Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Cousins Maine Lobster is a seafood franchise offering authentic lobster rolls, chowders and other coastal specialties in brick-and-mortar and food truck models.
Cousins Maine Lobster is a seafood restaurant franchise focused on bringing authentic, fresh and sustainably harvested lobster and seafood meals to communities across the country. The brand is known for its wild-caught Maine lobster and for offering a coastal dining experience without the complexity of a full-service seafood restaurant.
Cousins Maine Lobster was founded by cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac. The pair shared a passion for lobster and saw an opportunity to bring the fresh, premium seafood they loved to communities that previously lacked access.
After appearing on Shark Tank, the brand gained broad recognition and began growing nationwide. While the brand initially focused on food trucks, it expanded to brick-and-mortar storefronts following its early success.
Mission: To bring authentic, high-quality Maine lobster and coastal seafood directly to neighborhoods across the nation while honoring the heritage, sustainability and hard work of Maine’s local lobstermen.
Vision: To be the premier fast casual lobster brand nationwide by providing exceptional, sustainably sourced seafood through scalable storefront and mobile dining models.
Cousins Maine Lobster does not publish specific target markets. Prospective franchisees should fill out the form on the franchise development site to inquire about availability in their area.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a brick-and-mortar Cousins Maine Lobster franchise ranges from $266,600 to $965,800. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Application Fee | $500 | $3,500 |
| Deposit Account | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $90,000 | $400,000 |
| Rent & Security Deposits | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| Utility Deposits | $0 | $5,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment | $5,000 | $150,000 |
| Initial Inventory (Startup Package) | $30,000 | $80,000 |
| Signage | $4,750 | $40,000 |
| Insurance | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Office Equipment & Supplies | $250 | $5,000 |
| Computer Equipment (Hardware, Software, POS System) | $8,350 | $23,800 |
| Travel & Living Expenses for Training | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Licenses & Permits | $2,000 | $15,000 |
| Legal & Accounting | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| General Contractor | $750 | $40,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $50,000 | $75,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $40,000, due when the franchise agreement is signed.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Cousins Maine Lobster franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty | Greater of 6% of gross sales or $3,500/month |
| Advertising Fund Contribution | Up to 2% of gross sales/month |
| Regional Advertising Cooperative Contribution | Up to $400/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the two brick-and-mortar Cousins Maine Lobster restaurants operating for the entirety of 2025 reported the following sales data:
Average Monthly Sales | Median Monthly Sales | Total Gross Sales | Lowest Monthly Sales | Highest Monthly Sales | |
| Location 1 | $109,519 | $63,560 | $1,314,228 | $11,931 | $343,313 |
| Location 2 | $107,118 | $103,633 | $1,285,422 | $64,404 | $166,026 |
Cousins Maine Lobster also operates food trucks and lists food truck opportunities on its franchise development site but does not currently have food truck-related data in its FDD.
Pre-opening support for franchisees opening brick-and-mortar restaurants includes site selection support, access to approved construction management specialists, lease agreement review and grand opening marketing guidance.
Franchisees complete a thorough training program covering financial management, food preparation, guest service, usage of Cousins Maine Lobster’s proprietary technology and point-of-sale system, marketing and more. Franchisees also receive specific education about the product, which covers topics ranging from lobster harvesting to processing.
On an ongoing basis, franchisees have access to corporate support teams via phone and email. The franchisor conducts regular brand and quality compliance inspections.
Franchisees receive an integrated tech stack, including a point-of-sale system, digital menu boards and a system that supports online ordering, the brand’s loyalty program and geotargeted marketing efforts.
Cousins Maine Lobster seeks franchisees with prior business, leadership or restaurant management experience.
Each location must be under full-time, direct supervision. The franchisee can serve as the supervisor. Franchisees who prefer semi-absentee ownership must appoint an approved full-time manager to run daily operations.
Cousins Maine Lobster does not provide direct or indirect financing for franchisees.
The U.S. fast casual seafood restaurant market was valued at approximately $4.61 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow 5.69% annually from 2027 through 2033. The category includes restaurants serving everything from traditional fish dishes to customizable seafood bowls, giving operators opportunities to appeal to different dining preferences. Growth prospects remain encouraging, although restaurants must contend with price-conscious customers and the cost of maintaining fresh seafood inventories.
Cousins Maine Lobster differentiates itself through its vertically integrated supply chain, strong brand recognition thanks to its prior experience with Shark Tank, and emphasis on the “Maine lobster” culture and experience.
Cousins Maine Lobster’s primary competitors include Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and quick-service seafood franchises like Captain D’s and Long John Silver’s.
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