How to Finance a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise: Costs, SBA
By Chris Cornella
A Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchise loan funds something a little different from the usual burrito counter: a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with a full bar, handcrafted cocktails and catering under one roof. That bar program, a published investment that reaches $1.7 million and a $400,000 liquid capital requirement shape how buyers should plan their financing.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Lime Fresh Mexican Grill; 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 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant before signing anything.
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: fast-casual Mexican food with dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering and a full bar serving craft cocktails and fresh-squeezed margaritas.
- Origin: launched on South Beach in Miami in 2004; new ownership took over in 2016 and moved the brand toward its “LIME 2.0” design.
- Franchisor: LIME Fresh Mexican Grill Franchising LLC, based in St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Franchise fee: $45,000, with discounts the franchisor describes for veterans and multi-unit deals.
- Ongoing fees: an 8% royalty and a 2.5% national marketing fund contribution, both on gross revenues, according to the franchisor’s FAQ.
- Total investment: the franchise site’s estimate reaches $1.7 million, including the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
- Candidate minimums: $400,000 in liquid capital and a $1 million net worth.
- Term: 10 years, with two optional five-year renewal terms.
- Financing from the franchisor: none offered directly; the franchisor says it may refer candidates to outside financing sources.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Lime Fresh Mexican Grill (code S8866), with a note about the Lease Rider when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Lime Fresh Mexican Grill?
Lime Fresh opened in 2004 in South Beach, aiming to pair a Miami-style atmosphere with quick, made-fresh Mexican food. Current ownership took over the brand in 2016 and redesigned the restaurant as LIME 2.0, described as a next-generation fast-casual concept with mood lighting, eco-conscious materials and curated music.
What sets it apart. Many fast-casual restaurants offer limited alcohol or none. Lime Fresh builds a full-service bar into the restaurant.
Where it is growing. The franchise site lists open territories in South Florida, Central Florida and the Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast area, plus Atlanta and Charlotte, with other regions to follow. It offers single-unit, multi-unit and area development agreements with protected territories.
How lenders view the brand. A two-decade history and a Florida base help, but it is a smaller system than the national chains, so lenders weigh the operator, the trade area and the bar’s contribution heavily. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how underwriting shifts for smaller systems.
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise Costs
The franchise site publishes a fee, ongoing fee rates and a total investment estimate, while the line-item breakdown sits in Item 7 of the FDD. Pages on the franchise site state slightly different low ends for the range, so use the current FDD as your budget baseline.
Initial franchise fee
The fee is $45,000. Discounts for veterans and multi-unit commitments are mentioned, so ask how they are calculated and when each fee is due under a development agreement.
Real estate and build-out
Build-out is the largest variable. A full bar means more plumbing, a bar die and back bar, beverage refrigeration, possibly a draft system and more electrical capacity, on top of a full kitchen with hood and grease management.
Equipment
Expect grills, flat tops, fryers, steam wells and a make line, walk-in and reach-in refrigeration, bar coolers, ice machines and blenders for frozen drinks, plus the point-of-sale, online ordering and kitchen display systems.
Opening costs and working capital
The franchisor requires a minimum grand opening marketing spend. Add training travel, pre-opening payroll, food and liquor inventory, deposits, insurance, permits and the liquor license itself, then reserves for the first months.
Total investment
The franchise site’s estimate tops out at $1.7 million including the fee. When you read Item 7, compare each line with your own site and quotes:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits and rent during construction
- Leasehold improvements, kitchen and bar construction
- Kitchen, bar and refrigeration equipment
- Furniture, décor, signage and patio items
- Point-of-sale, ordering and back-office technology
- Opening food, beverage and liquor inventory
- Liquor license, permits, insurance and professional fees
- Training, pre-opening payroll and grand opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
The 8% royalty and 2.5% marketing fund contribution together take 10.5% of gross revenues before rent, labor, food and beverage costs. Item 6 lists technology, transfer and renewal fees.
Lenders subtract these fees in their projections before measuring whether cash flow covers debt service with a cushion.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor asks for at least $400,000 in liquid capital and a $1 million net worth. It says prior restaurant experience is not required, and it provides initial training, on-site grand opening support, an operations manual, field visits and marketing resources. Its franchise blog describes a six-week training program covering cooking, operations and profit-and-loss management.
Ways to Own a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
A new restaurant. Most owners will open a new unit in an approved territory, financed on projections, the lease and the owner’s resources. See our page on restaurant start-up financing for how lenders approach new locations.
Buying an existing restaurant. If a franchised unit comes up for sale, the franchisor must approve the transfer, and the liquor license must be transferred or reissued under state rules. A resale gives a lender real sales history to underwrite. Our article on buying a franchise resale covers approvals and diligence.
Multi-unit and area development. The franchisor offers multi-unit and area development deals with protected territories, covered in more detail below.
Financing Options for a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. For many buyers, the main Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchise loan will be one of the SBA 7(a) loans, which can combine the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, inventory and working capital, and can include 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 restaurant property, SBA 504 loans are built for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Read the directory note below before deciding to own.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong balance sheets may qualify for conventional business loans, especially for a second or third restaurant.
Equipment financing. Kitchen lines, bar coolers, ice machines and point-of-sale hardware can be financed separately with the equipment as collateral. Our page on restaurant equipment financing and leasing explains the options, and your primary lender will count those payments.
Working capital and lines of credit. Florida restaurants feel seasonal swings from winter visitors and summer heat, and liquor inventory and catering orders tie up cash. Our restaurant working capital page covers lines of credit and short-term options.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price on an existing restaurant. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the primary loan, and SBA rules may limit their terms.
