Long John Silver's vs Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Long John Silver's Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
Investment $671,000 - $1,770,000 $232,900 - $828,700
Franchise Fee $10,000 - $20,000 $38,500
Royalty Fee 5% 6-8%
Advertising Fee 5% 2%
Year Founded 1969 2011
Year Franchised 1970 2014
Term Of Agreement 20 years -
Term Of Agreement 20 years -
Renewal Fee - -


Business Experience Requirements

 
Long John Silver's Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
      In-House/3rd Party In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No -/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/No -/Yes
    Equipment No/No -/Yes
    Inventory No/No -/Yes
    Receivables No/No -/-
    Payroll No/No -/-

    Training & Support

     
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising Ad Templates National Media Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 2


    Expansion Plans

     
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    US Expansion - Yes
    Canada Expansion No -
    International Expansion Yes Yes

    Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

    Investment
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    $671,000 - $1,770,000
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    $232,900 - $828,700
    Franchise Fee
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    $10,000 - $20,000
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    $38,500
    Royalty Fee
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    5%
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    6-8%
    Advertising Fee
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    5%
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    2%
    Year Founded
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    1969
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    2011
    Year Franchised
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    1970
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    2014
    Term Of Agreement
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    20 years
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -
    Renewal Fee
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    -
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -


    Business Experience Requirements

    Experience
    Long John Silver's Franchise

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -

    Financing Options

      In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/Yes
    Start-up Costs
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/Yes
    Equipment
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/Yes
    Inventory
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/Yes
    Receivables
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/-
    Payroll
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No/No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -/-

    Training & Support

    Training
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    -
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Ad Templates National Media Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 2


    Expansion Plans

    US Expansion
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    -
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Yes
    Canada Expansion
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    No
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    -
    International Expansion
    Long John Silver's Franchise
    Yes
    Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise
    Yes

    Company Overviews

    About Long John Silver's

    An enterprising businessman and restaurateur named Jim Patterson returns from a vacation on the coast where he'd experienced a truly exceptional Fish and Chips meal. His vision was simple: Bring this unique seafood experience from the coast to the rest of America so they can experience it, too. The next several decades saw Long John Silver's expand across the country. With our iconic steeple-roofed Cape Cod restaurants and one-of-a-kind menu, Long John Silver's introduced more and more guests to great-tasting fish, chicken, shrimp and more. Our new journey began two years ago when Long John Silver's was purchased by a newly created group of owners and operators - people who had been part of the Long John Silver's family for decades, including the founder himself and his son. It's a new day here at Long John Silver's. Together we're charting a new course forward. How? It's more than great-tasting, sustainably harvested seafood. We're bringing a renewed energy to better restaurant and guest experiences, fun and innovative new meal options and, of course, great value. Long John Silver's is the nation's largest quick-service seafood chain, and has been named among the top 50 restaurants and #1 seafood brand in quick service. Long John Silver's is a classic American brand based in Louisville, Ky. with more than 1,100 franchised restaurants located throughout the U.S. and Asia. Through its franchise model, Long John Silver's backs its franchisees with food innovation, marketing, and business support.

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    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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    #421 in Franchise 500 for 2020.