About Marufuku Franchise
Marufuku Ramen is a sit down restaurant franchise serving authentic Hakata style Tonkotsu ramen and other Japanese dishes, including beer and sake, in a full table service setting.
The brand has been franchising since 2019 under EK Food Services Inc.
and is known for its rich, flavorful broths, quality noodles, and a diverse menu that includes Japanese side dishes, rice bowls, chicken Paitan, and izakaya style appetizers.
Marufuku Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$1.0M
Average Investment
$1.3M
Maximum Investment
$1.5M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Currently 1% of Gross Sales (can increase to maximum of 3%) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $1,029,000 – $1,540,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $1.0M–$1.5M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (Currently 1% of Gross Sales (can increase to maximum of 3%)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Training Fee | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Lease Deposit, Lease, Utility Deposits | $50,000 | $75,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Architects and Design | $56,000 | $56,000 |
| Construction/Leasehold Improvements and Signage | $550,000 | $850,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment | $200,000 | $325,000 |
| Computer, POS and Security Equipment | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| Professional Fees | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Opening Inventory and Supplies | $12,000 | $20,000 |
| Pre-Opening Labor | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Insurance | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Training Expenses | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months (Working Capital) | $30,000 | $40,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 plus any costs or expenses |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Audit Fee | Actual cost of audit, including travel, lodging, wages and reasonable accounting and legal costs |
| Local Store Marketing Expenditures | None currently (can be required up to an amount we determine monthly) |
| Cooperative Contributions | Anticipated to be a maximum of one-half of your local store marketing requirements |
| Collection Costs and Expenses | Amount incurred |
| Convention Registration | $500 - $1,500 |
| Customer Complaints | Our reasonable costs and expenses |
| Enforcement Expenses | Reasonable cost of our attorneys’ fees and expenses |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Interest | 1.5% per month or the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is less |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $250 and any bank fees incurred (or the maximum amount permitted under applicable law) |
| Management Fee | 20% of Gross Sales (under specific circumstances) |
| Off-Premises Programs | Currently, $0 (may charge fees and costs if established) |
| Quality Assurance Programs | Our out of pocket costs (typically $1,000 - $1,500) |
| Reimbursement of our Expenses | Amount we pay on your behalf |
| Relocation Fee | 35% of our then-current initial franchise fees |
| Securities Offering | $10,000 or such greater amount as is necessary to reimburse us and our outside advisors for our expenses |
| Supplier Evaluation | Reasonable costs of evaluation (typically $1,000 - $1,500) |
| Taxes | Amount imposed on us |
| Training – Additional Programs | Reasonable tuition fees |
| Training – Additional Training Required | $300 per person per day and travel and living and other expenses |
| Training – On Site | $400 per representative per day and travel expenses |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 30 to 45 days for initial training, plus a 5-day orientation for the Operating Principal. |
| Classroom Training | 54 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 466 hours |
| Training Location | Our Corporate Restaurant Locations (South San Francisco, California, or another site we choose) |
| Additional Training | The franchisor may require franchisees or employees to attend and pass additional training programs (classroom, web-based, third-party) at the franchisee's expense. The Operating Principal and one other management person must attend a national business meeting or annual convention, with registration fees and travel/accommodation costs paid by the franchisee. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected Territory (for Franchise Agreement), Development Area (for Development Agreement) |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Typically set as a radius around the Premises |
| Description | The perimeters may be described by specific street boundaries, county lines, state lines, municipal boundaries, railroad tracks, or other similar boundary descriptions. Factors considered include demographics, population density, number of households, growth profile, and competitive environment. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | One 5-year term |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Provide written notice of intent to renew (6-12 months before expiration), be in compliance with all agreements, demonstrate right to premises, agree to renovate, meet new franchisee standards, sign new renewal agreement and general release. |
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 plus any costs or expenses |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee qualified; accrued fees paid; no default exists; sales price reasonable; transferee signs new agreement; training arranged and transfer training fee paid; transferee agrees to upgrade and remodel the Restaurant; transferor signs release and pays transfer fee. |
| Termination for Cause | Insolvency/bankruptcy; failure to complete training; failure to timely identify a site and open the Restaurant; abandonment; loss of possession of the Premises; default on material indebtedness; commission of felony; threat to public safety; unapproved transfers; operating a Competing Business; disclosure of trade secrets; filing false reports; repeated defaults even if cured; default of any other agreements between you or your affiliates and us or our affiliates; and others. Non-payment of fees or non-submission of reports (5 days cure), other defaults (30 days cure). |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for a continuous period of two (2) years following expiration, transfer, or termination. |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, no geographical limitation. After termination/expiration/transfer, within three (3) miles of the Premises, or within three (3) miles of the Protected Territory, or within three (3) miles of any other Marufuku Ramen restaurant. Defined as a restaurant business with Japanese noodles or specialty broth as a primary menu item (>=20% of sales) or similar method of operation/trade dress. Also prohibits diverting customers. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | You must designate one of your owners as your Operating Principal, who will have authority over all financial, operational, and legal matters. A replacement must be designated within 30 days if the Operating Principal leaves. If the franchisee owns or controls more than three Marufuku Ramen restaurants and the Operating Principal devotes less than full time, a full-time Multi-Unit Manager must be designated and approved by the franchisor. Each Operating Principal and Multi-Unit Manager must complete the management training program. Owners and their spouses must personally guarantee all company obligations under the Franchise Agreement. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase food and beverage items, ingredients, supplies, equipment, furnishings, smallwares, merchandise, promotional items, information technology services, credit card processing services, and other products and services from designated or approved suppliers. The franchisor reserves the right to designate itself or an affiliate as an approved or sole approved supplier in the future. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must purchase items from designated or approved suppliers. If a franchisee wishes to use an unapproved supplier, they must submit a written request for approval, which may involve fees for evaluation and testing. The franchisor can revoke supplier approval if products or services no longer meet standards, requiring franchisees to stop buying from that supplier and potentially dispose of remaining inventory. Proprietary Items (secret recipes) must be purchased only from designated suppliers. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | The franchisor and its affiliates may earn a profit on products and services sold to franchisees and may receive rebates or other consideration from suppliers. Currently, the franchisor receives a rebate of 7.5% on certain logo'ed and trademarked products purchased from approved suppliers. In the last fiscal year, the franchisor received approximately $95,001.84 in rebates from franchisee purchases. Affiliates did not receive any rebates. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing to franchisees. We will not guarantee your promissory note, lease, or other obligation. |
Marufuku Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Marufuku does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Marufuku does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Marufuku Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordMarufuku 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.
Marufuku System Growth
Total Units
8
Franchised
3
Company-Owned
5
Marufuku currently operates 3 franchised locations and 5 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 1
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, NY, HI, ND, IL, RI, IN, SD, MD, VA, MI, WA, MN, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$660K
Net Income
$193K
Total Assets
$1.1M
Audited by Albert & Associates, Certified Public Accountant for year ending December 31st.
Marufuku Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Marufuku franchise ranges from $1,029,000 to $1,540,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $30,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Marufuku charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a Currently 1% of Gross Sales (can increase to maximum of 3%) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Marufuku 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 Marufuku to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Marufuku does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Marufuku has been franchising since 2019. The FDD shows an investment range of $1,029,000-$1,540,000, a 5% of Gross Sales royalty, and no 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 $30,000 and the total investment ranges from $1,029,000 to $1,540,000 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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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 Marufuku and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Marufuku or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com