Prime Rate:6.75%Fed Funds:3.64%5-Yr Treasury:3.88%10-Yr Treasury:4.25%30-Yr Treasury:4.83%30-Yr Mortgage:6.22%·Updated Mar 19, 2026Prime Rate:6.75%Fed Funds:3.64%5-Yr Treasury:3.88%10-Yr Treasury:4.25%30-Yr Treasury:4.83%30-Yr Mortgage:6.22%·Updated Mar 19, 2026
Rates
2025 FDD VERIFIEDRestaurant
Benihana National

Benihana National

Franchising since 1964 · 86 locations

The total investment to open a Benihana National franchise ranges from $616,000 - $6.3M. The initial franchise fee is $40,000. Ongoing royalties are 5% plus a 1% advertising fee. Benihana National currently operates 86 locations. Data sourced from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

Investment

$616,000 - $6.3M

Franchise Fee

$40,000

Total Units

86

FPI Score

This franchise has not yet been scored by the Franchise Performance Index. Scores are calculated based on public FDD data, SBA loan performance, and system-level metrics.

What is the Benihana National franchise?

Benihana National franchise, operating within the specialized domain of walkway auditing and safety, has carved a distinct niche since its founding in 2019. Peter Ermish is recognized as the founder and general manager of this enterprise, establishing its home office in Carrollton, Texas. This Benihana National franchise has swiftly positioned itself as an industry leader, leveraging advanced walkway auditing technology, a comprehensive suite of services, specialized training programs, and proprietary non-slip treatments. A key differentiator for the Benihana National franchise is its exclusive distributorship of the BOT-3000E tribometer, a critical instrument in assessing floor slip resistance. Furthermore, the company has innovated with its "INVINCIBLE FLOOR TREATMENT" and "BOOST floor traction solutions," designed to enhance safety, improve slip resistance, and maintain the aesthetic appeal of various floor surfaces. The Benihana National franchise is committed to a proactive approach, systematically inspecting, assessing, and managing the condition of both internal walkways and external surfaces to identify and mitigate potential slip-and-fall hazards. This strategic focus on preventative measures underscores its dedication to reducing accident liabilities and ensuring safer environments across diverse commercial and public settings. The consistent application of these advanced technologies and methodologies ensures that the Benihana National franchise maintains a competitive edge in a market driven by safety compliance and risk management.

The industry landscape in which the Benihana National franchise operates is characterized by consistent demand for specialized property maintenance services, particularly those focused on preserving infrastructure and ensuring safety across a wide array of property types. This sector, critical for commercial property owners, directly addresses significant liability concerns related to slip-and-fall accidents, which are currently at an all-time high. Consequently, there is a rapidly expanding need for certified walkway safety professionals throughout the United States. The Benihana National franchise leverages this market demand, operating in what the company identifies as a "billion-dollar industry." Its core business revolves around comprehensive floor safety services, which include both in-field and in-lab slip resistance testing utilizing advanced tribometer technology. The services provided by the Benihana National franchise extend beyond mere testing, offering holistic solutions for detecting, addressing, and proactively maintaining walkway hazards. These essential services find application across numerous industries and public areas, encompassing airports, expansive factory and warehouse facilities, bustling grocery and retail stores, critical healthcare institutions like hospitals, hospitality venues such as hotels and casinos, and educational environments including schools. This broad applicability underscores the pervasive need for the specialized services offered by the Benihana National franchise, ensuring a robust and recurring revenue potential through safety assessments, professional floor treatments, and compliance-driven services.

