Chop Stop Franchise: Cost, Availability and Locations (2026)

As of October 14, 2026, Chop Stop’s franchising page says it has temporarily paused franchise applications and offers a wait list; it publishes no fee, investment or royalty, and no Chop Stop FDD was found in Minnesota’s registry or Restaurant Finance Monitor’s FDD library.

“The demand for franchises is so high, however, we’ve had to temporarily pause applications. Fill out the form below to get on the wait list and be the first to know when that changes.”

What it publishes, and what it does not

As of October 14, 2026, Chop Stop’s franchising page publishes no fee, investment or royalty. Its site also provides a brand history, ownership information and a store locator.

Some franchisors publish fees on their franchise sites; Chop Stop does not.

No Chop Stop FDD was found in Minnesota’s registry or Restaurant Finance Monitor’s FDD library as of October 14, 2026. The Minnesota CARDS search for Chop Stop returned no rows; Restaurant Finance Monitor’s Chop-Stop-2025.pdf URL returned HTTP 404. The separate domain chopstopfranchising.com did not resolve on that date.

Registry record

The California DFPI record for Chop Stop Franchising Inc. (DBA Chop Stop) lists annual franchise registration renewals effective May 11, 2017; May 22, 2018; May 23, 2019; June 17, 2020; August 19, 2021; and May 18, 2022. It also lists post-effective amendments effective December 8, 2017; August 12, 2020; and October 27, 2021.

As of October 14, 2026, the most recent application listed was filed April 15, 2022, for the renewal effective May 18, 2022. No later application is listed, and the record shows no notices.

When applications reopen, ask the company for its current FDD and the states where it is registered.

Franchise application status

As of October 14, 2026, Chop Stop’s franchising page states that applications are temporarily paused and offers a wait list. Check that page for any change before planning an application.

History and ownership, according to Chop Stop

Chop Stop’s history page, checked September 29, 2026, describes the brand’s growth: founded in 2009, five company-owned locations in Southern California within four years, then franchise expansion to 28 locations over the following five years. Then, in its own words, the pandemic “hit hard, halving Chop Stop’s footprint,” followed by restructuring and what it describes as measured growth.

Its store locator lists nine locations as of October 14, 2026: five in California (Aliso Viejo, Glendale, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and Santa Clara) and four in Nevada (two in Las Vegas and two in Reno).

Ownership, per Chop Stop’s history page. The page states founder Mark Kulkis retired in 2024, with Joey Gonzalez, who joined him as Vice President of Operations, becoming President and Owner. The page names no parent company or outside owner.

What to do if you want one

Join the wait list if you are interested, and understand what it is: a form asking for name, phone, email and state. It collects contact details so the company can reach you when applications reopen. It is not an application, and nothing about it establishes that you would qualify.

Its state dropdown lists Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. The dropdown does not establish franchise availability in any state.

While applications are paused, start with salad and bowl franchises compared by availability. The comparison records each brand’s status as of October 14, 2026. For individual brand context, see Freshii and Pokeworks, then confirm availability in your market directly with each company.

Visit locations, talk to franchisees and prepare the questions below for when the current FDD becomes available.

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SBA Franchise Directory: Chop Stop was not found in the SBA’s Franchise Directory file effective October 9, 2026 (searched Chop Stop, checked October 14, 2026). Under SBA SOP 50 10 8.1, a brand that meets the FTC definition of a franchise must be on the Directory for SBA financing, so ask the franchisor and your lender about its status before planning an SBA loan. See how to check the SBA Franchise Directory.

Questions to ask when applications reopen

• What is the initial franchise fee, and the Item 7 total investment range by format?
• What are the royalty and advertising percentages, and are they charged on gross or net sales?
• What are the liquid-capital and net-worth requirements?
• What does Item 20 show for openings, closures, terminations and transfers over the last three years?
• What changed operationally in the restructuring, and what has been different since?
• Of the current nine locations, how many are franchised and how many company-owned?
• What is the initial term, and what does renewal cost?
• Will a franchise attorney and an accountant review the full FDD with me before I commit?