--- title: "Mai Sushi Bar Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review" description: "Explore the Mai Sushi Bar franchise. Investment: $44K-$106K. 40 locations. Grade: c. Grocery, Market & Specialty Food." url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/mai-sushi-bar" canonical: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/mai-sushi-bar" markdown_url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/mai-sushi-bar.md" type: "FranchiseBrand" brand: "Mai Sushi Bar" sector: "Retail Food & Convenience" category: "Grocery, Market & Specialty Food" investment_low: "44050" investment_high: "106000" total_units: "46" grade: "C" operating_model: "Semi-Absentee | Owner-Operator | Multi-Unit" --- # Mai Sushi Bar Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review Explore the Mai Sushi Bar franchise. Investment: $44K-$106K. 40 locations. Grade: c. Grocery, Market & Specialty Food. ## At a glance - **Brand:** Mai Sushi Bar - **Sector:** Retail Food & Convenience - **Category:** Grocery, Market & Specialty Food - **Total initial investment:** $44,050 – $106,000 - **Total units (FDD Item 20):** 46 - **FranchiseGrade grade:** C - **Operating model:** Semi-Absentee | Owner-Operator | Multi-Unit - **States with locations:** AL, CA, FL, IL, IN, MN, OK, PA, WA, WI ## Mai Sushi Bar — franchise facts ### What is the total initial investment required to open a Mai Sushi Bar franchise? Total investment ranges from $44,050 to $106,000, covering franchise fee, equipment, inventory, and working capital needs. This moderate investment level makes the concept accessible to first-time franchise owners with reasonable financing requirements. ### What is the initial franchise fee for Mai Sushi Bar, and what does it cover? Franchise fee is $3,500 to $4,500, a competitive entry cost that grants you access to proven systems, training, and brand support. This fee is separate from your total investment and covers initial onboarding and operational launch materials. ### What ongoing fees, royalties, or required contributions do Mai Sushi Bar franchisees pay? Royalty rate of 40% applies to gross sales, with 1% advertising fund contribution and 1% local marketing requirement. Combined ongoing fees total approximately 42% of revenue, supporting brand development and marketing initiatives. ### What financial requirements must candidates meet to qualify for a Mai Sushi Bar franchise? Expect liquid capital and net worth requirements aligned with the total investment range of $44,050 to $106,000. Most franchisees require financing options to cover equipment, initial inventory, and working capital for the first 3-6 months. ### Are financing options or third-party funding programs available for Mai Sushi Bar franchisees? Franchisor does not explicitly disclose formal financing partnerships in available data. You should explore SBA loan options, equipment financing, and personal financing strategies with lenders familiar with food retail franchise models. ### What initial training does Mai Sushi Bar provide to new franchise owners? Comprehensive 112-hour training program includes 16 classroom hours and 96 on-the-job hours covering operations, food safety, inventory management, and customer service. Training prepares you to launch and manage daily operations independently with ongoing support access. ### What ongoing support and resources does Mai Sushi Bar offer after opening? Ongoing support includes operational guidance, marketing resources, inventory management assistance, and access to vendor networks. Field support and regular communication help franchisees adapt to market conditions and maintain quality standards. ### Does Mai Sushi Bar assist with real estate and site selection for new locations? Site selection support is provided as part of franchise services to identify high-traffic retail locations with customer bases suited to Asian specialty food. Franchisor guidance considers lease costs and visibility factors within your approved territory. ### What does the day-to-day role of a franchise owner look like with Mai Sushi Bar? You oversee staff scheduling, food preparation supervision, inventory management, and customer service while building community relationships. Daily responsibilities include quality control, staff training, and local marketing execution aligned with corporate brand standards. ### Can Mai Sushi Bar be operated as an owner-operator or semi-absentee franchise? Most franchisees operate as owner-operators due to the food service nature of the business and focus on fresh product preparation. Semi-absentee models are possible with experienced management staff, though hands-on ownership typically drives higher quality and profitability. ### What type of lifestyle and time commitment should owners expect with Mai Sushi Bar? The sushi bar model offers flexibility compared to full-service restaurants but requires consistency in hours and quality. You gain community involvement benefits while managing the pace and demands of food retail operations. ### What territories or markets are currently available for Mai Sushi Bar franchise ownership? Franchisor operates 40 units across ten states including California, Florida, Illinois, and the Upper Midwest. Territory availability depends on current development focus, though expansion into new states and regional penetration remains active. ### Does Mai Sushi Bar offer multi-unit ownership or expansion opportunities? Multi-unit ownership is available for qualified franchisees, allowing expansion within assigned territories or adjacent markets. Growth support and operational systems scale effectively for owners managing multiple locations. ### Are area development or master franchise opportunities available with Mai Sushi Bar? Area development agreements may be available for candidates seeking larger territorial rights and development commitments. These arrangements require demonstrated capital, operational capacity, and market development plans. ### How does Mai Sushi Bar approach unit-level profitability and financial performance? High-margin specialty food positioning supports profitability, though 40% royalty fees and 1-2% marketing contributions impact net returns. Unit economics depend on location quality, operational efficiency, and local market penetration. ### What sets Mai Sushi Bar apart from competitors in its market segment? Mai Sushi Bar differentiates through fresh specialty positioning, community-focused operations, and proven franchise systems since 2015. Strong recent growth demonstrates market validation and franchisee success in diverse geographic markets. ## Research this brand - Full profile: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/mai-sushi-bar - Compare it side by side: https://www.franchisegrade.com/compare - Check affordability against your capital: https://www.franchisegrade.com/affordability-calculator - Franchise terms used above: https://www.franchisegrade.com/tools/franchise-glossary --- *Source: [FranchiseGrade](https://www.franchisegrade.com) — independent, FDD-derived franchise research.* *Cite this page as: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/mai-sushi-bar* *Training, indexing and quotation are permitted — please attribute and link to the source URL above. Full-text reproduction of the whole page is not. Licensing: privacy@franchisegrade.com*