How to Finance The Hungry Greek Franchise: Fast-Casual Greek
By Marc Cornella
The Hungry Greek franchise loan finances a fast-casual Greek restaurant that grew up in the Tampa Bay area: a leased storefront, a restaurant kitchen, a dining room and the working capital to carry a new location through its first months. The brand keeps its dollar figures inside its franchise kit and disclosure document, so a borrower’s first job is to get those documents and build the loan around them.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by The Hungry Greek; 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, so review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
The Hungry Greek Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: authentic Greek recipes served in a modern, fast-casual setting, with online ordering and catering.
- Roots: started as a father-son venture in West Tampa in the early 2000s, with the first restaurant in Westchase.
- Fees and investment: not published on the franchise website; the franchisor provides them through its franchise kit and FDD.
- Startup cost categories: the franchise fee, leasehold improvements and miscellaneous expenses, additional funds for three months, grand opening and advertising, and travel and training.
- Territory: a protected territory, plus a first right of refusal on adjacent territories at franchise closing.
- Experience: prior restaurant experience is not required, though the franchisor says it would help.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S3040, with a note about lease documents when real estate secures the loan.
What Is The Hungry Greek?
The Hungry Greek began, in the franchisor’s words, as a father-son vision in West Tampa in the early 2000s. George Constantinou formed a partnership with his father and opened the first Hungry Greek in Westchase, and the brand then expanded throughout the Tampa Bay area, where it operates company-owned restaurants.
The menu centers on authentic Greek recipes in a modern, fast-casual environment. The brand also offers online ordering and catering, which gives a franchisee more than one way to build sales.
The franchise team. The franchisor highlights Dino Constantinou, its CEO and President of Franchise Operations, who has more than 40 years in the restaurant business. George Constantinou provides initial and ongoing franchise support, and Denise Stavropolous, who has a commercial real estate background, helps franchisees negotiate leases.
How lenders see the brand. The Hungry Greek is a young franchise system built on a regional base of company-owned restaurants. Lenders will lean on the FDD, the franchisor’s support and the borrower’s own experience and capital rather than a long history of franchised results. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains what that means for an application.
The Hungry Greek Franchise Costs
The franchisor’s How to Own page lays out its estimated initial investment table by category but does not publish the dollar amounts online. Request the franchise kit and FDD, then use the Item 7 table as the backbone of your loan request.
Initial franchise fee. The fee is the first line in the franchisor’s cost table. Item 5 of the FDD states the amount, when it is due and whether any part is refundable.
Leasehold improvements and build-out. The franchisor groups leasehold improvements with miscellaneous expenses. For a fast-casual restaurant, this usually covers the kitchen line, hood and ventilation, plumbing, flooring, the order counter, dining room finishes and signage. Our guide to restaurant build-out financing covers how these costs are funded.
Equipment. Expect a commercial kitchen package: grills, ovens, refrigeration, prep tables, smallwares and a point-of-sale system. Confirm in the FDD whether equipment sits inside the leasehold line or is listed separately.
Opening costs and working capital. The franchisor’s table includes additional funds for three months, a grand opening and advertising budget, and travel and training expenses.
Total investment. Item 7 gives the total range. Expect it to cover:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements and miscellaneous expenses
- Additional funds for three months
- Grand opening and advertising
- Travel and training expenses
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
The franchise website does not publish a royalty rate, marketing contribution or technology fee. Item 6 of the FDD lists every recurring fee, and those numbers matter as much as the startup cost.
Royalty and marketing. Most restaurant franchises charge a royalty and a marketing or brand fund fee as a percentage of sales. Whatever rates The Hungry Greek’s FDD discloses, lenders subtract them before calculating cash available for debt service.
Technology, catering and delivery costs. Online ordering, third-party delivery commissions and point-of-sale subscriptions can add up. Build them into projections line by line.
How lenders factor fees in. When sizing The Hungry Greek franchise loan, a lender starts with projected sales, subtracts food and paper costs, labor, rent, royalty, marketing and other fees, and then tests whether the remaining cash covers the loan payment with room to spare.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchise website does not list a minimum net worth or liquid capital figure. Instead, the first conversation with the franchise sales director covers your background, territory availability and financial qualifications. Ask for the requirements in writing, since lenders will check them.
Experience. The franchisor says prior restaurant experience is not required but would certainly help. Lenders feel the same way, so a borrower without restaurant experience should plan to hire an experienced manager.
Discovery Week. Financially qualified candidates who have signed the required non-disclosure documents can take part in an extended Discovery Week, shadowing a manager at a company-owned location. This is a good chance to test assumptions you will later use in your loan projections.
The approval process. The franchisor describes a five-step approval process that begins with an initial conversation and the franchise kit. Full training is required after signing the franchise agreement, and the franchisor says it stays hands-on through the entire opening.
Ways to Own The Hungry Greek
A new restaurant. Most franchisees in a young system open a new location. Lenders underwrite these deals on projections, the lease and the owner’s capital. See our franchise start-up financing options.
Buying an existing restaurant. If a franchised location comes up for sale, a buyer can show a lender real sales history. Our franchise restaurant acquisition financing page explains how purchase loans work.
Adjacent territories. The first right of refusal on neighboring territories gives a successful owner a path to grow nearby. Financing for that growth is covered below.
Financing Options for The Hungry Greek Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can fund the franchise fee, build-out, kitchen equipment, opening inventory and working capital in one package.
SBA 504 loans. If an owner buys the building or a freestanding site, an SBA 504 loan can finance the real estate and long-lived equipment. Most fast-casual units lease, so 504 will fit only some deals.
Conventional term loans. A borrower with strong credit, collateral and liquidity may use a conventional business loan, especially for an acquisition or a second location.