Investing in a Benihana National franchise presents an affordable service-based opportunity within the property maintenance sector, with financial requirements notably below the industry average. The initial franchise fee for a Benihana National franchise is $48,500, a figure that includes comprehensive training and access to proprietary systems. A noteworthy incentive is a 10% discount on this initial fee for qualified veterans, reflecting the company's commitment to supporting those who have served. The total investment required to launch a Benihana National franchise ranges from $51,100 to $64,500, with another source specifying a range of $50,000 to $60,000. This all-encompassing investment covers the initial franchise fee, necessary equipment, thorough training programs, and various other crucial startup costs. Such an investment profile positions the Benihana National franchise as highly accessible, particularly when compared to the commercial property maintenance sub-sector average, which typically falls between $114,820 and $217,798. A unique and highly attractive financial feature of the Benihana National franchise is its "100% ROYALTY FREE opportunity," meaning franchisees are not burdened by ongoing royalty payments on their gross revenues. While specific "ad fund" or marketing fees are not explicitly detailed, the company emphasizes its national reach through national advertising and marketing efforts, which are designed to generate potential business opportunities from national account customers. Franchisees of the Benihana National franchise are encouraged to leverage the robust lead-generation capabilities provided by the franchisor's national marketing and account acquisition resources. Liquid capital requirements vary across sources, with figures ranging from a minimum of $10,000 as per FDD Item 7, to other sources suggesting interested parties should possess at least $40,000 or between $40,000 and $50,000 in liquid capital for investment.

The operating model and support structure for a Benihana National franchise are meticulously designed to ensure comprehensive assistance for franchisees, regardless of their prior experience in facility maintenance, management, or flooring. Initial training programs are extensive, providing a fast start for new operators. This includes in-depth instruction on the functionality and application of the BOT-3000E Tribometer and the BOOST Treatment solutions. A significant benefit for every Benihana National franchise owner is receiving a voucher for the prestigious University of North Texas Walkway Safety Certification Course, which is recognized as the highest certification available in the industry. Expert-led courses further educate franchisees on interpreting and effectively applying testing results, understanding critical safety standards such as ANSI A326.3, and implementing highly effective floor safety strategies. Beyond initial training, the Benihana National franchise provides total ongoing support. This encompasses assistance with professional certifications, continuous product training to keep abreast of innovations, robust marketing guidance, and powerful lead generation tools. Franchisees are integrated into a national network of highly trained and certified walkway safety professionals, fostering a collaborative environment. They gain exclusive access to the company's proprietary Customer Relationship Management System, known as the P3 Portal, streamlining operations and client management. Furthermore, franchisees receive priority access to the Consumer Assurance Test Lab (CATL) for professional, standardized lab testing of various floor and walkway surface items, ensuring consistent quality and compliance. The dedicated staff supporting the Benihana National franchise includes a diverse team of architects, attorneys, forensic consultants, project coordinators, IT professionals, lab and tribometry engineers, and marketing specialists, all contributing to the sustained success and growth of each franchisee's business. Each Benihana National franchise is granted an approved royalty-free Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Territory, providing a defined operational area.

Regarding financial performance, the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 is the section where franchisors may opt to provide Financial Performance Representations (FPRs). However, it is important to note that franchisors are not legally obligated to disclose such information. In the case of the Benihana National franchise, its FDD does not publicly provide specific revenue or earnings data in Item 19. Consequently, detailed financial metrics such as average revenue per unit, median revenue figures, or typical profit margins for a Benihana National franchise are not publicly available for prospective franchisees to review. While the absence of these specific disclosures means that precise financial projections cannot be directly derived from the FDD, the financial requirements for the initial investment, ranging from $51,100 to $64,500, position the Benihana National franchise as an accessible entry point into the lucrative property maintenance sector. The distinctive "100% ROYALTY FREE opportunity" is a significant factor that can positively influence a franchisee's profitability, as it eliminates a substantial ongoing cost that is common in most franchise models. This structure allows franchisees to retain a larger portion of their generated revenue. The emphasis on national advertising and marketing efforts by the Benihana National franchise, aimed at securing national account customers and generating leads, suggests a concerted effort to support franchisee revenue generation. However, without specific historical performance data, potential investors must rely on industry trends, the robustness of the business model, and their own financial projections when evaluating the potential returns from a Benihana National franchise investment.

