Franchising

Pokemoto signs agreement for 50th location

Provided

December 6, 2022

Pokemoto, owned by Muscle Maker Inc., has crossed a threshold milestone of 50 franchise agreements signed, reaching 15 states, since ramping up its franchising efforts last year. The chain will make a splash in new markets while expanding in existing markets, including Texas, South Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, CEO Michael Roper said in a company press release.

"Achieving 50 franchise agreements signed for a relatively young brand is a major accomplishment for our team," he said. "The team has been working tirelessly to keep the momentum going as we near the year's end. Franchise sales efforts are set on seeking out entrepreneurs looking to be a part of something fresh and new to the restaurant space; an opportunity outside of your standard burger, pizza and salad concepts. We believe we have a unique opportunity with a trending food concept that boasts "healthier for you" benefits, a low cost of entry and ease of operations. Seeing our footprint grow shows that our franchise marketing efforts are working and that we're resonating with the right audiences. We continue to seek out new partnerships, vendors and resources to expand our tool kit for prospective and current franchisees so that they can focus their efforts on expanding their Pokemoto portfolios."

Pokemoto recently partnered with Newtek Business Services Corp, a lending source to assist current and prospective franchisees with securing funding, to open eateries across the U.S.

The Pokemoto franchise model generates up to $25,000 per unit for the initial franchise fee when the agreement is signed while also providing up to 6% of net sales as an ongoing monthly royalty rate once each location is opened, according to the release. The typical franchise agreement is for 10 years with a 5-year renewal option. The company does allow, in certain instances, for discounted fees for multi-unit or special agreements.

"We're thrilled to announce franchise agreements signed in markets where we've recently opened company-owned locations in addition to a few new markets; especially since we've recently gone through a brand redesign and believe we've hit a home run on the new look," Roper said in the release. "It really sets the vibe in our stores. The bright colors, Hawaiian graphics and decor and neon lights complete the guest experience and now we get to really show it off to our guests and to prospective franchisees. We look forward to sharing more details on the opening of our newly announced agreements in the near future."