Angry Crab Shack

Angry Crab Shack Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Angry Crab Shack is a seafood restaurant franchise offering a unique dining experience with Cajun-inspired seafood boils, flavorful dishes, and a fun, casual atmosphere.

Angry Crab Shack is a lively and approachable dining franchise renowned for its Asian-Cajun-inspired seafood boils. Founded in 2013 by Ron Lou in Mesa, Arizona, the brand has seen swift growth, establishing locations across various U.S. states and branching into international markets.

Headquartered in Mesa, Angry Crab Shack maintains strong ties to its origins while focusing on delivering consistent quality. Franchising opportunities launched in 2017, enabling entrepreneurs to bring the brand’s distinctive, hands-on seafood dining experience to new communities.

The diverse menu centers on customizable seafood boils featuring crab, lobster, shrimp, and crawfish, all tossed in the brand’s signature bold sauces. In addition to seafood, guests can enjoy a range of alternatives such as Po’Boys, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and vegetarian-friendly dishes, offering broad appeal for all tastes.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$40,000 – $50,000
Lease Security Deposit	$9,500 – $25,000
Rent for first three months	$18,000 – $45,000
Real Estate Broker Fees	$0 – $5,000
Travel and Living Expenses (3 persons)	$7,500 – $15,000
Leasehold Improvements including equipment	$235,000 – $766,000
Opening Inventory, Small Wares, and Supplies	$25,000 – $60,000
Interior and Exterior Signage	$7,000 – $28,500
Point of Sale System and Back Office Computer	$16,000 – $21,500
Required Insurance Premiums	$2,500 – $3,600
Permits and Licenses	$4,200 – $40,000
Technology Fees (first 3 months)	$0 – $1,200
Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$1,500 – $2,500
Grand Opening	$5,000 – $10,000
Professional Fees	$3,000 – $10,000
Uniforms	$1,500 – $2,500
Training Payroll	$10,500 – $42,000
Additional Funds – 3-month initial period	$25,000 – $75,000
ServSafe Food Safety Certification	$600 – $1,000
TOTAL	$411,800 – $1,203,800

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$40,000 – $50,000
Lease Security Deposit	$9,500 – $25,000
Rent for first three months	$18,000 – $45,000
Real Estate Broker Fees	$0 – $5,000
Travel and Living Expenses (3 persons)	$7,500 – $15,000
Leasehold Improvements including equipment	$235,000 – $766,000
Opening Inventory, Small Wares, and Supplies	$25,000 – $60,000
Interior and Exterior Signage	$7,000 – $28,500
Point of Sale System and Back Office Computer	$16,000 – $21,500
Required Insurance Premiums	$2,500 – $3,600
Permits and Licenses	$4,200 – $40,000
Technology Fees (first 3 months)	$0 – $1,200
Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$1,500 – $2,500
Grand Opening	$5,000 – $10,000
Professional Fees	$3,000 – $10,000
Uniforms	$1,500 – $2,500
Training Payroll	$10,500 – $42,000
Additional Funds – 3-month initial period	$25,000 – $75,000
ServSafe Food Safety Certification	$600 – $1,000
TOTAL	$411,800 – $1,203,800

Angry Crab Shack

2024

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Angry Crab Shack offers a structured training system to equip franchisees and their teams with the skills required to run their business effectively. The franchisor provides the following training programs:

Initial Training System
This core program is included with the initial franchise fee and covers training for the franchisee (or a principal) plus two additional people. It combines classroom and on-the-job instruction at the Angry Crab Shack in Mesa, Arizona, covering topics like food prep, station operations, kitchen management, server training, bar training, POS and reporting, HR and marketing, and inventory management.
Additional Personnel Training
If more than three individuals require training, the franchisor provides this at a cost of $1,500 per person. Additional participants may be trained at the same time as the initial group, depending on scheduling and availability.
Refresher and Ongoing Training
The franchisor may require franchisees to attend refresher courses, advanced training sessions, or annual meetings. These sessions are mandatory and the franchisee is responsible for all associated costs, including travel and lodging.

Territory Protection

Angry Crab Shack does not offer exclusive territory protection to its franchisees. While franchisees are granted the right to operate at a specific approved location, the franchisor explicitly states that competition may arise from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or different distribution channels.

This means that franchisees should not expect territorial exclusivity as part of their agreement. The franchisor reserves the right to operate or license others to operate any type of business, including Angry Crab Shack restaurants, in or outside the franchisee’s territory.

It can also authorize advertising and promotions that may reach potential customers within any franchise territory. This arrangement allows the franchisor considerable flexibility to expand and market the brand across various regions.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising

2016

Franchisees

60%

Franchise fee

$50,000

Investment

$412,000 - $1,204,000

Revenue (AUV)

$2,302,000