How to Finance a Rising Roll Franchise: Campus and Office Cafes
By Chris Cornella
A Rising Roll franchise loan usually funds a gourmet sandwich cafe, and often one that sits somewhere other than a typical strip center: inside a university building, a medical center or a large office tower. That makes financing a little different from a standard restaurant deal, because the site agreement, the operating calendar and the customer base all come from the host property.
This article explains what Rising Roll is, how its formats affect costs, where the fees and investment appear in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which loan programs fit, and what the brand’s SBA Franchise Directory listing means.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Rising Roll; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in 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.
Rising Roll Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a fast-casual gourmet cafe serving cold and hot sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups and breakfast, plus catering.
- Franchisor: Rising Roll Franchising Company, LLC, which owns the brand’s trademarks.
- Home base: Atlanta, Georgia, with a franchise history going back to the early 2000s.
- Formats: non-traditional cafes inside universities, medical centers and Class A office buildings, plus traditional retail cafes.
- Signature feature: a deli case displaying made-from-scratch salads and sides.
- Fees and investment: the initial fee, royalty, marketing fund and Item 7 range are in the current FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S1434, with no additional notes.
What Is Rising Roll?
Rising Roll started in Atlanta as a gourmet sandwich shop and went through several names, including Rising Roll Gourmet, before settling on Rising Roll Gourmet Cafe. The company describes its menu as built on long-standing family recipes updated with chef-driven flavors. Signature items have included curry chicken salad, a spicy Firecracker Chicken sandwich and a turkey and pear sandwich with goat cheese, alongside classic chicken salad, potato salad and coleslaw. Gluten-reduced, vegan and lighter options appear on the menu as well.
For much of its history, Rising Roll grew through non-traditional venues: cafes on university campuses, inside hospitals and medical centers, and in the lobbies of Class A office buildings. The franchisor later turned its attention to traditional retail cafes with a refreshed design and service model, and introduced an area representative program to help develop territories. Campus cafes continue to operate under the brand today.
Why lenders view it the way they do. A cafe inside a hospital or office tower has a built-in customer base and often lower build-out costs than a freestanding restaurant. But its sales depend on the host’s population, schedule and contract terms, and the brand is a smaller system. Lenders weigh the host agreement, the operator’s experience and the borrower’s liquidity heavily.
Rising Roll Franchise Costs
We could not verify Rising Roll’s current fees or investment range from the franchisor’s own materials, so your loan request should be built from the current FDD.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 lists the fee, when it is due and any discounts for additional units or area representative arrangements.
Real estate and build-out. In a traditional retail cafe, you lease and build out a shell space with a kitchen, deli case, counter and seating. In a non-traditional venue, the host often provides part of the space and utilities, and the build-out may be smaller, but the work must meet the host’s construction and design standards. Our article on restaurant build-out financing explains how lenders handle construction costs.
Equipment. A Rising Roll cafe needs refrigerated deli cases, sandwich prep tables, reach-in and walk-in refrigeration, ovens or presses for hot sandwiches, soup wells, a coffee program and a point-of-sale system that can accept the host’s payment methods.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, training, staffing, insurance, deposits and grand opening marketing come before the first sale. Item 7 lists additional funds for the initial months.
Total investment. The Item 7 table typically covers:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements or host-site improvements
- Kitchen and deli equipment
- Furniture and fixtures
- Signage and decor
- Point-of-sale and technology
- Opening inventory
- Training expenses
- Deposits, licenses and insurance
- Additional funds for the initial period
Check whether Item 7 shows separate ranges for traditional and non-traditional cafes, since the difference can be meaningful.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any marketing fund, technology fees and transfer and renewal fees. In a non-traditional venue, you may also owe the host a commission or rent based on sales, which your lender will treat like occupancy cost.
Lenders deduct all of these before measuring whether the cafe can cover its loan payments. For a campus cafe, the academic calendar matters: summer sessions and breaks can bring reduced hours or a limited menu. Office and medical sites tend to be busiest on weekdays and quieter on weekends. Your projections should show these patterns month by month.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not verify published net worth or liquid capital minimums for Rising Roll. Expect the franchisor to review your personal financial statement, proof of funds, food service or management experience and, for non-traditional sites, your ability to work within a host’s rules. The franchisor has said it seeks both single-unit and multi-unit operators, and area representatives who develop territories.
Start your Rising Roll franchise loan conversation early, ideally before you sign a site agreement, so your financing and the host’s timeline line up.
Ways to Own a Rising Roll
Open a traditional cafe. A new retail cafe is financed on projections, your equity and your site. Our page on franchise start-up financing covers the basics.
Open a non-traditional cafe. A campus, hospital or office cafe depends on a host agreement. Lenders will want to read that agreement, its term and its termination rights.
Buy an existing cafe. A resale gives a lender real sales history, but for a host-site cafe, the host agreement must be transferable too. See our guide to buying a franchise resale.
Become an area representative or multi-unit owner. Owners who commit to developing several cafes need a capital plan for each opening.
