How to Finance a Pokemoto Franchise: Poke Shop Startup Costs
By Marc Cornella
A Pokemoto franchise loan usually finances a small, fast-casual poke shop rather than a large restaurant with a full commercial cooking line. Because the concept skips grills, fryers and ventilation hoods, most of the money goes into leasehold improvements, refrigeration and prep equipment, opening costs and a working capital cushion.
Below we cover what a Pokemoto shop costs, the ongoing fees, the brand’s SBA Franchise Directory listing and how buyers typically assemble financing.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Pokemoto; 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 lender review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current disclosure document and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Pokemoto Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Initial franchise fee: $30,000 for a first shop, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), with reduced fees of $25,000 for a second shop and $20,000 for a third and later shops.
- Royalty: 6% of gross sales.
- Brand development fee: 1% of gross sales under the 2024 FDD.
- Estimated initial investment: $184,500 to $378,400 for a single shop under the 2024 FDD.
- Typical footprint: 1,000 to 2,000 square feet.
- Franchise term: 10 years, with one 5-year renewal at the franchisee’s option.
- System size: the franchising page currently reports 43 locations open, with more in development.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as POKEMOTO under code S4984.
What Is Pokemoto?
Pokemoto is a fast-casual restaurant brand built around Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls, where guests choose a base, proteins, mix-ins, toppings and sauces. The franchisor, Poke Co Holdings LLC, is a Connecticut limited liability company, and its disclosure document says it began offering franchises in July 2018. The franchising page notes that the brand was acquired by a new parent company in 2025.
The concept sells through several channels: dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering and digital ordering, along with beverages. The 2024 FDD describes a typical shop of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, which places most Pokemoto locations in inline or endcap retail space rather than freestanding buildings.
Why lenders view Pokemoto the way they do. Lenders generally see a smaller, younger system with a modest investment and a simple kitchen. The lower equipment cost helps, but results rest on location, labor and food cost control, so lenders focus on the operator and the site.
Pokemoto Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. According to the 2024 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $30,000 for a first shop. A franchisee or its affiliates pay $25,000 for a second shop and $20,000 for a third and each later shop. The FDD also describes a veteran’s incentive program under which the first-shop fee may be reduced to $20,000.
Lease and build-out. The largest variable in a Pokemoto budget is the space itself. The 2024 FDD estimates leasehold improvements at $80,000 to $200,000, plus 3 months of rent at $9,000 to $27,000 and a security deposit of $3,000 to $9,000. The spread reflects differences in the condition of the space, landlord allowances and local construction costs.
Equipment and technology. Equipment, furniture and signs run $38,000 to $53,000 under the FDD estimate, with a computer and point-of-sale system at $1,500 to $3,000 and video surveillance at $1,000 to $5,000. Because the concept has no grills, fryers or hoods, this budget centers on refrigeration, prep tables, rice equipment, display cases and front-of-house fixtures.
Opening costs and working capital. The FDD also budgets for insurance, permits, initial inventory, training travel, professional fees, a grand opening and 3 months of additional funds.
Total investment. The 2024 FDD estimates the total initial investment for one Pokemoto shop at $184,500 to $378,400, broken down as follows:
- Initial franchise fee: $30,000
- Rent (3 months): $9,000 to $27,000
- Security deposit: $3,000 to $9,000
- Leasehold improvements: $80,000 to $200,000
- Equipment, furniture and signs: $38,000 to $53,000
- Computer system including POS: $1,500 to $3,000
- Video surveillance system: $1,000 to $5,000
- Insurance (annual premium): $1,500 to $7,400
- Permits and licenses: $500 to $1,000
- Initial inventory: $5,000 to $10,000
- Initial training fee and travel: $2,500 to $6,000
- Professional fees: $500 to $5,000
- Grand opening: $7,000 to $12,000
- Additional funds (3 months): $5,000 to $10,000
The franchising page currently shows a higher investment estimate than the 2024 FDD, so buyers should ask for the most recent FDD and build their loan request from its Item 7 table rather than from older numbers. Our overview of franchise start-up financing explains how lenders turn an Item 7 table into a project budget.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty. The 2024 FDD sets the royalty at 6% of gross sales, and the current franchising page shows the same rate.
Brand development fee. The 2024 FDD sets a brand development fee of 1% of gross sales. The current franchising page describes the marketing contribution in more than one way, so confirm the rate in the FDD you receive.
Technology fee. The 2024 FDD says a technology fee was not being charged at the time but was expected to run $75 to $300 per month.
Transfer and renewal fees. A transfer costs $10,000, and the renewal (successor franchise) fee is 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee.
Remodels. The FDD lists failure to remodel when required as a ground for default and says a buyer of an existing shop may be required to remodel as a condition of transfer.
