Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units worldwide.

Total Investment: $777,000 – $977,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 15 years, renewable

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

Net Worth: $1,000,000
Liquid Cash Available: $300,000

OPERATIONS

50% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 50. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (50% of current franchisees are owner/operators).

FINANCING TYPE	IN-HOUSE	THIRD PARTY
Franchise Fee
Startup Costs
Equipment
Inventory
Accounts Receivable
Payroll

Training: Available at headquarters: 2 weeks. At franchisee’s location: 2-4 weeks.

Ongoing Support: Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives, Lease Negotiation

Marketing Support: Co-op advertising, Ad slicks,

Other marketing support: E-mail, social media

Franchise 500®: #303 (2013), #486 (2012), #386 (2010),

HuHot Mongolian Grill is an American restaurant chain specializing in a pan-Asian create-your-own stir fry cuisine. Based in Missoula, Montana, there are currently 49 HuHot Mongolian Grills in 18 states, the vast majority located in the Midwest and the Mountain West states.

History[edit]

The first HuHot was built in Missoula, Montana in 1999 by the Vap family. Due to the family’s experience as Godfather’s Pizza franchisees, they were familiar with franchising^[3] and knew a fellow restaurateur based in the Midwest who was interested in the concept. From there, it grew by word-of-mouth.^[4]

The first franchised HuHot was built in Omaha, Nebraska in 2002. Seven locations are corporate-owned (Missoula, Montana; Appleton, Wisconsin; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Kenosha, Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin, Bloomington, Indiana and Lafayette, Indiana) and the rest are franchises.

Menu[edit]

HuHot’s main attraction is the 7 ft grill in the middle of the restaurant. Patrons fill their bowls from a food line of meats, noodles, fresh vegetables and specialty sauces. They then proceed to the grill and watch as their unique concoction gets grilled.^[5] The restaurants also offer an array of Asian-inspired appetizers, such as coconut shrimp and potstickers.^[5]</ref>

The create-your-own S’mores is a popular dessert, especially with families.^{[citation needed]} Each order comes with graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows customers can roast on a mini hibachi at their table.^[5]

Sauces[edit]

HuHot’s sauces are the key to a unique meal. Listed from mildest to hottest they are:^[6]

• Samurai Teriyaki
• Not-So-Sweet & Sour
• Khan’s Favorite
• Feed the Hordes Hoisin
• Black Thai Peanut
• Burn-Your-Village Barbeque
• Mean Bean Garlic Sauce
• Bekter’s Ginger
• Yellow Belly Curry
• Mongol Mustard
• Five Village Fire Szechuan
• Kung Pao… Yow!

A selection of create-your-own sauces, such as sweet chili sauce and garlic broth are also included on the food line.

Each quarter HuHot adds in a rotational Sauce of the Season. Past seasonal sauces have included:^{[citation needed]}

• Pillager’s Red Curry
• Asian Coconut
• Mongolian Sunburn
• Asian Coconut
• Kublai’s Pineapple Cilantro
• Khan’s Revenge
• Nomad’s Green Curry
• Open Sesame!

Murals[edit]

The walls of each HuHot Mongolian Grill location are covered in hand-painted murals inspired by Mongolian folk tales. Laura Blaker, a Missoula, Montana based artist travels to each new HuHot to paint its unique murals.