SBA Loans for Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchisees
SBA loans are made by participating lenders with a partial SBA guarantee. For franchises, the lender must confirm that the franchise agreement leaves the owner in control of the business, and the SBA Franchise Directory simplifies that review.
The directory listing. Lime Fresh Mexican Grill appears on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8866. A listing means the brand’s documents have been reviewed for eligibility; it does not approve a borrower or guarantee a loan.
What the directory note means. The listing states that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Rider may not be executed. The Lease Rider is a franchisor document for leased sites that adds franchisor protections to your lease. If you own the property and pledge it as collateral for the SBA loan, that rider is not signed for the deal. If you lease, the note does not apply.
SBA application tips. Assemble the franchise agreement, the lease or purchase contract, contractor and equipment quotes, a sources and uses statement, tax returns, each owner’s resume and a timeline for the liquor license.
How Lenders Evaluate a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit reports, tax returns and debts, and significant owners usually sign personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. The franchisor’s $400,000 liquidity and $1 million net worth minimums are a starting point. Lenders also want to see your equity injection and reserves after closing.
Restaurant and bar experience. Experience is not required by the franchisor, but lenders favor owners or managers who have run a full-service bar, controlled liquor costs and managed shift staff.
Business plan and projections. Build assumptions for lunch, dinner and late-night traffic, the bar’s share of sales, catering, delivery commissions, the 10.5% in combined royalty and marketing fund fees and local marketing. Our article on how lenders read the FDD shows which disclosures drive these numbers.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders want the 10-year term, plus renewals, to cover the loan, and they review transfer rules and any remodel requirements. The franchisor references financial performance information in its FDD; review Item 19 with your accountant rather than relying on marketing summaries.
The site and lease. Visibility, parking, patio potential and a lease that runs past the loan term all matter, as does confirming the site can be licensed for alcohol.
The Full Bar: Licensing and Build-Out
The bar is the brand’s signature and the piece most likely to delay an opening. Liquor license rules, costs and waiting periods vary by state and county, and some licenses are limited in number and must be bought from an existing holder. Lenders generally want to see the licensing path confirmed before closing, and some will not count a license as collateral.
Plan the bar build-out alongside the kitchen: separate hand sinks, glass washers, beverage lines, ice production and secure storage.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Area development deals lock in a territory but commit you to an opening schedule. Lenders usually finance each restaurant separately, using the results of your open units to size the next loan, so tie the schedule to how quickly you can raise equity. SBA limits apply across a borrower’s SBA loans, so larger plans often shift to conventional or real estate financing. Read about multi-unit franchise financing before you sign.
Real-World Scenarios
A bar operator moving into franchising. A longtime bar manager uses an SBA 7(a) loan to open a unit in a former restaurant space, with an experienced kitchen manager hired before opening.
An owner buying the building. A buyer purchases a small freestanding building with an SBA 504 loan. Because the real estate secures the SBA financing, the Lease Rider is not signed for that loan under the directory note.
A multi-unit developer. A restaurant group signs an area development agreement in Central Florida, finances the first unit with SBA 7(a) and uses its results to qualify for conventional financing on the second.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the liquor license as an afterthought instead of a gating item for the loan and the opening date
- Budgeting from the top-line estimate instead of Item 7 and real contractor quotes
- Using one blended margin for food and drinks in projections
- Leaving the 10.5% in royalty and marketing fund fees out of cash flow
- Signing an area development schedule faster than your equity can support
- Opening without reserves for seasonal slow months
See the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most for more.
Next Steps to Finance Your Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise
Step 1: Confirm territory and fit. Talk with the franchisor about open markets and confirm you meet the liquidity and net worth minimums.
Step 2: Review the FDD. Go through Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Step 3: Map the liquor license. Learn the rules, cost and timing in your target city before committing to a site.
Step 4: Build your budget. Combine Item 7, real quotes and a contingency. Our SBA loan calculator gives planning estimates only; it is not an offer or approval.
Step 5: Secure the site. Negotiate a lease or purchase that fits the loan term and tell your lender whether the real estate will secure the loan.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your package and coordinate lender and franchisor approvals with construction, licensing and training.
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchise cost?
The franchise site’s estimate reaches $1.7 million, including the franchise fee. Item 7 of the current FDD gives the full range and line items.
What is the franchise fee?
$45,000, with discounts the franchisor describes for veterans and multi-unit agreements.
What are the royalty and marketing fees?
An 8% royalty and a 2.5% national marketing fund contribution, both based on gross revenues.
How much liquid capital and net worth do I need?
The franchisor lists $400,000 in liquid capital and a $1 million net worth.
Is Lime Fresh Mexican Grill eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. It is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8866, so eligible borrowers can apply for SBA-guaranteed financing, subject to program rules and lender approval.
What does the SBA directory note mean?
If real estate you own secures the SBA loan, the brand’s Lease Rider is not signed for that loan. If you lease the site, the note does not apply.
Do I need restaurant experience?
The franchisor says no, and it provides training. Lenders still favor owners who have restaurant or bar management experience on the team.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
Not directly. The franchisor says it may refer candidates to outside financing sources; Item 10 of the FDD describes any financing arrangements.
How long is the franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years, with two optional five-year renewals.
Can I use a Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchise loan to buy an existing restaurant?
Yes, if a unit is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer. The restaurant’s financial history will drive the loan amount.
Final Thoughts
A Lime Fresh Mexican Grill franchise loan suits a well-capitalized owner who wants a fast-casual restaurant with a full bar. Verify every number in the current FDD, settle the liquor license path early, model food and bar sales separately and keep reserves for seasonal swings.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance new restaurants, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Explore our franchise financing and restaurant financing programs to get started.
