Established
2018
Franchise Units
15
Minimum Investment
$350,000
Franchise Fee
$40,000
Total Investment Range
$750,000
Home Based
No
Description
Narwhal’s Crafted is a modern craft beer bar and kitchen concept built for today’s experience-driven consumers. Centered on a carefully curated lineup of regional and national craft beers paired with elevated comfort food, the brand delivers a welcoming yet energetic social atmosphere. Each location is designed to function as a neighborhood gathering spot, attracting professionals, craft beer enthusiasts, and casual diners alike.
Unlike traditional sports bars or generic pubs, Narwhal’s Crafted focuses on quality, rotation, and discovery. Guests return frequently to explore new taps, seasonal releases, and thoughtfully designed food pairings. The ambiance strikes a balance between relaxed and vibrant, making it ideal for after-work crowds, weekend traffic, and community events.
From a market-positioning standpoint, Narwhal’s Crafted benefits from strong consumer demand for experiential dining and premium beverage concepts. The brand fits seamlessly into urban corridors, lifestyle centers, and suburban mixed-use developments, offering franchisees flexibility in site selection while maintaining a consistent brand identity.
Why Invest in This Franchise?
Narwhal’s Crafted presents a strong investment opportunity in the fast-growing craft beverage and casual dining segment. The concept is designed to drive high repeat visitation through rotating taps and limited-time offerings, creating built-in reasons for customers to return. The food menu complements the beverage program while supporting consistent margins and operational efficiency.
The franchise model balances brand consistency with local relevance. Franchisees are encouraged to feature local breweries alongside national favorites, allowing each location to connect authentically with its community. This localized approach strengthens customer loyalty while benefiting from centralized brand strategy, marketing systems, and operational support.
Background
Narwhal’s Crafted was founded in 2018 by experienced hospitality operators and craft beverage enthusiasts who identified a gap between high-end craft bars and casual neighborhood pubs. The first location quickly gained traction for its rotating beer selection, knowledgeable staff, and approachable yet elevated food offerings.
As the brand matured, the founders refined operations, standardized systems, and developed a franchise-ready model focused on consistency and scalability. Franchising began in the early 2020s, with expansion concentrated in high-traffic U.S. markets that value craft culture and social dining experiences.
Established Year: 2018
Franchise Active Units: Approximately 15 locations operating or in development
Ownership: Privately held franchisor
Industry Category: Craft Beer Bar and Casual Dining
Market Presence: Growing footprint across select metropolitan and suburban markets in the United States
Support Training
Narwhal’s Crafted offers end-to-end franchise support designed to reduce risk and accelerate time to opening.
Pre-launch support includes site evaluation, layout planning, build-out guidelines, and vendor recommendations. Franchisees receive assistance with design standards to ensure brand consistency while optimizing customer flow and bar efficiency.
Operational training covers bar management, food preparation, inventory controls, staff hiring, scheduling, and guest experience standards. Initial training typically combines classroom learning with hands-on instruction at an operating location.
Marketing support includes grand opening planning, digital marketing frameworks, social media guidance, and promotional calendars. Franchisees benefit from system-wide branding while maintaining the flexibility to execute local marketing initiatives, events, and partnerships.
Ongoing support features regular check-ins, performance benchmarking, menu updates, operational audits, and continued education. Franchisees also gain access to new product launches, seasonal promotions, and evolving best practices.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal franchisee is a hands-on owner or investor with a strong interest in hospitality, food, and beverage concepts. While prior restaurant or bar experience is beneficial, it is not mandatory due to the structured training and operational systems provided.
Successful operators are typically community-focused, people-oriented, and committed to delivering consistent guest experiences. Strong leadership, financial discipline, and the ability to follow established systems are critical traits.
From an investment perspective, franchisees should have adequate capital for build-out and working reserves. Multi-unit operators and hospitality groups looking to diversify their portfolios may also find Narwhal’s Crafted to be a strategic addition.
Financial Detail
| Cost / Fee Category | Estimated Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 |
| Total Initial Investment | $350,000 – $750,000 |
| Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| Build-Out & Infrastructure Cost | $200,000 – $400,000 |
| Equipment & Fixtures | $75,000 – $150,000 |
| Initial Inventory (Food & Beverage) | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Initial Marketing & Grand Opening | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Training & Pre-Opening Expenses | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Working Capital (3–6 Months) | $50,000 – $100,000 |
| Royalty Fee | ~6% of Gross Sales |
| Brand / Marketing Fund | ~2% of Gross Sales |
| Average Unit Size | 2,000 – 4,000 sq. ft. |
| Estimated Break-Even Period | 18 – 30 months |
| Expected ROI Timeline | 3 – 5 years |