About Lee's Gimbap Franchise
Lee's Gimbap is a Korean cuisine franchise that began offering franchise opportunities in 2025, specializing in gimbap (Korean rice rolls) and other traditional Korean dishes.
The brand is backed by LeeNK International Co., Ltd.
and brings an authentic Korean food concept to the U.S.
Lee's Gimbap Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$332K
Average Investment
$458K
Maximum Investment
$585K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 4% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $331,500 – $585,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $332K–$585K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (4% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (1% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee (1) | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Real Estate Security/Deposits and Initial Rent (2) | $5,000 | $35,000 |
| Construction and leasehold improvements (3) | $170,000 | $250,000 |
| Design and architecture (4) | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures (5) | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| Opening Inventory (6) | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Insurance (7) | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Opening Promotion and Grand Opening (8) | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Cash Registers/Other Office Equipment (9) | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Initial Training Expenses (10) | $0 | $5,000 |
| Business Licenses, Utility Deposits, Prepaid Fees (11) | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 months (12) | $50,000 | $90,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $2,500 (Transfer Review Fee) and 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee (Transfer Fee) |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | Up to $250 per month (currently not assessed) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of inspection or audit |
| Additional Training | Currently $100 per hour per instructor, (maximum 2 instructors, 8 hours per day), plus travel and lodging expenses; amount is based on current rate and subject to change (up to 25% increase annually). |
| Remodeling, Repair and Improvements under the Franchise Agreement | Costs as incurred to purchase and install any required fixtures, furniture, equipment, banners, and/or signs from us or our affiliates (not to exceed $85,000). |
| Local Advertising | Up to 1% of Gross Sales (currently not assessed) |
| Alternative Supplier Testing Fee | Based on our actual cost |
| Late Payment | Late charge equal to 5% of payment due, together with interest at 2% per month (not to exceed highest legal rate) |
| Dishonored Item Fee | $100 plus reimbursement of charge a financial or other institution imposes on us, for each dishonored or unsuccessful check, ACH debit, electronic funds transfer, credit or wire transfer or other form of payment that in any way is not honored or completed. |
| Non-Compliance Fine | Our then-current fee (from $25 to $300 for a single violation, but may vary based on the severity of violations, number of violations, and repetition of violations) |
| Repeated Inspection Fee | Cost of inspection |
| Relocation Fee | $3,000 |
| Non-Compliance of Covenant Not to Compete (subject to state law) | $1,000 per week |
| Management Fee | 20% of Gross Sales |
| Securities Offering Review Fee | Actual costs |
| Liquidated Damages | Actual costs |
| Costs and Attorneys’ Fees | Actual costs |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | approximately one week |
| Classroom Training | 33 |
| On-the-Job Training | 54 |
| Training Location | at our corporate office located in Houston, Texas, or at another location or locations as we may designate |
| Additional Training | Ongoing initial training program and advanced/refresher training for managers are offered. A fee of $100 per hour per instructor plus travel/lodging expenses applies for refresher courses or training for additional personnel/replacement managers. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Non-exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | A radius around your Lee’s Gimbap Outlet, varying from 1/4 mile to 5 miles depending on urban, suburban, or rural setting and population density. |
| Description | Franchisee will have a non-exclusive territory defined by a radius around the Outlet, typically 1/2 to 5 miles, or 1/4 to 1 mile in City Center Zones based on population. Franchisor reserves all rights to operate or license other Lee's Gimbap Outlets, sell menu items through various channels (e.g., independent stores, mobile units, internet), and engage in other business activities within or outside the territory without compensation to the franchisee. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Term | One additional term of 5 years |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Renewal is subject to substantial compliance with the agreement, timely notice of intent to renew (12-18 months prior to expiration), effecting required Outlet improvements, satisfying all monetary obligations, executing Franchisor's then-current franchise agreement (which may have different terms, including higher fees), executing a general release, and complying with current qualification and training requirements. |
| Transfer Fee | $2,500 (Transfer Review Fee) and 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee (Transfer Fee) |
| Transfer Conditions | Transfers require Franchisor's prior written consent. Conditions include: 90 days prior written notice, all sums due paid in full, no material default by franchisee, transferee meeting new franchisee requirements (including background checks), execution of all required documents (assignment, personal guarantee, general release), transferee completing training, landlord consent, and payment of transfer fees. Franchisor has a right of first refusal. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate for various defaults, some with cure periods (24 hours for access/safety/product adulteration/legal compliance; 5 days for unapproved products/opening deadline/confidentiality; 10 days for unpaid debts/covenants/lease defaults; 30 days for financial records/other breaches) and some without (e.g., violation of confidentiality, copying manuals, felony conviction, abandonment, repeated defaults, bankruptcy, misuse of Marks). |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for two (2) years after termination or expiration. |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, franchisee cannot divert customers, solicit employees, or operate a competing business anywhere. After termination/expiration, franchisee cannot operate a competing business within 10 miles of any Lee's Gimbap Outlet, solicit employees or former suppliers/customers for two years. These covenants are subject to state law. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | If an individual, you must devote full-time attention to supervising all administrative and operational activities. If a legal entity, the person with a controlling interest or a designated 'Operating Principal' (with at least 10% ownership and decision-making authority) must devote full-time attention. All owners and their spouses must sign a personal guaranty. The Outlet must be staffed with at least one 'Approved Manager' who has completed initial training. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisee must purchase Proprietary System Assets, Trade Secret Food Products, Branded Products, and all equipment requirements from Designated Suppliers (Franchisor, its affiliates, and/or other specified exclusive sources). |
| Supply Restrictions | Designated Suppliers, or items conforming to franchisor specifications, will represent approximately 60% of total purchases for establishing the Outlet and 75% to 85% for continuing operation. Franchisor has the absolute right to limit suppliers. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Franchisor and its affiliates have the right to receive payments, considerations, rebates, and promotional allowances from approved or designated suppliers, and retain these amounts without restriction. Currently, no revenues are derived from such payments or direct sales to franchisees, but this may change in the future. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not provide, directly or indirectly, any financing to you. We do not guarantee your notes, leases or other obligations. |
Lee's Gimbap Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Lee's Gimbap does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Lee's Gimbap does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Lee's Gimbap Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordLee's Gimbap has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Lee's Gimbap System Growth
Total Units
0
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
0
Lee's Gimbap currently operates 0 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
00
Total Assets
$47K
Audited by KYJ, LLP for year ending December 31, 2024.
Lee's Gimbap Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Lee's Gimbap franchise ranges from $331,500 to $585,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $40,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Lee's Gimbap charges a royalty fee of 4% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 1% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Lee's Gimbap Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Lee's Gimbap to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Lee's Gimbap does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Lee's Gimbap has been franchising since 2025. The FDD shows an investment range of $331,500-$585,000, a 4% of Gross Sales royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $40,000 and the total investment ranges from $331,500 to $585,000 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
Similar Food & Beverage Franchises
Interested in Lee's Gimbap?
Get free info on this franchise. We will send you a detailed FDD report by email.
Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Lee's Gimbap and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Lee's Gimbap or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com