How to Finance a Poke I Love You Franchise: Poke and Boba Costs
By Anthony Cornella
A Poke I Love You franchise loan finances a small fast-casual restaurant that pairs build-your-own poke bowls with bubble tea and matcha drinks. Poke I Love You is a young South Florida brand that started in Davie and invites franchise inquiries through its own website, so buyers are financing an early-stage concept where their own preparation carries as much weight as the brand.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Poke I Love You; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document 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 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Poke I Love You Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: customizable poke bowls, ramen and Asian-inspired snacks, served alongside milk teas, fruit teas, boba slushies and Japanese matcha drinks.
- Brand stage: an emerging South Florida brand that began with a restaurant in Davie and announced a second, larger restaurant in Plantation in 2026.
- Franchise fee, royalty and marketing fund: not published in any franchisor source we could verify; confirm them in Items 5 and 6 of the current FDD.
- Estimated initial investment: not published in a source we could verify; the Item 7 table is the starting point for any loan request.
- Net worth and liquidity requirements: not published; ask during discovery.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as Poke I Love You (code S8271), with a note about the lease addendum when real estate secures the loan.
- Most likely financing: SBA 7(a) for a new restaurant, plus equipment financing and working capital.
What Is Poke I Love You?
Poke I Love You is a fast-casual poke and bubble tea concept created by a husband-and-wife team with a restaurant background. Guests build their own bowls on bases such as sushi rice, ramen noodles, spring mix or Thai rice, choose proteins such as salmon, ahi tuna, shrimp, crab, octopus, chicken, beef or tofu, and finish with a long list of vegetables, toppings and sauces. The menu adds ramen, bao buns, takoyaki, gyoza and Korean corn dogs.
Drinks are a second pillar. The restaurants serve milk teas and fruit teas with boba, slushies and matcha drinks made with Japanese matcha, offered with options such as oat milk, coconut, ube, espresso or orange juice. A strong beverage menu can lift average tickets and bring in afternoon traffic between meal periods.
Restaurant format. The original Davie restaurant is a compact counter-service shop, and the brand’s Plantation restaurant was planned as a larger space in a neighborhood shopping center with dine-in seating, takeout and room for groups. Most franchised units would likely follow a similar small-footprint, leased-space model; the FDD will describe the formats the franchisor approves.
Why lenders view Poke I Love You as an emerging brand. With only a handful of restaurants, there is little system history to study. Lenders will rely on the buyer’s restaurant experience, the site and conservative projections. Our article on financing an emerging franchise brand explains what changes when a system is new.
Poke I Love You Franchise Costs
We could not verify the brand’s fees or investment range in its own published materials, so this section explains what each category usually covers for a poke and boba restaurant and what to look for in the FDD.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 states the fee, when it is due and whether any part is refundable. It is generally paid at signing, before a loan closes, so many buyers pay it from personal cash.
Real estate and build-out. A poke and tea shop is usually built in leased retail space. Build-out can include a refrigerated prep line, plumbing and sinks, electrical work for tea and cooking equipment, a service counter, seating and finishes.
Equipment. The kitchen needs reach-in and walk-in refrigeration, a rice cooker and warmer, cold prep tables, ramen and snack equipment and, if fried items are on the menu, ventilation. The beverage station needs tea brewers, tapioca cookers, sealing machines, blenders, ice machines and refrigeration.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory of fresh seafood, produce, tea and packaging, plus signage, training, deposits, licenses, insurance and grand opening marketing, all come before the first sale. The FDD’s additional funds line estimates early operating needs.
Total investment. The Item 7 table adds these into a low and high estimate. A Poke I Love You franchise loan request should account for each line:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements and construction
- Kitchen and beverage equipment
- Furniture, fixtures and decor
- Point-of-sale and online ordering technology
- Signage
- Opening inventory and packaging
- Training expenses
- Rent and security deposits, licenses, permits and insurance
- Grand opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty and marketing. Item 6 lists the royalty, any brand fund contribution, local marketing requirements and when each is paid. Fees based on sales reduce the cash available for loan payments at every sales level.
Technology and delivery costs. Online ordering, loyalty programs and third-party delivery commissions can be meaningful for a takeout-heavy concept, and the franchise agreement may require remodels or equipment updates during the term.
Food costs. Raw fish and seafood are among the most expensive and perishable ingredients in fast casual. Waste control and supplier pricing directly affect margins, so a lender will look closely at your food cost assumptions.
How lenders factor these costs in. Lenders subtract food, labor, rent, royalties and marketing from projected sales and compare what remains with the loan payment, with extra attention to the ramp-up months.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
Poke I Love You has not published minimum net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements in a source we could verify. Expect a review of your finances, restaurant or management background and whether you will run the restaurant yourself or hire a manager.
The approval process. Expect an inquiry, a discovery call, delivery of the FDD, a review period and meetings with the founders before signing. Lenders want the franchise agreement, the FDD and the franchisor’s site approval before a loan closes.
Ways to Own a Poke I Love You
A new restaurant. Most buyers in a young system open a new location, which means financing the full start-up budget on projections. Read about our franchise start-up financing.
Buying an existing restaurant. If a franchised restaurant becomes available, a lender can underwrite its actual sales. Transfer approval, any transfer fee and the remaining term all matter. See our article on buying a franchise resale.
