Cousins Maine Lobster

Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Cousins Maine Lobster serves fresh and sustainably sourced lobster and seafood dishes, bringing the flavors of Maine to various locations.

Cousins Maine Lobster, a distinguished franchise renowned for its exceptional seafood offerings, has quickly established itself as a beloved name in the culinary world. Launched in 2011 by cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis, this franchise was inspired by their shared passion for bringing the authentic flavor of Maine's famous lobster to a wider audience.

Based in West Hollywood, California, Cousins Maine Lobster has rapidly grown its presence and reputation, symbolizing excellence and innovation in the seafood industry.

Since beginning its franchising efforts in 2014, the franchise has offered a distinctive and delectable menu, featuring items like lobster rolls, lobster bisque, lobster tacos, and other lobster-inspired dishes.

What distinguishes Cousins Maine Lobster from its competitors is its steadfast commitment to sourcing the highest quality and freshest lobster from Maine's cold waters, ensuring every dish represents the true essence of New England's culinary traditions.

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
Application Fee $500 to $3,500
Deposit Account $20,000
Leasehold Improvements $90,000 to $400,000
Rent and Security Deposit $3,000 to $36,000
Utility Deposits $0 to $5,000
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $5,000 to $150,000
Initial Inventory (Startup Package) $30,000 to $80,000
Signage $4,750 to $40,000
Insurance $1,000 to $5,000
Office Equipment & Supplies $250 to $5,000
Computer Equipment (Hardware, Software, POS System, etc.) $8,350 to $23,800
Travel and Living Expenses for Training $5,000 to $10,000
Licenses & Permits $2,000 to $15,000
Legal & Accounting $5,000 to $15,000
General Contractor $750 to $40,000
Grand Opening Advertising $1,000 to $2,500
Additional Funds – three months $50,000 to $75,000
TOTAL $267,000 to $969,300

Franchise Disclosure Document

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Training 

Cousins Maine Lobster offers an extensive training program for franchisees, designed to provide them with the essential skills and knowledge for running their franchise effectively. The training encompasses several key components:

Initial Training Program The initial training program is offered at no cost and covers a broad range of topics crucial for franchise operation. This includes an introduction to the Cousins Maine Lobster system, customer service, operational management, financial management, use of computer software (including the Cousins Maine Lobster Mobile App), advertising, marketing, and reporting procedures.

The training lasts between 7 to 10 days, depending on the franchisee's prior experience, and is currently conducted at Cousins Maine Lobster's locations in Los Angeles, California, and Portland, Maine, though this may change in the future.

Training Schedule and Focus Training sessions are scheduled before the opening of the franchised business rather than on a regular basis. Special sessions, such as Maine Product Education, are held either before opening or within six months afterward, depending on the season.

Territory Protection

Cousins Maine Lobster grants franchisees a designated Territory, typically defined by either a population of 50,000 people or a 5-mile radius, whichever is smaller. This Territory includes proximity protection for the duration of the initial franchise term, ensuring no other franchisees can operate within this specified area.

However, Cousins Subs and its affiliates reserve the right to establish other businesses within the Territory, which may include additional Cousins Subs locations or different brands.

Franchisees are restricted to operating within their designated Territory but may conduct time-limited pop-up events outside of it with permission from Cousins Subs. While franchisees have certain territorial rights, they do not have exclusivity.

Number of units

2025
Franchised units

7

5

4

Company-owned units

0

0

0

Total units

7

5

4

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