Coconut's Fish Cafe vs Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Coconut's Fish Cafe vs Cousins Maine Lobster including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Coconut's Fish Cafe Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
Investment $412,750 - $808,750$232,900 - $828,700
Franchise Fee $60,000$38,500
Royalty Fee 7%6-8%
Advertising Fee 1%2%
Year Founded 20092011
Year Franchised 20132014
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Coconut's Fish Cafe Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Coconut's Fish Cafe Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/Yes
Start-up Costs -/--/Yes
Equipment -/--/Yes
Inventory -/--/Yes
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Coconut's Fish Cafe Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
Training Additional Training: At existing franchise store On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
Support Grand Opening Online Support Field Operations Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
Marketing -Ad Templates National Media Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 15 - 30Absentee Ownership Allowed

Number of Employees Required to Run: 2

Expansion Plans
 
Coconut's Fish Cafe Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Coconut's Fish Cafe

Michael Phillips, a successful entrepreneur several times over in the restaurant industry, founded Coconut's Fish Cafe (Coconut's) in 2009 in Kihei, Hawaii on the island of Maui. Retired in Hawaii yet seeking a restaurant offering fresh foods and outstanding service, Phillips started Coconut's to enjoy great-tasting meals with his neighbors in Kihei. Today, Coconut's is revolutionizing the fast casual restaurant sector with its fresh, healthy and affordable menu options, featuring wild-caught fish and a wide selection of fresh, authentic Hawaiian ingredients. Currently with its flagship in Hawaii and corporate headquarters in Nevada, the restaurant concept is expanding across the country through a focused franchising initiative.

About Cousins Maine Lobster

Cousins Maine Lobster is looking for motivated, experienced business people to help us expand our brand of Maine lobster around the world.
Cousins Maine Lobster is real cousins with a passion for the sweet, delicious Maine lobster we grew up eating. We started selling lobster rolls out of a single truck in the spring of 2012. After a lot of hard work (and a good amount of fun) we now have a fleet of trucks and several franchise commitments throughout the United States.
Cousins Maine Lobster's commitment to quality food and great customer service has led to our being featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, The Chew, the Katie Couric show, CNBC, FOX, and QVC!
Cousins Maine Lobster has been named the LA Hot List’s #1 Food Truck in LA two years in a row and Tasting Table named us the “Best Lobster Roll on the West Coast” for 2013, 2014, and 2015. Our passion, our nationally recognized brand, our customer loyalty and our awesome lobster rolls make us special. If you’re looking to own your own business and are ready to start selling the #1 lobster rolls in America, sign up to join our family.

Cousins Maine Lobster is seeking franchisees who are committed to our brand, offering the highest quality food in a family-friendly environment with outstanding customer service, and offering Maine lobster every day from our official Cousins Maine Lobster food trucks.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Cousins Maine Lobster franchise is $232,900 to $828,700. This includes between $68,500 and $98,500, that must be paid to franchisor and its affiliates.
The total additional investment necessary to become a Cousins Maine Lobster Area Developer with one additional franchise is $30,000 to $120,000 for 4 additional franchises. This includes $30,000 to $120,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate(s). If you elect and qualify for an Area Developer franchise, you must open a minimum of one additional Cousins Maine Lobster franchise business.

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