OPENING PATH
How does the Ace Sushi opening process work?
Ace Sushi does not disclose one complete inquiry-to-opening duration. For a single-unit candidate, the verified path is application, disclosure review, Initial Training, franchise award and signing, location and Host Venue coordination, setup, permits and insurance, then Onsite Training around opening. The FDD says operations generally begin 10–14 days after the Franchise Agreement is signed, but that is not a promise for the entire process.
Federal disclosure review
Calendar days before signing or payment.
Initial Training
Online curriculum including final exam.
Signing to operation
General statement, subject to readiness.
Area-development minimum
Separate agreements apply to each bar.
FORMAT SELECTION
Which Ace Sushi format are you applying for?
The agreement path changes by format. A Single Unit Program covers one Main Sushi Bar. A Satellite Store Program adds delivery from the Main Sushi Bar to an approved satellite location. An Area Development Program requires multiple Ace Sushi Bars under a Development Schedule and a separate Franchise Agreement for each full-service bar.
| Process point | Single Unit | Satellite Store | Area Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governing documents | Initial Training Agreement, then Franchise Agreement | Franchise Agreement plus Satellite Store Addendum | Area Development Agreement, addendum, and separate unit agreements |
| Location role | Ace generally selects and obtains the Host Venue location | Ace may designate up to two sites within 20 miles | Developer finds sites and submits each Site Review Request |
| Territory position | No exclusive territory; rights attach to the approved location | No separate broad exclusivity disclosed | Development Area rights remain subject to Reserved Rights and schedule compliance |
| Opening clock | General 10–14 days after signing, if ready | Addendum and delivery setup add dependencies | Each store must meet its Development Schedule and pre-signing notices |
SEQUENCE TO CONFIRM
Item 8 says Ace selects single-unit sites before the Franchise Agreement, but Franchise Agreement §1.4 permits the location to be selected before or after its Effective Date and Attachment B to be completed later. Outside area development, the FDD states no deadline for Ace to select, approve, or reject a site. Confirm the actual sequence before signing.
Source: 2026 Ace Sushi FDD cover; Items 8, 11 and 12, pp. 25–38; Franchise Agreement §§1.1–1.4; Satellite Store Addendum; Area Development Agreement §§1–3.
APPLICATION
What must an applicant qualify for before Ace Sushi can award a franchise?
Ace Sushi’s Franchise Application asks for identity and work-authorization information, criminal and bankruptcy history, proposed operator, preferred locations, work history, references, bank information, available investment funds, food-handler certification, and prior sushi or franchise experience. The form also requests a valid ID and Social Security card. These are application questions—not a disclosed guarantee of approval.
The 2026 FDD does not state a universal minimum credit score, net worth, education level, or sushi-experience threshold. It does require accurate and complete application information. Initial Training completion makes a candidate eligible for further consideration, but the Initial Training Agreement expressly says Ace may still decline to grant a franchise.
The operating role is stricter. The franchisee must actively participate; unless Ace approves otherwise, the Single Unit franchisee is the principal operator. The bar must always be managed by the franchisee or a full-time management employee who completed both Initial and Onsite Training. An entity applicant—or an applicant whose credit report Ace considers insufficient—may be required to provide a financially qualified guarantor.
BUYER VERIFICATION
Confirm exactly which owners, spouse, principals, or guarantor must sign the Franchise Agreement and Attachment C. The FDD cover highlights possible spousal liability, while Item 15 describes Ace’s conditional guarantor requirement.
Source: 2026 Ace Sushi FDD, Exhibit L Franchise Application; Item 15, p. 41; Initial Training Agreement §§2–3; Franchise Agreement recitals and Attachment C.
VERIFIED ROADMAP
What is the sequence from inquiry to opening?
Choose the development path
Action: Identify Single Unit, Satellite Store, or Area Development.
Actor: Applicant and Ace Sushi.
Next dependency: Use the documents and site process for that format.
Submit the application package
Action: Provide the requested personal, financial, work, reference, and operator information.
Actor: Applicant.
Blocker: Incomplete or inaccurate information can prevent award. The FDD discloses a $125 per-application fee but does not clearly state its collection point.
Receive and review the FDD
Action: Record delivery and compare all attached agreements with the proposed sign-ready forms.
Actor: Ace furnishes; applicant reviews.
Timing: At least 14 calendar days before a binding agreement or any payment to Ace or an affiliate in connection with the proposed sale; verify the application-fee timing against this rule.
Complete Initial Training
Action: Single-unit candidates sign the Initial Training Agreement and complete the eight-hour online program and final exam.
Timing: Within six months of that agreement.
Blocker: Failure automatically ends training eligibility; completion does not compel an award.
Establish the Host Venue path
Action: For a single unit, Ace generally selects and negotiates the location, although the Franchise Agreement permits identification after signing. An area developer finds sites and submits a Site Review Request.
Actor: Ace/AMG, applicant or developer, and Host Venue.
Blocker: No approved site or Sushi Supply Agreement means no completed location path.
Sign the governing agreements
Action: Execute the Franchise Agreement, any Satellite Store Addendum or Area Development documents, and required guaranty.
Actor: Approved franchisee, Ace Sushi, and any guarantor.
Next dependency: Confirm the location attachment, schedule, payment triggers, and state addenda.