The Benihana National franchise has demonstrated a steady early-stage growth trajectory, establishing 45 units as of 2018. While this indicates consistent expansion, the franchise system remains relatively small when compared to more mature and extensively developed franchise networks. This smaller scale presents significant opportunities for territorial availability, allowing new franchisees to secure prime locations across the nation. The Benihana National franchise operates a robust national network of highly skilled floor safety professionals and dedicated service support teams, providing comprehensive coverage across all 50 states within the United States. Furthermore, the Benihana National franchise opportunity extends beyond U.S. borders, with availability in Canada, indicating an international growth strategy. A notable development in 2023 saw Claudius Nan and his wife Raluca Nan, who successfully own and operate Walkway Management South Florida, expand their services into new key markets, including Atlanta and Tampa Bay. The Atlanta office is managed by Rodderick Schroy, and the Tampa office is currently overseen by Kimberly Jansen. Claudius Nan’s extensive experience, spanning over 20 years in the flooring industry, coupled with his certification as a Walkway Auditor from the University of North Texas College of Engineering, exemplifies the caliber of professionals contributing to the Benihana National franchise network. The company's competitive advantages are rooted in its exclusive distributorship of the BOT-3000E tribometer, its proprietary "INVINCIBLE FLOOR TREATMENT" and "BOOST floor traction solutions," and its commitment to comprehensive training and certification, including the prestigious University of North Texas Walkway Safety Certification Course. These elements collectively reinforce the Benihana National franchise's position as a leader in an expanding and essential industry.

The ideal franchisee for a Benihana National franchise is an individual possessing a strong entrepreneurial spirit, who values collaboration and desires to be an integral part of a team of highly qualified and respected professionals. While prior experience in facility maintenance, management, or flooring is considered beneficial, it is not a mandatory prerequisite, as the Benihana National franchise provides comprehensive initial training designed to equip all franchisees with the necessary expertise. This foundational support ensures that individuals from diverse professional backgrounds can successfully launch and operate their businesses. The operational model for a Benihana National franchise is inherently B2B (business-to-business) commercial, necessitating strong relationship-building skills and a clear understanding of corporate decision-making processes to effectively acquire and retain clients. Franchisees are expected to perform a range of services including meticulous slip test services, proactive hazard remediation, application of traction-enhancing treatments, expert walkway safety consulting, and engagement in lab research and testing activities. The low initial investment required for a Benihana National franchise, ranging from $51,100 to $64,500, may appeal to semi-absentee operators, offering flexibility. However, active, hands-on involvement is generally anticipated to significantly enhance client acquisition success and overall business growth. Each Benihana National franchise is granted an approved royalty-free Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Territory, providing a defined geographic area for operations.

The Benihana National franchise presents a compelling investment opportunity for individuals seeking to enter a high-demand, service-based industry with significant growth potential. The company operates in the rapidly expanding sector of floor safety and slip-and-fall accident prevention, addressing critical liability concerns for commercial property owners across numerous industries. With its 100% royalty-free model, franchisees retain a greater portion of their earnings, enhancing the overall profitability of their Benihana National franchise. The comprehensive training, professional certifications, ongoing support, and access to proprietary technologies like the BOT-3000E tribometer and advanced floor treatments position franchisees for success. The Benihana National franchise benefits from national marketing and account acquisition resources, generating valuable leads and potential business opportunities from national account customers. This support, combined with the proven operational model and the growing market demand for certified walkway safety professionals, underscores the robust nature of this investment. The ability to build a scalable business within an approved royalty-free MSA Territory, backed by a national network of experts, makes the Benihana National franchise an attractive proposition for entrepreneurs. Explore the complete Benihana National franchise profile on PeerSense to access the full suite of independent franchise intelligence data.

Key Highlights

Data Insights

Key performance metrics for Benihana National based on SBA lending data

Investment Tier

Premium investment

$616,000 – $6,250,000 total

Payment Estimator

Loan Amount$493K
Interest Rate9.5%
Term (Years)10 yr

Estimated Monthly Payment

$6,377

Principal & Interest only

Locations

Benihana Nationalunit breakdown

Total Units
N/A
Franchisee Owned
System Owned
Closed

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Benihana National