About Pokeworks Franchise
Pokéworks is a fast casual restaurant franchise specializing in Hawaiian poké made using high-quality, sustainably sourced fish from local waters and beyond.
Franchisees operate retail restaurant locations serving poké bowls, sushi dishes, related menu items, beverages, and other items under the POKÉWORKS trademark.
The target customers are individual consumers seeking fresh, healthy, Asian-inspired fast casual dining for on-site or off-site consumption.
Pokeworks Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$367K
Average Investment
$486K
Maximum Investment
$606K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1.5% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $367,264 – $605,709 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $367K–$606K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (1.5% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Architectural Design and Permits | $7,100 | $22,000 |
| Construction and Remodeling | $215,000 | $286,300 |
| Initial Lease Deposit | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Furniture & Fixtures | $17,964 | $33,036 |
| Equipment | $31,800 | $63,593 |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Inventory | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Signs | $5,500 | $20,280 |
| Pre-Opening Marketing | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Insurance | $500 | $3,000 |
| Computer and POS System | $3,900 | $7,000 |
| Employee Wages | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Legal and Accounting Fees | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Additional Funds - First 3 Months | $25,000 | $70,000 |
| Training Expenses | $3,000 | $7,500 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 50% of current Initial Franchise Fee for a single unit franchise at the time of transfer |
| Renewal Fee | $12,500 |
| Technology Fee | $200 per month |
| Audit Fee | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Manager Training or Retraining Costs | $500 to $1,500 |
| Fee for Lost Operations Manual | $500 |
| Late Fees | Lesser of 10% of balance past due after 30 days or highest rate allowed by law |
| Non-Compliance Fees | $350 to $1,500 per violation |
| Store Opening Timeline Violation | $500 weekly |
| Costs of Enforcement or Defense | All costs including reasonable accounting and legal fees |
| Indemnification | Varies |
| Liquidated Damages | 24 months (or remaining term) multiplied by average monthly Royalty Fees and Marketing Fund Contributions for 12 months preceding termination |
| Advertising Cooperative | Up to 2.0% of Gross Sales |
| Local Marketing Expenses | 2% of Gross Sales |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 4 weeks |
| Classroom Training | 24 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 170 hours |
| Training Location | Designated Pokéworks Training location (corporate office and/or designated corporate or franchise location) |
| Additional Training | Mandatory refresher training programs may be required. After the third restaurant opening, Multiple Unit Developers are expected to develop their own training program. Additional personnel training costs $750 per additional week per individual. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Approximately 150,000 combined residential and commercial population |
| Description | Franchisees receive a designated Franchise Territory where the franchisor will not authorize another franchisee or operate a Pokéworks Restaurant. However, the franchisor reserves the right to grant franchises in Non-Traditional Venues and Limited Access Locations within the territory. Franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory and may face competition from other channels of distribution or competitive brands the franchisor controls. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 10 years plus two 5-year options |
| Renewal Fee | $12,500 (Successor Franchise Fee) |
| Renewal Conditions | Must give written notice at least 180 but not more than 365 days before expiration; complied with all material terms; paid all monetary obligations; agree to remodel restaurant; have right to occupy premises for at least 10 additional years; sign then-current Franchise Agreement; pay Successor Fee; execute general release; complete required training |
| Transfer Fee | 50% of current Initial Franchise Fee for a single unit franchise at the time of transfer |
| Transfer Conditions | Transfer must be of all or substantially all assets or shares; must not be in default; must pay transfer fee; assignee must qualify as franchisee; assignee must give guarantee and attend training; release must be given; landlord must consent; new Franchise Agreement must be executed |
| Termination for Cause | Failing to file reports on time more than 5 days late on 2+ occasions; operating in hazardous manner; failure to pay within 5 days after demand; bounced checks on 2+ occasions; consistently paying late. Non-curable: failure to fulfill terms, filing bankruptcy, assigning without consent, abandoning restaurant |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | For 2 years after termination or expiration, must not be involved in any business substantially consisting of the sale of poké, Hawaiian cuisine or sushi food items as its main product line, located within the franchisee's territory or within 10 miles of any Pokéworks franchise, subject to applicable state law |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Individual franchisees must personally supervise the operation at the Licensed Location. If the franchisee is a business entity, one shareholder/partner must attend and complete the Training Program. A Designated Manager must work full-time at the Licensed Location under direct on-site supervision. |
| Required Suppliers | Must purchase all products and services from approved suppliers meeting franchisor specifications. Required approved vendors include Pacifica Foods (proprietary sauces), Clayton Kendall (uniforms and printing), and Webstaurant (kitchen equipment). 90% to 100% of purchases must be from approved suppliers. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must use only approved suppliers and products meeting franchisor specifications. New suppliers require written approval after evaluation within 10 business days. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | In 2021, affiliate BRG received $239,514 from direct purchases by franchisees and amounts paid by suppliers (6.8% of audited revenues of $3,538,989). Pacifica Foods paid $130,301 in commissions to BRG. Clayton Kendall paid $26,878 in rebates to BRG. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. Maximum allowed debt is 70% of total project costs; franchisee must provide at least 30% equity. |
Pokeworks Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$888K
Median Revenue
$767K
Revenue Range
$268K – $2.1M
Sample Size
44 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Pokeworks Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordPokeworks 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.
Pokeworks System Growth
Total Units
61
Franchised
53
Company-Owned
8
Pokeworks currently operates 53 franchised locations and 8 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | 2 | 48 |
| 2020 | 12 | 3 | 57 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 61 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 22 states: CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VT, VA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$3.5M
Net Income
$1.9M
Total Assets
$2.5M
Audited by Frazer, LLP for year ending December 31.
Pokeworks Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Pokeworks franchise ranges from $367,264 to $605,709, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $35,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Pokeworks charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 1.5% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Pokeworks 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 Pokeworks to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Pokeworks franchise owners report average revenue of $888K and median revenue of $767K. This is based on a sample of 44 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Pokeworks has been franchising since 2016. The FDD shows an investment range of $367,264-$605,709, a 6% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an 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 $35,000 and the total investment ranges from $367,264 to $605,709 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 Pokeworks?
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 Pokeworks and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Pokeworks or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com