How to Finance a Pasta Di Guy Franchise: Fresh Pasta Startup
By Anthony Cornella
A Pasta Di Guy franchise loan funds a chef-driven, fast casual Italian restaurant built around fresh pasta bowls made to order. The brand is new to franchising, and its disclosure document shows a wide investment range, so the way you size and structure the loan will depend heavily on the site you choose and how much build-out it needs.
This article covers the investment figures stated in the franchisor’s 2024 disclosure document, the information you still need to collect, SBA and conventional financing, the brand’s SBA Franchise Directory note and what a lender will review. It is general information only. US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Pasta Di Guy; 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.
Pasta Di Guy Franchise Loan at a Glance
According to Pasta Di Guy’s 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document:
- Franchisor: Pasta Di Guy Franchise, LLC, a Florida limited liability company based in Wesley Chapel, Florida, formed in March 2024
- Total investment for one restaurant: $147,800 to $620,100
- Paid to the franchisor or its affiliates (single restaurant): $51,500 to $53,500 of that total
- Development agreement for three to ten restaurants: $232,800 to $920,100 total, including $135,800 to $352,800 paid to the franchisor or its affiliates
- Royalty, marketing fee and net worth or liquidity minimums: not available in a franchisor source we could verify; confirm them in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current document
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Pasta Di Guy (code S8115), with a note about the lease rider
Ask the franchisor for the most recent issuance, since a newer document may update these numbers.
What Is Pasta Di Guy?
Pasta Di Guy is a fast casual Italian concept created by chef Guy Carmeli, who trained classically in Europe and worked in fine dining kitchens before starting his own business. According to materials published by the company, the brand began as a food truck in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and grew into brick-and-mortar restaurants in Wesley Chapel and Trinity, Florida, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The menu centers on fresh pasta bowls, with a build-your-own pasta bowl option alongside salads, sandwiches and desserts. Guests order at the counter and food is cooked quickly, which keeps labor and dining room needs closer to a fast casual model than a full-service Italian restaurant.
Why the model matters to a lender. The franchisor entity is young, so lenders cannot lean on a long system history. They will look harder at the owner’s experience, liquidity, location and the quality of the projections. The concept’s modest footprint and simple counter-service format help, but the wide investment range means every request must be built around a specific site.
Pasta Di Guy Franchise Costs
The disclosure document estimates a total initial investment of $147,800 to $620,100 for one restaurant. That spread usually reflects the difference between taking over an existing restaurant space with usable kitchen infrastructure and building out a raw shell from scratch. The Item 7 table breaks the total into line items; the categories below explain how each one affects financing.
Initial franchise fee and payments to the franchisor
Between $51,500 and $53,500 of the investment is paid to the franchisor or its affiliates. The initial franchise fee is part of that amount, along with any other required payments such as training or opening support. Item 5 states the fee and whether it is refundable, and Item 7 shows what else is due.
Lease, build-out and construction
Leasehold improvements are usually the largest and most variable cost for a fast casual restaurant: plumbing, grease management, ventilation and hood, electrical, flooring, counters and finishes. A second-generation restaurant space can sharply reduce this line. Our article on restaurant build-out financing explains how lenders handle construction budgets and contingencies.
Kitchen equipment and furniture
Expect cooking equipment for pasta and sauces, refrigeration, prep tables, smallwares, a point-of-sale system and dining furniture. Item 8 describes any required suppliers or specifications.
Signage, opening inventory and grand opening
Exterior and interior signage, an opening stock of pasta ingredients, sauces and packaging, and grand opening marketing all appear in a typical Item 7 table.
Additional funds and working capital
The Item 7 table includes an additional funds estimate for an initial period. Treat it as a minimum. Payroll, rent, food costs and loan payments all start before the restaurant reaches steady sales.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 lists the royalty, any brand or marketing fund contribution, technology fees, required local advertising, transfer fees and renewal fees. We could not verify those rates in a franchisor source, so read them in the current document and ask whether any fee carries a minimum.
When sizing a Pasta Di Guy franchise loan, lenders deduct every percentage-of-sales fee before calculating how much cash remains for debt service. In a restaurant, food and labor already consume much of each sales dollar, so royalty and marketing fees directly limit the loan payment the business can carry. Model them at your projected sales level, not as an afterthought.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We did not find published net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements in a franchisor source we could verify. Expect the franchisor to review your finances, restaurant or management background, your plan for daily operations and your proposed market. Ask whether owners must work in the restaurant or may hire a general manager.
Plan the financing during discovery. A lender’s own cash injection and reserve expectations may exceed the franchisor’s minimums, so it pays to know both early.
Ways to Own a Pasta Di Guy Franchise
A single new restaurant. Most owners in a young system build a new location. Lenders underwrite it on projections, the site and your personal strength. Our page on restaurant start-up financing outlines how those loans are structured.
A development agreement. The disclosure document describes development agreements for three to ten restaurants, with a total investment of $232,800 to $920,100 including $135,800 to $352,800 paid to the franchisor or its affiliates. That upfront commitment is significant, and lenders usually finance one restaurant at a time while you fund the development fee from your own capital. Our article on financing an area development agreement covers this structure.
Buying an existing restaurant. As the system grows, resales may become available. The franchisor must approve any transfer, and the lender will review the restaurant’s actual results.
Financing Options for a Pasta Di Guy Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. An SBA 7(a) loan can combine the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, signage, opening inventory and working capital in one loan, subject to program rules and lender approval. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, and program rules can change.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy the building or land for a freestanding restaurant, an SBA 504 loan can finance the owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong credit, collateral and restaurant experience may qualify for conventional business loans, especially for a second location.
