How to Finance a Krave It Franchise: Loaded Pizza and SBA
By Chris Cornella
A Krave It franchise loan pays for a counter-service pizza and sandwich shop known for over-the-top pies, overstuffed subs and toppings most pizzerias would never try. The brand started in Bayside, Queens, grew to several New York City shops and has since reached Colorado, and it is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, which opens the door to SBA-guaranteed financing for eligible buyers.
Below we cover the concept, costs to confirm in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), how lenders size the loan and the brand’s SBA directory note.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Krave It; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, so review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant before you sign.
Krave It Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a pizza and sandwich joint selling loaded specialty slices and whole pies, a long list of heavily sauced subs, smothered fries and tots, wings and salads.
- Origin: a family-owned business started by a husband-and-wife team in Bayside, Queens, which is still home to its corporate office.
- Footprint: shops in New York City, with franchised expansion into the Denver area of Colorado.
- Format: counter service with a slice case, takeout, delivery and limited seating, often in a busy storefront.
- Franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and total investment: not published by the franchisor; confirm them in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current FDD.
- Net worth and liquidity: no published minimum; ask for the franchisor’s financial qualifications.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Krave it (code S8247), with a note about the Lease Addendum when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Krave It?
Krave It began as a neighborhood sandwich shop in Bayside and turned into a destination for creative pizza. Its founders grew up in Queens, and the shop built a following on social media with pies topped with everything from tater tots and chips to cheeseburger fixings, plus seasonal novelties that draw lines on launch days.
Shop formats. New York locations are compact, high-traffic storefronts that stay open late, with a slice case up front, a pizza oven line and sandwich prep behind the counter. A newer Colorado location took over a former pizzeria space, a sign the brand can reuse existing pizza kitchens.
How lenders view the concept. Krave It is an emerging brand with a small number of shops and a recognizable menu, not a national chain. Underwriters lean on the operator’s background and the trade area more than brand awareness. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how that review works.
Krave It Franchise Costs
The franchisor does not post fees or an investment range publicly, so your budget should come from the current FDD plus quotes from contractors, equipment vendors and your landlord.
Initial franchise fee
Item 5 of the FDD states the initial franchise fee, when it is due and whether any portion is refundable. If the franchisor offers multi-unit rights, Item 5 or the development agreement will also show any development fee and how it is credited against later units.
Real estate and build-out
Pizza is a ventilation-heavy business. Build-out typically covers a hood and fire-suppression system over the ovens and fryers, gas service, grease management, electrical capacity, a walk-in cooler, a front counter with a slice display, restrooms and signage. Taking over a former pizzeria or restaurant can save a large share of this work, while a raw retail shell usually costs the most.
Equipment
Expect pizza ovens, dough mixers, fryers, a sandwich prep table, refrigeration, a slice warmer and a point-of-sale system tied to delivery platforms.
Opening costs and working capital
Pre-opening costs include training travel, payroll before opening, food and paper inventory, a launch promotion, deposits, insurance and permits. Item 7 also lists additional funds for the first months.
Total investment
When you read Item 7, check each line item and the assumptions behind its range:
- Initial franchise fee
- Deposits and rent during build-out
- Leasehold improvements, hood and construction
- Pizza ovens and kitchen equipment
- Furniture, fixtures, signage and technology
- Opening inventory and supplies
- Training, pre-opening payroll and grand opening marketing
- Licenses, permits, insurance and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 lists the royalty, any marketing fund contribution, technology fees, transfer and renewal fees, and other recurring charges. Royalties and marketing fees are usually a percentage of gross sales, so they rise with volume and are paid before rent, payroll and food.
A lender builds those fees into the projected income statement before it calculates debt service coverage. Also ask whether the agreement requires remodels during the loan term.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor does not publish minimum net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements.
Ask the franchisor for its financial qualifications, experience expectations and approval steps in writing. Lenders apply their own standards for equity and reserves either way.
Ways to Own a Krave It
A new shop. Most owners will open a new location in an approved territory. Lenders underwrite a start-up on projections, the lease and the owner’s experience. Our page on restaurant start-up financing explains how new units are typically funded.
Buying an existing franchised shop. If a franchised location comes up for sale, the franchisor must approve the transfer and the buyer will sign the current franchise agreement or assume the existing one. A resale gives lenders historical sales, food cost and labor data. See our article on buying a franchise resale.
Financing Options for a Krave It Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. SBA 7(a) loans can combine leasehold improvements, equipment, the franchise fee, opening inventory and working capital in a single loan, and can also fund a building purchase. The 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, and program rules can change.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy or build the property, SBA 504 loans are built for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Read the directory note below first, because it changes the lease paperwork when real estate secures the loan.
Conventional term loans. Experienced restaurant operators with strong liquidity and a track record may use conventional business loans, especially for a second or third shop.
Equipment financing. Pizza ovens, mixers, fryers, refrigeration and point-of-sale hardware can be financed on their own, with the equipment as collateral. Our page on restaurant equipment financing and leasing covers the options, and your main lender will count that payment in its review.
Working capital and lines of credit. A new pizza shop needs cash for payroll during ramp-up, weekly food orders, delivery platform payout timing and slower weeks. See our page on restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. On the purchase of an existing shop, a seller may agree to carry part of the price. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the primary loan, and SBA rules may limit their terms.
SBA Loans for Krave It Franchisees
SBA loans are made by participating lenders, with the SBA guaranteeing part of the loan. For a franchise, the lender must also confirm that the franchise agreement leaves the owner in control of the business, and the SBA Franchise Directory makes that review easier.
