How should leasehold improvements be paid for a Desi District Eatery Only franchise?
Desi_District Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
| Type of expenditure | Amount | Method of payment | When due | To whom payment is to be made | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee (see | $30,000 - | $30,000 | Check or wire transfer | Upon signing the franchise agreement | Us |
| Note 1) | |||||
| Rent and Lease Security | $5,000 - | $30,000 | Check | Upon signing lease | Landlord |
| Deposit (see Note 2) | |||||
| Utilities (see Note 3) | $1,000 - | $5,000 | Check, debit, and/or credit | Upon ordering service | Utility providers |
| Leasehold | $390,000 - | $520,000 | Check | As incurred or when billed | Contractors |
| Improvements (see Note | |||||
| 4) | |||||
| Market Introduction | $5,000 - | $10,000 | Check, debit, and/or credit | As incurred or when billed | Vendors and suppliers |
| Program (see Note 5) | |||||
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (see Note 6) | $120,000 - | $240,000 | Check, debit, and/or credit | As incurred | Vendors and suppliers |
| Computer Systems (see Note 7) | $7,000 - | $12,000 | Check, debit, and/or credit | As incurred | Vendors and suppliers |
| Insurance (see Note 8) | $2,000 - | $8,000 | Check | Upon ordering | Insurance company |
| Signage (see Note 9) | $8,000 - | $12,000 | Check, debit, and/or credit | Upon ordering | Vendor |
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- The leasehold improvements are the cost of construction to build out the unit in your market. This range of investment will vary greatly depending on your location and the cost of construction in your market. The locations will vary depending on whether you are based on the model you choose to invest in. The Eatery Model is typically based on a location that is 3,500 square feet in size and the Eatery and Market Model is typically 10,000 square feet in size.
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- The Franchise Fee is due and payable at the time of executing the Franchise Agreement. Your lease security deposit and utility deposits will usually be refundable unless you owe money to the landlord or utility provider. None of the other expenditures in this table will be refundable. Neither we nor any affiliate finances any part of your initial investment. Each of these investment ranges varies depending on the type of franchise model you invest in. The Eatery model is a smaller footprint and operates as only a restaurant business. The Eatery and Market Model is a combination of restaurant and grocery business and requires a larger footprint and as a result more of an investment to open. In this Item 7, the lower end of the investment range generally accounts for the Eatery model and the higher end of the range of investment accounts for the Eatery and Market model.
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- Our estimates in this table assume you pay one month rent plus a security deposit before you open for business. For this to occur, you would need to negotiate a "free rent" period for the time it takes to build out your business. We expect that you will rent your location. If you choose to purchase real estate instead of renting, your costs will be significantly different.
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 20–26)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Desi District's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, leasehold improvements for an Eatery Only franchise, which range from $390,000 to $520,000, are paid via check. These payments are made to contractors as the costs are incurred or when billed. Leasehold improvements cover the construction costs required to build out the Desi District unit in the franchisee's specific market. The investment range can fluctuate significantly based on location and construction costs within that market. The Eatery Model is typically based on a location that is 3,500 square feet in size.
It is important to note that neither Desi District nor any affiliate provides financing for any part of the initial investment. The FDD notes that the estimates assume the franchisee will pay one month's rent plus a security deposit before opening. To make this feasible, Desi District suggests negotiating a 'free rent' period to cover the build-out time. If a franchisee chooses to purchase real estate instead of renting, the costs will be significantly different from the estimates provided.
Prospective franchisees should carefully consider the potential variability in leasehold improvement costs, as this represents a substantial portion of the initial investment. Thorough due diligence, including obtaining multiple construction bids and understanding local market conditions, is essential to accurately budget for this expense. Franchisees should also discuss potential financing options with financial institutions, as Desi District does not offer direct financing.