Carve out a slice of the healthy fast food industry
Have a taste for gourmet salads, wraps and rolls, soups and fruit salad?
Your own healthy food odyssey awaits with a SumoSalad franchise loan but how do you qualify?
It helps if you’re in a strong financial, can provide a business plan and know which lender to apply with. This is where a specialist mortgage broker can help you!
How much can I borrow?
- Existing SumoSalad store: Borrow up to 50% of the franchise costs or up to 100% depending on the equity that you have in your residential property.
- New store: Considered on a case by case basis.
- Loan term: 5 years (as per the SumoSalad franchise agreement).
- Loan term with property as security: 25 to 30 years (standard loan term).
- Interest rate discounts available.
- Interest only: 2 years or more depending on whether you’re using a residential property as security.
- Business plan: You’ll be required to have an accountant-approved business plan which shows revenue and cash flow forecasts.
- Good financial situation: You should currently be earning a good income with little to no debt and a clear credit file.
- At least 2-3 years managerial experience in a similar-sized business and industry.
- Low doc options: Not available.
Discover if we can get you approved for a SumoSalad franchise loan!
We’re franchise loan specialists that know how to build a strong case with the right lender.
Call us on 1300 889 743 or complete our free assessment form to speak with one of our mortgage brokers!
How do I build a strong application?
Overall, getting approved comes down to your deposit, your security and your character as a borrower and future business owner.
As a general rule, the bank wants you to:
- Be in a good financial position: You can show this with your last 2-3 years personal tax returns and/or business transaction statements if you’re currently running a similar-sized operation. The typical debt-to-income ratio (DSCR) required is 1.5x.
- Have a clear credit history: The lender will run a credit check to ensure your credit file is free of blemishes like defaults and previous bankruptcy.
- Have previous business experience: Ideally, you should have at least 3 years experience as a manager of a fast food or casual dining restaurant.
- Provide a business plan: The bank wants to see that you’ve done your due diligence on the franchise system and the store location that you’ve decided on. Cash flow forecasts will need to be discussed and signed off with help from your accountant.
- Have a good security to support the loan: Specifically, cash or equity in a existing residential property such as your home or an investment property.
If you’re buying an existing store, one of our lenders would like to see that the store is generating 1.50x earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).
However, this isn’t a requirement with all lenders!
Our mortgage brokers are SumoSalad franchise loan specialists so let us help you to build a strong case.
What are the franchise fees?
The total costs of SumoSalad franchise ranges from $300,000 to $380,000 (plus GST) but this will vary depending store size and location.
This is typically broken down into:
- Franchise fee: $45,000 (plus GST)
- Working capital: $30,000 to $50,000
- Stock and supplies: $10,000
- Store fit-out: Will make up the rest of the cost.
Once your franchise agreement is approved, the following fees will apply:
- Royalty fees: 6% of gross sales.
- Advertising and marketing: 3% of the gross sales.
- Franchise contract renewal: $5,000
You’ll get a full breakdown of the costs in SumoSalad’s franchise kit or uniform franchise offering circular (UFOC).
What sizes do SumoSalad stores come in?
- Traditional: In-line or kiosk style stores that are built for shopping centres and food courts. Maximum size is generally 50 square metres.
- Little Sumo: Designed to capture high foot traffic but offers the same service as a traditional store. Maximum size is generally 20 square metres.
- Green Label: An attempt to compete with the casual dining experience of McDonald’s, these stores can be up to 80 square metres and offer a basic eat-in experience.
What are revenue forecasts?
There are no hard and fast rule with revenue and profit projections and SumoSalad will be hesitant to promise any hard dollar figures.
The average customer spend is $7 to $8 but it really depends on the size of your store, its location and your business acumen.
Studies by market researcher IBISWorld have found that consumer demand is still high for fast food as it’s relatively cheap and convenient.
However, a lot of this demand has shifted to healthier options due to greater awareness of the benefits of a nutritional diet.
Because of this, there is a greater demand for fast food options with less saturated fat, sugar and salt.
SumoSalad has taken advantage of this change in consumer choice.
What are the application steps?
Once you complete the enquiry form on the SumoSalad website, the next step is a one-on-one interview with their area business development manager.
A follow-up interview will usually follow.
It’s important to ask for the UFOC or franchise kit as soon as possible so you understand the nature of SumoSalad’s franchise model and what you’re signing up for.
Once you get to the franchise agreement stage it’s important to:
- Speak with your financial advisor and lawyer before signing the contract or paying your deposit.
- Before signing, it’s also crucial that you speak to your mortgage broker about getting pre-approval for a SumoSalad franchise loan. You could actually risk losing your deposit otherwise.
If you’re ready to apply for a SumoSalad franchise loan and aren’t sure where to go, call us on 1300 889 743 today.
Will I be given training and support?
SumoSalad’s training and systems are actually ahead of many other franchise models.
Training
- 2-day orientation training at their head office.
- 2 weeks in a training store completing competency-based training.
- 2 weeks work experience in your new store with a trainer who will also assist you in staff recruitment, training and rostering, as well as business planning. This is crucial at the early stages of your store opening.
- The course includes exercises in first aid and food safety.
- SumoSalad offer further educational opportunities in the form of a certificate 3 and 4 in retail and a diploma of franchising.
- When you get started in running your store, all new franchisees will have access to the Sumo Online Training System.
Support
Around 3 months after the launch of your store, SumoSalad’s marketing team will manage your marketing strategy and give you the skills and techniques you need to stay visible in your local area.
All stores have a Point of Sale system which is also manages the Sumo Society loyalty program.
The franchise model also has great reporting software so you can easily track your sales monthly, weekly or even daily.
Can I buy more than one store?
Yes you can but you’ll need to have the collateral or a large enough deposit since our lenders will generally only finance up to 50% of the franchise costs.
Banks have an exposure limit to the franchises they will lend money to at any given time.
It’s best to check with us before signing up to run multiple stores.
Bear in mind also that SumoSalad will likely want to see that you can manage your first store successfully before allowing you to purchase another one.
You’ll be required to be involved in the day-to-day operations of each of the stores so you should expect to work many hours and spread yourself between multiple locations.
Enquire about a SumoSalad franchise loan today!
Speak with one of our experience mortgage brokers by calling 1300 889 743 today.
Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you with some lender recommendations.