Equipment financing. Ranges, pasta cookers, refrigeration, prep stations and point-of-sale hardware can be financed through restaurant equipment financing and leasing, which preserves cash for opening costs. Those payments count in the debt a primary lender reviews.
Working capital and lines of credit. Payroll for training before opening, food inventory and early marketing come before steady sales. A line of credit can bridge slow weeks after launch. See our page on restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. If you buy an operating restaurant, the seller may agree to carry part of the price. A seller note is typically subordinate to the primary loan, and SBA rules may limit its terms.
SBA Loans for Pasta Di Guy Franchisees
SBA loans are made by participating lenders with an SBA guarantee on 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 simplifies that review.
The listing. Pasta Di Guy appears on the directory under code S8115. A listing means the brand’s agreements have been reviewed for eligibility; it does not approve a borrower or guarantee a loan.
What the directory note means. The listing says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Rider may not be executed. In plain English, the brand’s Lease Rider is a document for leased locations. If you own the restaurant property and pledge it to secure the SBA loan, there is no landlord lease for the rider to attach to, so it is not signed. Most owners will lease, so expect the rider to be part of your lease package.
Application tips. Prepare the disclosure document, franchise agreement, a signed or proposed lease, contractor bids, equipment quotes, a sources and uses statement, personal financial statements, tax returns and a résumé that highlights restaurant or management experience.
How Lenders Evaluate a Pasta Di Guy Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Your credit history, debts and personal guarantee carry real weight in a Pasta Di Guy franchise loan for a startup restaurant.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want to see the cash injection plus reserves left over after opening.
Restaurant and management experience. Food service management, multi-unit retail or hospitality experience strengthens the file. If you are new to restaurants, show who will run the kitchen and how you will be trained.
Business plan and projections. Base projections on realistic daily transactions, average ticket, food cost, labor, rent and every franchise fee. Explain the site’s traffic, parking and lunch and dinner demand. Our SBA loan calculator can help estimate payments for planning.
The disclosure document and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal, territory and transfer rules, and check whether Item 19 includes financial performance information. Our article on using the FDD in a financing request shows what to focus on.
Site and lease. The lease term should cover the loan term, and the lender will review rent, tenant improvement allowances and the landlord documents.
Financing a Young Franchise System
Because the franchisor entity was formed in 2024, there is limited franchisee history for a lender to study. That does not prevent financing, but it raises the bar on the rest of the file. A strong site, meaningful liquidity, relevant experience and conservative projections become more important. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how lenders approach newer brands.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who sign a development agreement commit to opening a set number of restaurants on a schedule. Lenders generally finance each restaurant as it is ready, based on the earlier units’ results and your remaining liquidity. Keep separate books for each restaurant from the start, and build the schedule around realistic lease and construction timelines.
Real-World Scenarios
A second-generation space. An owner takes over a former restaurant with a working hood and walk-in, keeping the build-out near the low end, and finances the project with an SBA 7(a) loan.
A ground-up build. An owner in a growing suburb builds out a shell space. The lender requires detailed contractor bids and a contingency, and equipment is financed separately.
A multi-unit developer. An experienced restaurant operator signs a development agreement, pays the development fee from savings and finances the first restaurant before applying for the next.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Requesting a loan before reading the current Items 5, 6 and 7
- Assuming the low end of the investment range applies to a raw shell space
- Leaving royalty and marketing fees out of projections
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
- Borrowing the development fee instead of funding it from capital
For more, read the restaurant loan mistakes to avoid.
Next Steps to Finance Your Pasta Di Guy Franchise
Step 1: Request the current disclosure document. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney.
Step 2: Confirm the requirements. Ask the franchisor about net worth, liquidity and experience expectations.
Step 3: Choose a site. Compare second-generation restaurant spaces with shell spaces, and get build-out estimates.
Step 4: Build a budget. Use every Item 7 line plus contractor and equipment quotes.
Step 5: Write projections. Include all franchise fees, food and labor costs and a ramp-up period.
Step 6: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA 7(a), SBA 504, conventional and equipment financing, and keep loan and franchisor approvals on the same timeline.
Pasta Di Guy Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Pasta Di Guy franchise cost?
The 2024 disclosure document estimates $147,800 to $620,100 for one restaurant, including $51,500 to $53,500 paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
What is the franchise fee and royalty?
Items 5 and 6 of the current disclosure document state the initial franchise fee, royalty and marketing contributions. We could not verify those rates in a franchisor source.
How much liquid capital do I need?
A published requirement was not available to us. Lenders will expect a cash injection plus reserves for the opening period.
Is Pasta Di Guy eligible for SBA loans?
The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8115, with a note about the Lease Rider. Approval depends on the borrower and the lender.
Can I open more than one restaurant?
Yes. The disclosure document describes development agreements for three to ten restaurants.
Can I finance the kitchen equipment separately?
Often, yes, through an equipment loan or lease, or within an SBA 7(a) loan. Separate payments count in your total debt.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
Item 10 of the disclosure document states whether the franchisor offers any financing.
How long is the franchise agreement?
The term and renewal rights appear in Item 17. Lenders generally want the term and lease to run at least as long as the loan.
Final Thoughts
A Pasta Di Guy franchise loan finances a young, chef-led fast casual brand with a flexible but wide investment range. Get the current disclosure document, pick a site that keeps the build-out under control, and bring the liquidity and experience that help a lender get comfortable with a newer system.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance restaurant startups, build-outs, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing programs and restaurant financing solutions.
