What is the estimated range for construction and leasehold improvements for a Bonchon Remote Kitchen Restaurant?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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[14] In most localities, you are responsible for engaging the services of a professional, licensed architect to produce CAD drawings for your Restaurant. Bonchon will designate AOR and the AGC whose services you will be required to use, at your own expense, for the development of your Restaurant. If you would like us to consider an alternative architect, then you must submit to us: (i) (for our approval) the name of your proposed architect and any other information that we may require; and (ii) an Architect Evaluation Fee in the amount of $2,500 to evaluate whether your proposed architect meet our then-current standards and specifications. If you wish to use an alternate general contractor, then you must submit to us: (i) (for our approval) the name of your proposed general contractor and any other information that we may require; and (ii) a General Contractor Evaluation Fee in the amount of $3,500 fee to assess whether your proposed general contractor meets our then-current standards and specifications. The Architect Evaluation Fee and General Contractor Evaluation Fee are included in our estimate of the architect and engineering fees that you will likely incur in connection with the development and construction of your Restaurant.
Before you submit the CAD drawings for your Restaurant to the local municipality for review and approval, we must review them to assess their conformity to our requirements and could return them to the AOR for additional modifications. Any modifications may incur further services by the AOR, and these services may likely incur higher fees. You are responsible for ensuring that the plans meet all state and local requirements including ADA. Your exact costs will depend on the AOR (or if we approve, the alternate architect you request). The cost range for Remote Kitchen Restaurants includes the architecture costs that include space design,
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT YOUR ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT\ (FDD pages 24–37)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor requires franchisees to use Bonchon's designated Architect of Record (AOR) and Approved General Contractor (AGC) for the development of the restaurant. The cost range for Remote Kitchen Restaurants includes architecture costs that include space design, permitting, and construction coordination. Bonchon must review CAD drawings to assess their conformity to their requirements before franchisees submit the drawings to the local municipality for review and approval. Any modifications may incur further services by the AOR, and these services may likely incur higher fees.
The FDD states that in 2024, the tenant improvement allowance was $0 for sites for Remote Kitchen Restaurants. The document also notes that the estimates are based on prototypical layouts of Restaurants constructed in Dallas, Texas, and are indicative of standard pricing in or near Dallas, Texas. The low end of the estimate assumes that you have leased space that previously operated as a restaurant and that you will convert to a Bonchon Restaurant making use of existing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure, existing restrooms, kitchen flooring, wall coverings/finishes, light fixtures, kitchen plumbing fixtures, and walk-in cooler and freezer as per our prototypical layout. The high end of the estimate assumes you have obtained a site in the "vanilla box" stage for a restaurant, which refers to the interior condition of either a new or existing building or suite that has been prepped with heating/cooling with delivery systems appropriately sized for the regional climate, lighting electrical switches and outlets, 400amp electrical panel, lavatories, a finished ceiling, walls that are prepped for painting, plumbing to stub, 1.25 inch water line to the space and a concrete slab floor.
Prospective franchisees should note that these estimates do not include architect fees but do recognize other fees typically charged by licensed professionals (such as project managers, general contractors and licensed tradesman) who are contracted to install electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The FDD indicates that costs may vary depending on the location of the franchise, the condition of the premises, and whether the property is a non-standard commercial property. For Remote Kitchen Restaurants, Bonchon will only provide a sample layout for the interior of a typical Remote Kitchen Restaurant if the lessor does not provide design, project management, and construction services as part of the lease terms (which lessors typically do provide).