Complete site and operating setup
Action: Coordinate Host Venue improvements or required buildout; install approved equipment, labeling and computer systems; arrange opening inventory.
Actor: Franchisee, Host Venue, Ace/AMG, suppliers, and contractors.
Blocker: Unapproved plans, suppliers, or unfinished utilities and work areas can delay readiness.
Obtain third-party clearances
Action: Secure required food, health, business and other local approvals; obtain insurance before operations; complete required food-preparation training.
Actor: Franchisee, government authorities, insurer, and approved trainer.
Blocker: Local review and inspection timing is not controlled by Ace.
Finish Onsite Training and open
Action: Ace sends one to three staff for two days before and up to four days after the scheduled opening.
Timing: Ace states the Main Sushi Bar generally begins operating 10–14 days after signing.
Next dependency: Area developers continue under each unit’s Development Schedule.
Source: 2026 Ace Sushi FDD, Items 5, 8, 9, 11 and 15; Initial Training Agreement §§2–3; Franchise Agreement §§1, 6 and 10; Area Development Agreement §§2–3.
TIMING EVIDENCE
Which opening periods are actually disclosed?
The following periods use the same unit—calendar days—but have different triggers. They are not sequential components of one total opening estimate and must not be added together.
Disclosed process intervals
Scale: 0–15 days; a floating bar indicates a range.
Interpretation: the 10–14 day statement begins at Franchise Agreement signing, while the federal review period occurs before signing and third-party readiness can extend the overall process.
Sources: 2026 Ace Sushi FDD cover; Item 8, p. 26 (15 days from the Site Review Request, or 10 days after requested additional information, whichever is later); Item 11, pp. 35–36; Franchise Agreement §6.3. Federal timing: FTC Franchise Rule Compliance Guide and 16 CFR Part 436. The FTC counts calendar days; the count begins the day after delivery, and signing or payment may occur on the fifteenth day. This is general rule information, not a buyer-specific date calculation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Who controls each opening dependency?
Applicant or franchisee
Truthful application, Initial Training, active operator or trained manager, entity and guarantor documents, permits, insurance, staffing, required food training, inventory, and compliance with approved systems.
Ace Sushi and AMG
Candidate decision, training, brand standards, approved-source system, single-unit location selection, Host Venue negotiation, area-site acceptance, and Onsite Training support.
Host Venue
Location access and the facilities stated in its Sushi Supply Agreement. Venues generally provide cases, storage and work areas, but some locations shift buildout or equipment obligations to the franchisee.
Third parties
Government authorities issue permits and conduct inspections; insurers bind coverage; contractors complete approved work; suppliers deliver equipment and food. Their timing is not an Ace opening guarantee.
SITE APPROVAL IS NOT TERRITORY PROTECTION
Ace’s selection or acceptance of a site does not guarantee franchise award, profitability, a Sushi Supply Agreement, or exclusivity. Single-unit rights attach to the approved location. Area-development rights remain limited by the Development Area, Reserved Rights, offered-venue rules, and the Development Schedule.
Official references: Ace Sushi official website; 2026 Ace Sushi FDD, Items 8, 11 and 12; Franchise Agreement §§1 and 3; Area Development Agreement §3.
OPENING DEADLINES
Which deadlines can stop, delay, or change the deal?
Single-unit trainees must complete Initial Training within six months after the Initial Training Agreement. Failure automatically terminates that agreement and eligibility.
If a qualified trainee completes training but Ace cannot offer a franchise location within 12 months, the disclosed Initial Training Fee refund condition applies.
When Ace designates a Satellite Store, the Franchise Agreement requires the franchisee to execute the Satellite Store Addendum within five days after receipt.
An area developer must request Ace’s then-current FDD and send completion information in this window before each scheduled Franchise Agreement signing date.
The area developer must submit the unit application, financial statements, store information, and financing plans at least 30 days before the earlier scheduled or actual signing.
A requested alternative supplier may take 60–90 days for approval or rejection. The supplier cannot be used before written approval.
CONTRACTUAL DEADLINE
The Area Development Agreement makes the Development Schedule time-sensitive. Missing a required unit signing or opening date can support termination of the development rights; the development fee is disclosed as nonrefundable, and unused rights can be revoked.
Source: 2026 Ace Sushi FDD, Items 5, 8, 11 and 17; Initial Training Agreement §§2–3; Franchise Agreement §1.2; Area Development Agreement §§2–3 and Development Schedule.
READINESS CHECK
What should a buyer verify before signing and opening?
Useful official sources: review the FTC’s full Franchise Rule Compliance Guide, the current federal Franchise Rule, and the FDA Food Code resource. Local requirements must be verified with the relevant authorities and qualified advisers.
BOTTOM LINE
What is the practical opening conclusion?
The verified Ace Sushi path is application and qualification, federal disclosure review, successful Initial Training, franchise award and agreement execution, Host Venue and location completion, approved setup, permits and insurance, then Onsite Training and operation. The total inquiry-to-opening timeline is undisclosed; only milestone periods are stated.
The largest applicant-controlled dependency is completing truthful documentation, training, staffing and third-party readiness. The largest external dependency is securing the Host Venue arrangement and completing the location, approvals and supply setup. Single-unit buyers should verify whether the proposed 10–14 day post-signing opening statement is realistic for their specific site. Area developers should treat each Development Schedule date, pre-signing notice window and site-acceptance requirement as a separate contractual checkpoint.