Bring the lucky cat
to your neighbourhood.
Own a Neko Coffee or Neko Cafe. We supply the brand, the menu and the training; you bring the drive.
A concept people come back for
Specialty coffee and Japanese comfort food, with a cat on the door
Two formats, one brand
A compact grab-and-go coffee bar or a full dine-in cafe. Pick the one that fits your site and budget.
A menu that's already loved
Signature matcha and lattes, katsu sandos, Japanese curry and Pablo cheese tarts, all recipe-locked and supplier-ready.
We train you, then we stay
In-store training before you open, an opening team on site, and a weekly check-in afterwards.
Built for the neighbourhood
Accessible pricing and a warm room. Neko is designed to be the place people stop by every day.
Choose your format
Both run the same coffee program and brand
Neko Coffee
- Footprint
- 300 – 600 sq ft
- Team
- 2 – 3 per shift
A specialty coffee bar for high-traffic spots: transit, plazas, office lobbies and food courts. Quick to build, quick to open.
- Full drink menu, hot and iced
- Tarts and grab-and-go pastries
- Lower build-out and staffing
Neko Cafe
- Footprint
- 1,200 – 2,000 sq ft
- Team
- 4 – 6 per shift
The full Neko experience: the coffee program plus a kitchen for katsu sandos, curry rice and seasonal plates, in a room people linger in.
- Coffee and the full food menu
- Dine-in, takeout and delivery
- Higher ticket, higher volume
Is Neko right for you?
We'd rather tell you up front
Before you fill out the form, check these. Inquiries that don't meet the minimums are screened automatically so neither of us spends time on a fit that isn't there.
You'll need
- At least $150,000 in liquid capital (cash, or assets you can turn into cash)
- A net worth of $400,000 or more
- To be in the shop yourself, or hire a full-time manager you oversee. We don't take passive investors.
- To be legally able to own and operate a business in Canada
It helps if you
- Have run a restaurant, cafe or retail team before
- Know the neighbourhood you want to open in
- Plan to open within the next 12 months
- Are in Ontario, where we're developing first
From inquiry to opening day
- 01
Send an inquiry
Ten minutes on the form. You'll hear back within five business days if you meet the minimums.
- 02
Discovery call
A conversation about you, your market and your goals, and our investment summary.
- 03
Visit us
A day at Neko Cafe in Markham: taste the menu, see the room, meet the team.
- 04
Site and agreement
We help you pick and negotiate a site, then sign the franchise agreement.
- 05
Build and train
Design, build-out and supplier set-up while you and your manager train in our shop.
- 06
Opening day
Our opening team is on site for your first week. Lucky brews, happy you.
Good to know
How much does it cost to open?
It depends on the format and the site. We share the full investment summary, including the franchise fee, build-out estimates and ongoing royalties, on the discovery call once you've qualified.
Do I need coffee or restaurant experience?
No. We train you and your manager in our shop before you open. Experience running a team helps, and we note it, but it isn't a requirement.
Where are you franchising?
Ontario first, starting with the GTA and surrounding cities. We'll consider strong applicants elsewhere in Canada for a later phase.
Can I own more than one location?
Yes. Multi-unit agreements are available for operators who have opened their first Neko successfully.
Ready to talk?
Tell us about yourself. If you meet the minimums above, we'll be in touch within five business days.