FranchiseVerdict
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B65/100FDD 2025

Katsu Bar and Noodle — Litigation & Risk

Food & Beverage - Full Service · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5

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Lower Risk

No litigation cases disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.

Source: FDD Items 3–5

FDD Items 3 & 4

Litigation Metrics

Cases disclosed
0
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
65 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
MODERATE
STRONG / MODERATE / CAUTION / AVOID

7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present

SBA Loan Performance

Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Default rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.

Total 7(a) loans
1
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
—
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
Total loan volume
$190K
Avg loan size
$190K
Participating lenders
1

FDD Items 5, 6 & 17 — what you give up

Contract Risk Indicators

Mandatory arbitration
Required
Disputes resolved outside court — limits your legal options
Jury trial waiver
Waived
You give up the right to a jury trial
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
California
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there

What drove the 65/100 rating

Risk Score Breakdown

  1. 01MINORNo financial disclosure (Item 19) — cannot validate the $268K-$439K investment ROI claims
  2. 02HIGHGoing Concern = False — suggests potential financial instability at corporate level
  3. 03MINORZero territory protection — direct competition from other franchisees and corporate locations
  4. 04MINORRapid unit growth (66.7% YoY) with only 9 units — indicates either explosive demand or unsustainable expansion without profitability proof
  5. 05MED6% royalty + undisclosed operating costs on unverified revenue = unknown true profitability
  6. 06MINORSmall franchise system (9 units) increases corporate support risk and closure probability

Severity inferred from FDD text — not a regulatory or legal classification

Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice — consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.