--- title: "Pokemoto: Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Locations" url: https://burnaze.com/article/acdff177-f920-4095-b37b-481f5e8f0c74 source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-pokemoto-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725742 category: "Fast casual" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Fast casual" topics: ["Finance & M&A"] published: 2024-05-22T13:08:03.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T01:09:00.787Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/b89962d0e5ab9f9c3c45bae715e26799571.jpg --- # Pokemoto: Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Locations **TL;DR:** Pokémoto, a Hawaiian-inspired poké franchise, has 36 locations operating and dozens more in development, with a total initial investment required to open a franchise ranging from $162,500 to $337,400. The brand was launched in 2017 by Founder Thomas Nguyen, who identified a gap in the market for Hawaiian-inspired poké meals. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2024-05-22. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-pokemoto-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725742).* ## Story REPORTED ROI (Item 19): Not disclosed Pokémoto is a Hawaiian-inspired poké franchise that offers bowls, salads and wraps as well as sides and bubble tea. The brand was launched in 2017 when Founder Thomas Nguyen identified a gap in the market. While New England is known for seafood, Nguyen struggled to find Hawaiian-inspired poké meals after moving from Hawaii to Connecticut. With this, Pokémoto was born. The first Pokémoto location opened near Yale University, and the franchise has been quickly growing ever since, bringing its unique offering to markets nationwide. There are 36 Pokémoto locations currently operating and dozens more in development. Pokémoto’s presence is concentrated in the northeast, but it is moving south and growing in the midwest. The brand positions itself as “Millennial and Gen Z approved,” noting a steady, reliable customer base. As Pokémoto expands its presence, an already-developed customer base awaits its arrival. Pokémoto leverages a build-your-own model to deliver the perfect, customized poké bowl, salad or wrap to each guest. Because Pokémoto appeals to a range of guests, franchisees can establish locations in multiple types of markets, including urban, suburban and college towns. A Pokémoto restaurant can be operated in a 1,000 to 2,000 square-foot space, so both the initial investment and ongoing costs are lower than some standard restaurant franchises. Earnings for Pokémoto franchise owners are not publicly available. The total initial investment required to open a Pokémoto franchise is $162,500 - $337,400. This includes: - **Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000 - $25,000** - **Real Estate (3 Months): $7,500 - $22,500** - **Security Deposits: $3,000 - $8,500** - **Lease Improvements: $75,000 - $175,000** - **Equipment, Furniture and Signs: $35,000 - $50,000** - **Point of Sale, Computer Systems: $1,200 - $2,400** - **Video Surveillance System: $1,000 - $4,000** - **Insurance: $1,000 - $2,400** - **Permits and Licenses: $300 - $600** - **Initial Inventory: $5,000 - $10,000** - **Travel Expenses for Training: $2,500 - $4,500** - **Professional Fees: $500 - $5,000** - **Additional Funds: $5,000 - $10,000** The initial franchise fee for Pokémoto ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. - Mike Roper — Chief Executive Officer - Kenn Miller — Chief Operating Officer - Aimee Infante — Chief Marketing Officer - Kevin Mohan — Chief Investment Officer - Jennifer Black — Chief Financial Officer - Thomas Nguyen — Senior Vice President, Operations - Rod Silva — Senior Vice President, Brand Development - Brittany Stoffere — Marketing Director - Mike Spavelko — Vice President, Sales and Development - Megan Sanders — Director of Accounting - Miguel Cintron — District Sales Manager - Scott Reaves — Franchise Sales Manager - Doug Waterbury — Director of Operations - Meghan McGuire — Digital Marketing Specialist - Pokemoto to Open Location in Houston - Pokemoto Launches Military Veterans Discount Program - Pokemoto crosses milestone of 50 franchise agreements signed - Foodie Friday: Pokemoto - What to expect at Pokemoto: Hawaiian Poke *Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on this site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any franchises, securities, or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the franchise and/or securities laws of such jurisdiction.* *All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the email constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this article before making any decisions based on such information or other content.* ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - unit expansion (topic) - General (sector) - franchise costs (topic) - initial investment (topic) - Jennifer Black (person) - hawaiian poke (topic) - Pokémoto (company) - Thomas Nguyen (person) - Mike Roper (person) - Kenn Miller (person) - Aimee Infante (person) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-pokemoto-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2725742). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/acdff177-f920-4095-b37b-481f5e8f0c74).