Financing Options for a Rising Roll Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Rising Roll is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can cover the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy a building for a traditional cafe, an SBA 504 loan can finance owner-occupied real estate. Host-site cafes rarely involve real estate ownership.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong credit may prefer conventional business loans, particularly for additional cafes.
Equipment financing. Deli cases, refrigeration, ovens, coffee equipment and POS hardware can be financed or leased on their own. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital and lines of credit. A line of credit can bridge slow summer weeks at a campus cafe, fund large catering orders and cover payroll during opening. Learn about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the main loan, and SBA rules may limit their structure.
SBA Loans for Rising Roll Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise agreements have been reviewed so SBA lenders can lend to their franchisees without a separate review of the franchise relationship. A listing does not approve any borrower.
Rising Roll is listed under code S1434 with no additional notes. In plain English, the brand’s agreements have been accepted for SBA lending without special conditions, so your lender can focus on you, your cafe and your site. Your lender will still confirm the listing is current when you apply.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
SBA application tips. Bring the FDD, the franchise agreement, your lease or host agreement, contractor bids, equipment quotes, a personal financial statement, tax returns and monthly projections that reflect the host’s calendar.
How Lenders Evaluate a Rising Roll Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit and tax returns and expect a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Your equity should come from verified sources, with reserves remaining after opening.
Industry and management experience. Restaurant or food service management experience is a major plus, especially for catering and institutional settings.
Business plan and projections. Show customer counts tied to the host’s population, average ticket, catering sales, and seasonal or weekday patterns.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review Item 17 for term, renewal and transfer rules, Item 10 for franchisor financing and Item 19 to see whether financial performance representations are included. Read Items 3 and 4 as well. Our article on reading an FDD for financing explains the key items.
Site, lease or host agreement. The agreement should generally run at least as long as the loan. Lenders look closely at termination clauses, since a host can sometimes end a food service contract early.
Historical financials for resales. Expect to provide several years of tax returns and sales reports.
Non-Traditional Sites: A Financing Deep Dive
Host-site cafes raise questions that ordinary restaurant loans do not. Who owns the improvements if the contract ends? Can the lender take a lien on equipment installed in a host building? Does the host agreement allow assignment to a lender or a future buyer? Answering these before you apply avoids delays. A shorter host agreement may call for a shorter loan term, and equipment financing can be a good fit because the equipment can be moved if the contract ends.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
After a first cafe shows stable results, lenders can count that cash flow when sizing loans for more cafes. Our guide to multi-unit franchise financing explains how owners structure growth. Area representative arrangements add their own obligations, so review development schedules carefully.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner in a medical center. A former hospital food service manager opens a Rising Roll cafe in a medical office building, using an SBA 7(a) loan and a host agreement that matches the loan term.
A campus cafe buyer. A buyer purchases an existing campus cafe. The lender reviews sales history across semesters and confirms the host agreement can transfer.
A retail cafe developer. An experienced restaurant operator opens a traditional cafe in a busy suburb and finances the deli and kitchen equipment separately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a host agreement shorter than the loan term
- Ignoring summer and holiday slowdowns at campus sites
- Overlooking host commissions in projections
- Assuming equipment in a host building is easy to pledge
- Opening with too little working capital
- Skipping Items 3, 4 and 17 of the FDD
Read more about restaurant loan mistakes to avoid.
Next Steps to Finance Your Rising Roll Franchise
Step 1: Get the current FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney.
Step 2: Organize your finances. Prepare a personal financial statement and document your equity.
Step 3: Talk with a financing specialist. Our conventional loan calculator gives planning estimates only.
Step 4: Secure a site or host agreement. Match its term to your financing.
Step 5: Build your plan. Collect bids and quotes and prepare projections.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your package and coordinate with the franchisor and host.
Rising Roll Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a Rising Roll franchise cost?
Item 7 of the current FDD shows the estimated initial investment, which can differ by format.
What is the Rising Roll franchise fee?
Item 5 of the FDD lists the fee and any discounts.
What royalty does Rising Roll charge?
Item 6 lists the royalty, marketing and other recurring fees.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Rising Roll franchise?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S1434 with no notes, so eligible borrowers can apply, subject to approval.
How much liquid capital do I need?
We could not verify a published minimum. Plan for your equity, opening costs and reserves, and confirm the franchisor’s requirements.
Can I open a cafe inside a hospital or office building?
Yes, non-traditional venues have been a core part of the brand. Financing depends heavily on the host agreement.
Can I finance equipment separately?
Yes. Deli cases, refrigeration and ovens can often be financed or leased on their own.
Can I buy an existing Rising Roll cafe?
Yes, with franchisor approval and, for host sites, the host’s consent.
Can a first-time owner get a Rising Roll franchise loan?
Yes, if approved by the franchisor and lender. Food service experience and solid reserves help.
Does Rising Roll offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses any franchisor financing.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the FDD lists the term, renewal and transfer conditions.
Final Thoughts
A Rising Roll franchise loan funds a gourmet cafe that can thrive in places most restaurants cannot reach, but those places bring their own contracts and calendars. Owners who match their financing to the host agreement, plan for slow periods and talk to a financing specialist early set themselves up well.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
