Advanced Fresh Concepts

Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Advanced Fresh Concepts is a sushi franchise offering freshly prepared sushi and Japanese cuisine in grocery stores and retail settings, known for its quality and convenience.

Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp. (AFC) stands out as a leading franchisor focused on supermarket-based food service counters, offering freshly made sushi and a variety of Asian-inspired dishes. Founded in November 1986, the brand launched its first sushi bar in Marina Del Rey, California, and now operates from its headquarters in Torrance, California.

The company entered the franchising space in May 2002, providing business owners with the opportunity to run food service counters inside retail locations. AFC’s franchise system is built around delivering fresh, high-quality sushi made daily, aligning with the increasing consumer demand for healthy and convenient meals.

AFC differentiates itself through its expansive footprint and dedication to maintaining quality standards. Today, the company supports a network of more than 4,000 independently owned and operated food service counters throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Fee	$6,250 ($0 for a Part-Time Location)
Credit and Background Check Fee	$100
Tuberculosis, Drug Testing, and Criminal Background Checks	$100 – $2,000
Training Fee	$1,000 – $4,600
Training Fee for Managers	$0 – $2,300
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Training, Testing, and Certification	$275 – $550
ServSafe® Allergen Awareness Training and Testing	$10 – $30
Travel and Living Expenses while Training	$1,600 – $11,500
Operating Manual/SSOP/Sushi Recipe Guide/Steam Table Manual Fee	$300 – $600
Purchase of Existing AFC-Operated Food Service Counter	$1,000 – $100,000
Opening Food Inventory	$8,000 – $24,000
Signage	$0 – $1,000
Opening Assistance	$0 – $1,800
Labeling Machine and Inventory Scanner	$900 – $2,000
Warranty Service for Labeling Machine	$99 – $199
Data and Web Access Fee for Tablet	$120 – $225
Equipment and Small Wares	$14,700 – $46,000
Insurance (per location)	$700 – $5,000
Additional Uniforms	$0 – $350
Licenses & Permits	$300 – $2,000
Computer and Internet Access	$150 – $800
Additional Funds (3 months)	$5,500 – $25,000
Professional Advisor	$1,000 – $2,000
Account Broker Fee (First Quarterly Payment)	$0 – $500
Total for a New Full-Time or Part-Time Food Service Counter Franchise	$41,104 – $138,804

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Fee	$6,250 ($0 for a Part-Time Location)
Credit and Background Check Fee	$100
Tuberculosis, Drug Testing, and Criminal Background Checks	$100 – $2,000
Training Fee	$1,000 – $4,600
Training Fee for Managers	$0 – $2,300
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Training, Testing, and Certification	$275 – $550
ServSafe® Allergen Awareness Training and Testing	$10 – $30
Travel and Living Expenses while Training	$1,600 – $11,500
Operating Manual/SSOP/Sushi Recipe Guide/Steam Table Manual Fee	$300 – $600
Purchase of Existing AFC-Operated Food Service Counter	$1,000 – $100,000
Opening Food Inventory	$8,000 – $24,000
Signage	$0 – $1,000
Opening Assistance	$0 – $1,800
Labeling Machine and Inventory Scanner	$900 – $2,000
Warranty Service for Labeling Machine	$99 – $199
Data and Web Access Fee for Tablet	$120 – $225
Equipment and Small Wares	$14,700 – $46,000
Insurance (per location)	$700 – $5,000
Additional Uniforms	$0 – $350
Licenses & Permits	$300 – $2,000
Computer and Internet Access	$150 – $800
Additional Funds (3 months)	$5,500 – $25,000
Professional Advisor	$1,000 – $2,000
Account Broker Fee (First Quarterly Payment)	$0 – $500
Total for a New Full-Time or Part-Time Food Service Counter Franchise	$41,104 – $138,804

Advanced Fresh Concepts

2023

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

In the Advanced Fresh Concepts franchise system, the Franchisor provides several types of training programs designed to prepare franchisees for successful operation:

Initial Training Program
The Franchisor offers an initial training program covering the preparation of sushi and other food products, as well as the operational aspects of running a retail food service counter. This training includes both classroom and on-the-job instruction and is mandatory for the franchisee’s principal owners.
Post-Opening Training
For the first location only, the Franchisor provides up to three days of post-opening training at the franchisee’s site at no charge. If additional days of training are needed or requested, they are provided for an additional fee.
Additional Training Programs
From time to time, the Franchisor may require franchisees or their managers to attend additional training sessions, either at the corporate headquarters, online, or other designated locations. These programs cover updated operational procedures or new product introductions and usually involve extra costs for attendance.
ServSafe Manager Certification
Before beginning operations, franchisees and their managers must successfully complete the ServSafe Manager certification and Allergen Awareness Training. These certifications ensure compliance with food safety standards and legal requirements.

Territory Protection

In the Advanced Fresh Concepts franchise system, franchisees do not receive any exclusive territory or protected market area. The Franchise Agreement explicitly states that no territory or marketing exclusivity is provided, meaning franchisees may face competition from other franchisees or company-controlled locations operating nearby.

Franchisees are granted a right to operate only at the specific location(s) identified in their Franchise Addendums. Even if Advanced Fresh Concepts grants a specific site to a franchisee, it reserves the right to operate, authorize others to operate, or license other franchises in close proximity.

Additionally, the franchise agreement allows the Franchisor itself to compete with franchisees within the same area without restriction. As a result, franchisees must be prepared for potential overlap and should not expect any guaranteed territorial protection under this system.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising

2002

Franchisees

4070

Franchise fee

$6,250

Investment

$41,000 - $139,000

Revenue (AUV)

n.a.