Financing Options for a Poke I Love You Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Poke I Love You is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can be considered for the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory and working capital, subject to lender approval and program rules.
SBA 504 loans. If a buyer purchases a building or commercial condominium for the restaurant, an SBA 504 loan can finance owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment. Most poke shops lease, so 504 financing fits only some deals.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong liquidity or collateral may qualify for conventional business loans, especially when buying an existing restaurant.
Equipment financing. Refrigeration, tea equipment, sealing machines and ice machines can be financed separately to preserve cash. Learn about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. A new restaurant needs cash for training payroll, fresh inventory and the slower weeks before regulars build. Explore our restaurant working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may agree to carry part of the price. A seller note must be acceptable to the senior lender, is typically subordinate to it, and loan programs may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Poke I Love You Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to be listed on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. A listing clears the franchise relationship; it does not approve any borrower or location.
Poke I Love You’s listing. The brand appears under code S8271. The directory note says that when the real estate where the franchise brand is located secures the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Addendum may not be executed. In plain English, the lease addendum is meant for a franchisee who rents its space. If a borrower owns the property and pledges it as collateral, the addendum should not be signed, because it could conflict with the lender’s claim on the real estate. Since most poke shops lease, the note matters mainly when an owner buys the building.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, although program rules can change. Confirm the listing with your lender at application.
SBA application tips. Gather the FDD, franchise agreement, proposed lease, contractor bids, equipment quotes, personal financial statements and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help estimate payments; results are estimates only and are not an offer.
How Lenders Evaluate a Poke I Love You Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and generally require a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Expect to make a cash injection and keep reserves after opening; extra liquidity helps offset a young brand’s short track record.
Industry and management experience. Restaurant management, food safety and seafood handling experience strengthen a request, as does a plan to hire an experienced manager.
Business plan and projections. Build projections around your trade area, lunch and dinner traffic, beverage sales, delivery share, food and labor costs, and royalty and marketing fees.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read Items 5, 6, 7, 17 and 20 and the franchisor’s financial statements in Item 21. Review Items 3 and 4 with your attorney, and check Item 19 for any financial performance representations. Our article on reading an FDD for financing explains what lenders focus on.
Site, lease and resale history. Lenders want a lease term that roughly covers the loan and reasonable rent. For an existing restaurant, expect to provide several years of financial statements and tax returns.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who do well with one restaurant may want another nearby. Lenders look for stable results at the first restaurant and review combined cash flow. If you sign a development agreement, make sure the schedule leaves time to finance and open each site. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how lenders approach growth.
Real-World Scenarios
A restaurant manager opening a first shop. A buyer with fast-casual management experience signs to open a Poke I Love You in a neighborhood center. An SBA 7(a) loan covers build-out, equipment and working capital, and the buyer pays the franchise fee and part of the project from savings.
A bubble tea owner adding a kitchen concept. An owner with tea shop experience opens a franchise and finances the beverage and refrigeration equipment separately to preserve cash.
A buyer purchasing an existing restaurant. A buyer acquires an operating franchised restaurant, and the lender underwrites its sales history with a small subordinate seller note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Borrowing without reading the full FDD, including Items 5, 6 and 7
- Underestimating seafood costs and waste
- Assuming results from the original restaurants will repeat in a new market
- Ignoring delivery commissions in projections
- Signing a lease before the franchisor and lender review it
For more pitfalls, read about the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Poke I Love You Franchise
Step 1: Request the FDD. Contact the franchisor through its franchise page and receive the current disclosure document.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Go through the FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant, including Items 3 and 4.
Step 3: Visit the restaurants. Spend time at the existing locations and ask about costs, staffing and ramp-up.
Step 4: Build your budget and projections. Organize costs by the Item 7 categories and use conservative sales assumptions.
Step 5: Speak with a financing specialist. Discuss your Poke I Love You franchise loan before you sign a lease.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your application with the lease, bids, FDD and personal financial documents, and coordinate closing with construction and training.
Poke I Love You Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Poke I Love You franchise?
The franchisor has not published an investment range in a source we could verify. The Item 7 table in the current FDD gives the estimated total.
What is the Poke I Love You franchise fee?
The fee is disclosed in Item 5 of the FDD. Ask the franchisor for the current amount.
What royalty does Poke I Love You charge?
Royalty and marketing fees appear in Item 6 of the FDD. Build them into your projections before applying for a loan.
Is Poke I Love You eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8271, so SBA lenders can consider loans to its franchisees under normal underwriting.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The brand has not published a minimum. Lenders expect a cash injection plus reserves for the opening months.
Can I finance the equipment separately?
Yes. Kitchen and beverage equipment can often be financed with its own loan or lease, subject to approval.
Does Poke I Love You offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the FDD, which discloses any financing the franchisor offers.
How long is the franchise term?
The term, renewal rights and transfer conditions are in Item 17. Lenders prefer a franchise term at least as long as the loan.
Can a first-time owner get a Poke I Love You franchise loan?
It is possible with restaurant management experience or a qualified manager, a solid plan and personal liquidity.
Final Thoughts
Poke I Love You combines two popular fast-casual categories, poke bowls and bubble tea, in a small-footprint restaurant, but as a young brand it calls for careful homework in the FDD. With its SBA listing in place, a prepared buyer can use SBA 7(a), equipment financing and working capital to open a new restaurant.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