How lenders factor these costs in. In any Pokemoto franchise loan, royalty and brand fund payments come off the top of gross sales, before rent, food, packaging and labor. Lenders subtract these percentages, add realistic rent and labor and test whether the remaining cash flow covers the loan payment with room to spare.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchising materials reviewed for this article do not publish a minimum net worth or liquid capital figure for Pokemoto, so the practical threshold is usually set by the loan program and the size of the project. Lenders generally expect a cash injection from the buyer plus reserves after closing.
Training. The 2024 FDD describes an initial training program of about two weeks that combines classroom hours and on-the-job training, and the franchising page notes that a team member is on site for opening.
Site acceptance. The FDD treats failure to secure an accepted location within the required time as a default, so the lease search needs to start early and move in step with financing.
Territory. Under the 2024 FDD, franchisees receive no exclusive or protected territory.
Ways to Own a Pokemoto
A new shop. A Pokemoto franchise loan for a new shop in leased retail space is underwritten on projections, the operator’s experience and the lease, with build-out typically funded in stages.
Buying an existing shop. A resale gives a lender actual sales, food cost and labor data. The FDD says the transferee must take over the shop lease and may need to remodel. Our article on buying a franchise resale covers transfer approval and timing, and our franchise restaurant acquisition page explains how we approach these purchases.
Multiple shops. The tiered fee schedule rewards owners who open a second and third shop, and the franchising page notes units signed through development agreements. Financing differs because the lender looks at the full growth plan as well as each location.
Pokemoto Franchise Loan Options
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Pokemoto is on the SBA Franchise Directory, the SBA 7(a) loan program is often a strong fit for a new shop or a resale. A single 7(a) loan can cover leasehold improvements, equipment, the franchise fee, opening inventory and working capital.
SBA 504 loans. The SBA 504 program is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets. Since most Pokemoto shops lease small retail spaces, 504 financing fits only when an owner buys the building or a commercial condo unit.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong financials may qualify for a conventional business loan, especially when adding shops.
Equipment financing. Walk-in and reach-in refrigeration, refrigerated prep tables, rice cookers and warmers, display cases, beverage equipment, POS hardware and signage can be financed separately. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Build-out financing. Leasehold improvements are the largest single line in the Item 7 table. Read how lenders structure restaurant build-out financing and how a landlord allowance can reduce the amount you need to borrow.
Working capital and lines of credit. Poke depends on fresh fish and produce bought several times a week. A line of credit can help with the first months after opening, delivery payout timing and seasonal traffic shifts. Learn more about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. In the purchase of an existing shop, a seller may agree to carry part of the price. Any seller note would need to be acceptable to the senior lender and is typically subordinate, and SBA program rules may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Pokemoto Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. A listing means the franchise agreement has been reviewed for SBA eligibility; it does not approve any borrower or any particular shop.
Pokemoto’s listing. Pokemoto appears on the directory as POKEMOTO under code S4984. The listing carries several notes:
- Lease rider and real estate: when the real estate where the shop is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the franchisor’s form lease rider may not be executed. In plain terms, the lease rider is meant for leased locations, and it cannot be used where the owner pledges the property.
- Lien position: the lender or CDC must obtain the correct lien position on all collateral under SBA rules.
- No purchase option on pledged real estate: the franchisor may not enforce a purchase option on real estate owned by the franchisee or its affiliate when that property is taken as collateral for the SBA loan.
- No filings against SBA collateral: the franchisor may not file anything against the real estate that secures the SBA loan.
For buyers who lease their space, these notes mainly confirm the franchise relationship works within SBA rules; they matter most for an owner who buys the building.
Program size. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
SBA application tips. Bring the current FDD and franchise agreement, a lease or letter of intent, contractor and equipment bids, recent tax returns, a personal financial statement and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only and are not an offer or approval.
How Lenders Evaluate a Pokemoto Deal
Credit, net worth and liquidity. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, typically require personal guarantees and, even without a published franchisor minimum, expect cash for the equity injection plus reserves to carry the shop through the opening ramp.
Industry and management experience. Restaurant or retail management experience strengthens a request. Familiarity with raw fish handling, food safety and inventory rotation is especially relevant in poke.
Business plan and projections. Projections should model the 6% royalty and the brand development fee, food and packaging costs for a protein-heavy menu, delivery platform commissions on a share of sales and labor scheduled around lunch and dinner peaks.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders look at the 10-year term, the renewal right, transfer terms and the lack of a protected territory, which affects how they judge competition near the site.
Site and lease. Because most shops lease space, lenders review rent, the lease term and renewal options, the landlord’s tenant improvement allowance and co-tenancy. A lease term that runs at least as long as the loan is typically expected.