Equipment financing. Grills, broilers, refrigeration, prep stations and point-of-sale hardware can be financed separately, often with the equipment as collateral. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital and lines of credit. The franchisor’s cost table already budgets three months of additional funds. A line of credit can add a cushion for slow seasons, catering orders and inventory. Learn about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. In the purchase of an existing restaurant, a seller may carry part of the price. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules and lenders may limit its terms.
SBA Loans for The Hungry Greek Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise agreements have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a listing before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to a franchisee, though a listing does not approve any borrower.
The Hungry Greek is listed under code S3040. The directory note says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Collateral Assignment of Lease and Consent to Collateral Assignment & Agreement of Lessor may not be executed. In plain English, that franchisor document gives the franchisor rights to a restaurant’s lease. If the owner’s own real estate is pledged for the SBA loan, the document should not be signed, so the franchisor’s rights do not compete with the lender’s claim on the property. For a leased restaurant, the note will usually not apply, but your lender and attorney should confirm it.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, and program rules can change. Our SBA loan calculator gives rough payment estimates for planning only.
SBA application tips. A strong The Hungry Greek franchise loan package includes the FDD, the franchise agreement, a signed lease or letter of intent, contractor bids, an equipment list, monthly projections, a personal financial statement and tax returns.
How Lenders Evaluate The Hungry Greek Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and they typically require a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders look for your equity contribution plus reserves after closing. Confirm the franchisor’s financial qualifications and plan for both.
Industry and management experience. Restaurant management, food service or multi-unit retail experience strengthens a request. Discovery Week and the required training also help.
Business plan and projections. Build projections around dine-in, takeout, online ordering and catering, with realistic food, labor and rent costs and every fee from Item 6.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal, transfer and territory provisions and any franchisor financing in Item 10. Item 19 shows whether the FDD includes financial performance representations. Review Items 3 and 4 as well. Our guide to how lenders read an FDD explains what matters most.
Site and lease. Visibility, parking, traffic and co-tenants drive a fast-casual restaurant’s sales. The franchisor’s help with lease negotiations is useful here, and lenders want a lease that runs at least as long as the loan.
Historical financials for resales. For an existing restaurant, expect to provide several years of profit and loss statements, sales reports and tax returns.
Kitchen Equipment and the Build-Out
A Greek fast-casual kitchen needs equipment for grilling and roasting proteins, prepping fresh vegetables and sauces, holding food at safe temperatures and moving guests through the line quickly. Hood and fire suppression systems, walk-in refrigeration and a well-planned counter often drive the build-out budget. Get the franchisor’s equipment list and contractor bids early so the loan amount matches the real cost.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
The protected territory and first right of refusal on adjacent territories make the brand a natural fit for owners who want to grow in one market. Lenders usually finance a second restaurant after the first shows steady results, using combined cash flow to support new debt. If you sign for more territory, match the development timeline to realistic financing and construction schedules.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner with a hired manager. A borrower from outside the restaurant industry completes Discovery Week, hires an experienced general manager and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for the build-out, equipment and working capital.
A Tampa Bay operator adding a territory. An existing owner uses the first right of refusal on an adjacent territory and finances the second restaurant with a conventional loan backed by the first unit’s results.
A buyer purchasing an existing restaurant. A buyer acquires a franchised location, the lender reviews its sales history, and equipment financing covers a kitchen upgrade after closing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for a loan before you have the FDD’s Item 5, 6 and 7 figures
- Underestimating hood, ventilation and kitchen build-out costs
- Leaving delivery commissions and technology fees out of projections
- Relying only on the three months of additional funds without a cushion
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
Read more in the restaurant loan mistakes to avoid.
Next Steps to Finance Your Hungry Greek Franchise
Step 1: Request the franchise kit. Fill out the franchisor’s form and schedule the first conversation.
Step 2: Review the FDD. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Confirm your qualifications. Get the franchisor’s financial requirements and compare them with your liquidity and net worth.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist. Learn how SBA and conventional lenders will size your loan.
Step 5: Lock in a site. Work with the franchisor on territory and lease negotiation.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your package with bids, projections and personal financials, and coordinate closing with the franchise agreement.
The Hungry Greek Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does The Hungry Greek franchise cost?
The franchisor does not publish its investment range online. Its cost table covers the franchise fee, leasehold improvements, three months of additional funds, grand opening advertising, and travel and training; Item 7 of the FDD gives the dollar range.
What is the franchise fee and royalty?
Neither is published on the franchise website. Item 5 of the FDD lists the initial fee, and Item 6 lists the royalty and other recurring fees.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The franchisor reviews financial qualifications in its first conversation with candidates but does not post a figure. Ask for it, and plan for both your equity injection and reserves.
Can I get an SBA loan for The Hungry Greek?
Yes, the brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S3040, so qualified borrowers can apply for SBA 7(a) financing, subject to lender approval.
Do I need restaurant experience?
The franchisor says it is not required but would help. Lenders often expect either personal restaurant experience or an experienced manager.
Can a first-time owner get The Hungry Greek franchise loan?
Yes, with solid credit, enough capital and a strong plan. Discovery Week and the franchisor’s training add credibility.
Is my territory protected?
The franchisor says franchisees receive a protected territory and a first right of refusal on adjacent territories at franchise closing.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the current FDD. Most owners arrange their own loans.
How long is the franchise term?
The franchise website does not state it. Item 17 of the FDD covers the term, renewal and transfer.
Final Thoughts
The Hungry Greek offers a fast-casual Greek concept with a regional base, protected territories and hands-on opening support. Because its figures live in the franchise kit and FDD, the strongest borrowers get those documents early, build careful projections and line up financing before signing a lease.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Explore our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
