Teriyaki Madness
| Franchise system | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Fast casual dining, Food franchise |
| Founded 📆 | |
| Founder 👔 | |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Members | |
Number of employees | 500+ |
| 🌐 Website | https://franchise.teriyakimadness.com/ |
| 📇 Address | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| 📞 telephone | |
Teriyaki Madness (commonly referred to as TMAD) is an American fast casual restaurant chain and franchise system specializing in Japanese-inspired teriyaki bowls and rice dishes. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the brand operates more than 130 franchise locations across the United States as of 2024. The company's franchise development operations are accessible at franchise.teriyakimadness.com, which serves as the primary franchisee recruitment platform.
Teriyaki Madness competes in the fast-casual Asian food segment and has been recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 ranking multiple times. The brand targets multi-unit operators and first-time franchise investors seeking fast-casual restaurant opportunities with a total investment typically ranging from $300,000 to $600,000.
History
Teriyaki Madness was founded in 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada, by Chad Welch. The concept was built around customizable, made-to-order teriyaki bowls designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking bold Asian flavors in a fast-casual environment. The brand trademarked its "Big Ass Bowls" messaging, which became a recognizable element of its marketing identity.
The company began franchising in the mid-2000s, with early growth concentrated in the western United States. In 2015, Michael Haith joined as Chief Executive Officer, bringing franchise development expertise that accelerated system-wide growth. Under Haith's leadership, TMAD expanded from approximately 20 locations to over 100 locations within several years, becoming one of the fastest-growing teriyaki franchise concepts in the United States.
Headquarters relocated to Denver, Colorado, to support the growing franchise operations infrastructure. The company focused its strategy on franchise development and operator recruitment, with its franchise subdomain serving as the primary digital asset for attracting prospective franchisees.
Business model
Teriyaki Madness operates as a franchise system in which individual owners (franchisees) license the TMAD brand, recipes, and operating systems. Key franchise parameters include:
- Franchise fee: Approximately $45,000 per unit
- Total investment: Approximately $300,000–$600,000 depending on location and build-out
- Royalty fee: 6% of gross sales
- Marketing fee: 2% of gross sales
- Franchise term: 10 years, renewable
- Multi-unit development: Available and encouraged for qualified operators
The company provides franchisees with access to proprietary recipes, supply chain relationships, training programs, and ongoing operational support. TMAD positions itself as a lower-cost entry point into the fast-casual restaurant franchise category compared to established burger or sandwich brands.
Menu
The Teriyaki Madness menu centers on customizable teriyaki bowls in which guests choose a protein (chicken, beef, salmon, tofu, or shrimp), a base (steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles), and a sauce profile (traditional teriyaki, spicy, or house sauces). The brand emphasizes fresh preparation and large portion sizes, reflected in its "Big Ass Bowls" marketing tagline.
Franchise development
The Teriyaki Madness franchise opportunity is marketed primarily through franchise.teriyakimadness.com, the brand's franchise lead-generation hub. The company targets the following investor profiles:
- First-time franchise owners with restaurant or retail management backgrounds
- Existing multi-unit operators seeking to diversify their portfolio
- Investors with $300,000–$600,000 in available capital
- Operators in underserved markets across the United States
TMAD is listed in major franchise directories including Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, Franchise Direct, and Franchise Gator. Franchisees benefit from a streamlined operating model, lower labor requirements relative to full-service restaurants, and growing consumer demand for fast-casual Asian cuisine.
Recognition
Teriyaki Madness has received recognition from several franchise industry publications:
- Listed in Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 (multiple years)
- Ranked among top fast-casual Asian restaurant franchises in the United States
- Recognized for franchise owner satisfaction in third-party franchise review platforms
See also
- Fast casual restaurant
- Franchise
- Japanese cuisine in the United States