The directory listing. Krave It appears on the SBA Franchise Directory as “Krave it” under code S8247. A listing means the brand’s documents have been reviewed for eligibility; it does not approve any borrower or guarantee a loan.
What the directory note means. The listing says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located secures the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Addendum may not be executed. In plain English, the brand’s Lease Addendum is a document meant for leased sites that gives the franchisor certain rights with the landlord. If you own the building and pledge it as collateral for the SBA loan, that addendum is not signed for the deal. If you lease your space, the note does not apply.
SBA application tips. Have the franchise agreement, lease or purchase contract, contractor quotes, a sources and uses statement, tax returns and a food-service resume for each owner ready.
How Lenders Evaluate a Krave It Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review each owner’s credit report, tax returns and existing debts. Significant owners typically sign personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders look at the cash you will inject and the reserves you keep after closing.
Food-service experience. Running a pizza kitchen means managing dough production, oven timing, food cost and late-night staffing. Lenders want to see that someone on the ownership team has done this, or that a strong manager is hired from day one.
Business plan and projections. Projections should reflect your trade area, foot traffic, the split between slices, whole pies and sandwiches, delivery commissions, late-night hours and the royalty and marketing fees. Our article on how lenders use the FDD shows which disclosures shape those assumptions.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders check the agreement term, renewal rights, transfer rules and any remodel requirements, and they want the term to run at least as long as the loan. Review Item 19 to see whether the FDD includes financial performance representations, and Item 10 for any franchisor financing.
The site and lease. A lease shorter than the loan term, or one without renewal options, can limit the offer. On a resale, expect a review of several years of financial statements.
The Pizza Kitchen and Equipment
The oven is the heart of the operation, and its type drives cost, ventilation requirements and staffing. Deck ovens take skill to run; conveyor ovens are more consistent but use more space and power. Confirm which ovens are approved before designing the kitchen, since the hood and gas work depend on it.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
If the franchisor grants multi-unit or area rights, the development schedule must match how quickly you can raise equity and qualify for new loans. Each shop is usually financed on its own, based on how the open shops perform. SBA program limits apply across all of a borrower’s SBA loans, so larger plans often shift to conventional financing. Read our article on multi-unit franchise financing before you sign a schedule.
Real-World Scenarios
A pizzeria manager stepping up. A longtime pizza kitchen manager uses a Krave It franchise loan through SBA 7(a) to fund build-out, ovens and opening costs, with personal savings and a relative’s investment covering the equity.
An owner buying the building. An operator buys a small mixed-use building for the shop. The loan is secured by the real estate, so, under the directory note, the Lease Addendum is not executed for that loan.
A resale purchase. A buyer takes over an operating shop with a sales history. The lender underwrites the historical financials, and a seller note placed behind the main loan helps bridge the price.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting from estimates instead of the current FDD’s Item 7 and real contractor quotes
- Underestimating hood, gas and fire-suppression costs in a non-restaurant space
- Ignoring delivery platform commissions when projecting late-night and takeout sales
- Leaving royalty, marketing and technology fees out of cash flow projections
- Signing a lease that ends before the loan is repaid
- Opening with too little working capital for the ramp-up period
For more pitfalls, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Krave It Franchise
Step 1: Confirm availability. Ask the franchisor whether your market is open and what experience and capital it expects from owners.
Step 2: Review the FDD. Read the current disclosure document with a franchise attorney, with special attention to Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19.
Step 3: Build a complete budget. Include the franchise fee, build-out, ovens and equipment, opening costs, licenses, working capital and a contingency.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist early. Use our SBA loan calculator for planning estimates only; it is not an offer or approval.
Step 5: Secure the site. Negotiate a lease or purchase that fits your loan term, and tell your lender whether real estate will secure the loan.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your documents, coordinate franchisor and lender approvals, and time construction and training around the closing date.
Krave It Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Krave It franchise cost?
The franchisor does not publish an investment range. Item 7 of the current FDD lists the estimated initial investment, and your site, build-out and equipment choices determine where your project falls in that range.
What is the Krave It franchise fee and royalty?
Items 5 and 6 of the current FDD state the initial franchise fee, the royalty and any marketing contribution. Request the latest disclosure document from the franchisor.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The franchisor does not publish a minimum. Lenders will expect cash for your equity injection plus reserves after closing.
Is Krave It eligible for SBA loans?
Krave It is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8247, so eligible borrowers may apply for SBA-guaranteed financing, subject to program rules and lender approval.
What does the SBA directory note mean for me?
If you own the property and it will secure the SBA loan, the brand’s Lease Addendum may not be signed for that loan. If you lease, the note does not apply.
Can I use a Krave It franchise loan to buy an existing shop?
Yes, if a franchised location is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. The shop’s historical financials will drive the loan amount.
Do I need restaurant experience?
The franchisor does not publish an experience requirement, but lenders want food-service management on the ownership team or a strong hired manager.
Can I finance the pizza ovens separately?
Yes. Ovens and kitchen equipment can be financed or leased on their own; your main lender counts that payment in its review.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the current FDD sets the term, renewal and transfer rules. Lenders want the term to run at least as long as the loan.
Does Krave It offer financing?
Item 10 of the current FDD describes any financing the franchisor offers. Most owners arrange their own loans.
Final Thoughts
A Krave It franchise loan fits an operator who wants a high-energy pizza and sandwich concept and is ready for the kitchen demands of loaded specialty pies and late hours. Pin down the real costs in the current FDD, budget carefully for the hood and ovens, keep a healthy working capital cushion and decide early whether you will lease or own your site.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance new shops, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing programs.