Equipment and Kitchen Design
The absence of grills, fryers and hoods is one of the most financing-relevant features of a Pokemoto shop. Without a full hood and fire-suppression system, build-out can be simpler and the kitchen footprint smaller, which helps explain the brand’s modest equipment line in the Item 7 table.
The cold chain becomes the critical system instead: walk-in or reach-in refrigeration, a refrigerated make line, rice cooking and holding equipment, beverage equipment and POS and ordering technology.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
The 2024 FDD’s fee schedule drops the initial fee from $30,000 for the first shop to $25,000 for the second and $20,000 for each later shop, which supports owners who plan a cluster of locations. The franchising page also reports units signed through development agreements.
Financing a second or third shop. Once the first shop has operating history, lenders can underwrite its cash flow alongside projections for the next. Owners may finance each shop separately or arrange financing for a planned sequence. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how lenders look at a growing group.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner with restaurant management experience. A former restaurant general manager signs for one shop in a suburban shopping center. She uses an SBA 7(a) loan for build-out, equipment, the franchise fee and working capital, and negotiates a tenant improvement allowance that reduces the loan amount.
Buying an existing shop. A buyer acquires an operating Pokemoto from an owner who is relocating. The lender reviews the shop’s tax returns and sales reports, the remaining lease term and any remodel the franchisor requires as a condition of transfer, and the seller carries a small subordinate note.
An operator adding a third shop. An owner with two stabilized shops opens a third at the reduced franchise fee. The lender underwrites combined cash flow and finances the new location with a term loan, with equipment financed separately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Building a budget from an older Item 7 table instead of the most recent FDD
- Underestimating leasehold improvements, which carry the widest range in the estimate
- Leaving out delivery platform commissions when modeling cash flow
- Assuming a protected territory when the FDD provides none
- Signing a lease that runs shorter than the loan term
- Skimping on refrigeration quality or reserves for repairs
For more pitfalls that affect restaurant owners, read about common restaurant loan mistakes.
Next Steps to Finance Your Pokemoto Franchise
Step 1: Request and review the current FDD. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 12 and 17 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Assess your capital. Total your liquid funds and net worth, and estimate how much you can contribute while keeping reserves.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist early. Learn how an SBA 7(a) or conventional loan would be sized before you commit to a site.
Step 4: Secure an accepted site. Negotiate the lease, a tenant improvement allowance and renewal options, and get franchisor acceptance of the location.
Step 5: Gather bids and build projections. Collect contractor and equipment quotes and build monthly projections.
Step 6: Apply and coordinate approvals. Submit the loan package and keep the lender’s timeline aligned with the franchise agreement and lease.
Step 7: Close, build and open. Manage construction draws, finish training and protect your working capital.
Pokemoto Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Pokemoto franchise?
The 2024 FDD estimates the total initial investment for one shop at $184,500 to $378,400. The current franchising page shows a higher estimate, so use the Item 7 table in the latest FDD.
What is the Pokemoto franchise fee?
The 2024 FDD sets the initial franchise fee at $30,000 for a first shop, $25,000 for a second and $20,000 for a third and later shops. A veteran’s incentive may reduce the first-shop fee to $20,000.
What royalty does Pokemoto charge?
The royalty is 6% of gross sales. The 2024 FDD also sets a 1% brand development fee and describes a technology fee that was expected to apply.
Is Pokemoto on the SBA Franchise Directory?
Yes. Pokemoto is listed as POKEMOTO under code S4984, which allows SBA lenders to consider 7(a) and 504 loans for its franchisees, subject to normal underwriting.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The franchising materials reviewed do not publish a minimum. In practice, you need enough cash for the loan program’s equity injection plus reserves after opening, and the amount depends on your total project cost.
Does Pokemoto offer financing?
No. The 2024 FDD states in Item 10 that the franchisor does not offer financing directly or indirectly, and the franchising page says it does not provide financing.
Can I buy an existing Pokemoto shop?
Yes, with franchisor approval. The 2024 FDD charges a $10,000 transfer fee, requires the buyer to take over the shop lease and may require a remodel.
Can a first-time business owner get a Pokemoto franchise loan?
Yes, if the franchisor approves you and you meet lender requirements; relevant management experience and adequate reserves help.
How long is the Pokemoto franchise term?
The 2024 FDD sets an initial term of 10 years, with one additional 5-year term at the franchisee’s option.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
The 2024 FDD did not include a financial performance representation. Check Item 19 of the current FDD, and rely on actual financial statements when buying an existing shop.
Final Thoughts
A Pokemoto shop is a compact investment with a simple kitchen, but it still requires careful planning around build-out, lease terms, food costs and working capital. With an SBA Franchise Directory listing in place, buyers have access to SBA 7(a) financing as well as conventional and equipment options, and the strongest requests pair the current FDD with a realistic site budget and a cushion for the opening months.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment, working capital and refinancing. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
