subtracts the host’s commission, the franchisor’s compensation and the brand fund, and then models food cost, labor and debt service.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, transfer restrictions and the provision that ends the franchisee’s rights if the host arrangement ends.
The host location. Lenders ask how long the host relationship has existed and how much traffic the store draws.
For resales, historical commission statements. Buyers should provide the unit’s monthly statements and commission history so the lender can confirm the income being purchased.
Equipment and Food Safety
A Hissho bar is a compact food production station. Equipment includes refrigerated display cases, rice cookers and warmers, cutting and prep stations, refrigeration and, at some units, a sushi robot that automates part of the preparation. The FDD notes that equipment is purchased from the franchisor, an affiliate or approved vendors, and that those purchases are non-refundable.
Because raw fish is involved, a refrigeration failure can mean lost inventory and a closed bar, so owners should keep a repair reserve.
Multi-Unit Growth
Growth in the Hissho system can mean adding Full Service bars in other host locations, adding Satellite bars supplied from an existing unit, or buying units from other franchisees. Additional Full Service units carry a franchise fee of $7,500, $3,750 or $1,875 depending on the remaining term.
Financing additional units. Once an owner has commission history, lenders can underwrite it alongside a new unit, and spreading units across hosts reduces single-location risk. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how lenders approach growth.
Real-World Scenarios
A sushi chef opening a first bar. An experienced chef forms an LLC, pays the franchise fee and training from savings, and uses a small equipment loan for display cases and prep equipment, keeping cash for inventory and a reserve.
An owner adding a sushi robot. A franchisee whose host store has strong traffic adds a sushi robot through the franchisor’s financing to increase output without adding labor.
A buyer acquiring an existing unit. A buyer purchases an established bar’s goodwill from a retiring franchisee. The lender reviews commission statements and the host relationship, and the seller carries a small subordinate note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming an SBA loan is available for a brand that is not on the SBA Franchise Directory
- Projecting from register sales instead of net commissions after host and franchisor deductions
- Relying on a single host location without a plan if that host relationship ends
- Overlooking the one-year waiting period before most transfers of control
- Skipping a repair reserve for refrigeration and display equipment
- Not comparing franchisor equipment financing with outside options
For more pitfalls across the industry, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Hissho Sushi Franchise
Step 1: Request the FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Step 2: Confirm the franchisor’s requirements. Make sure you meet the capital minimum, background checks and entity requirement.
Step 3: Understand the host location. Ask about the host’s commission, traffic and minimum sales rules.
Step 4: Build your projections. Model net commissions, food cost, labor and debt service.
Step 5: Compare financing options. Weigh franchisor financing against conventional and equipment loans. Our conventional loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only and are not an offer or approval.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit tax returns, bank statements, a personal financial statement and the FDD, and align closing with your training and opening date.
Hissho Sushi Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Hissho Sushi franchise?
According to the 2026 FDD, the estimated initial investment is $26,789 to $144,429, plus $0 to $150,000 if you buy an existing unit.
What is the Hissho Sushi franchise fee?
$7,500 for a Full Service Sushi Bar or Asian Food Bar, and no initial fee for a Satellite Sushi Bar.
What royalty does Hissho Sushi charge?
The FDD describes compensation to the franchisor of typically 0% to 20% of gross sales, varying widely, plus a brand fund of up to 2% of net sales. The host store also keeps a commission, typically 27% of gross sales.
How much capital do I need?
The franchisor’s website lists a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000 in capital.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Hissho Sushi franchise?
Hissho Sushi is not listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, and SBA lenders generally require a listing, so SBA financing is generally not available. Confirm current status with your lender.
Does Hissho Sushi offer financing?
The 2026 FDD says the franchisor may finance part of equipment and small wares, and financing may be available for sushi robots. Review Item 10 for terms.
Can I buy an existing Hissho Sushi unit?
Yes, with franchisor approval. The FDD lists a goodwill price of $0 to $150,000, and transfers of control generally require at least one year of operation.
Can I own the business as an individual?
No. The FDD requires the franchisee to be an approved legal entity, such as a corporation or LLC.
What happens if the host store ends the arrangement?
According to the FDD, the franchisee’s rights to that location end as well, with no compensation and no guarantee of another location. Lenders weigh this risk carefully.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Check Item 19 of the current FDD. Results vary by unit and host location and are not a promise of future performance.
Final Thoughts
A Hissho Sushi franchise loan is usually small, but it calls for careful planning around the host-store model. Buyers who project from net commissions, keep a reserve and compare franchisor and outside financing give themselves the best chance of a smooth start.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, equipment, acquisitions and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
