What It Takes

What It Takes To Own A Captain D's

Qualified candidates must have

Liquid Assets of

$350,000

minimum net worth of

$1,000,000

Fees and investments

Franchise Fee

$35,000

Conversions Starting As Low As

$450,000

New Builds Starting At

$898,600

ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT

ExpendituresLowHigh
Franchise & Development Fee1$35,000
Real Estate2Costs Vary by Area
Building & Leasehold Improvements3$550,000$815,000
Training Expenses4$25,000$46,000
Equipment5$201,600$292,100
Computer Systems6$25,000$34,100
Inventory7$6,000$8,000
Miscellaneous Opening Expenses8$5,000$9,000
Insurance9$11,000$25,000
Additional Funds — 3 Months10$40,000$90,000
Total Investment$898,600$1,354,200
  1. Franchise Fee and Development Fee. The Franchise Fee equals $35,000. Under our Veterans Program, we also are offering a reduced initial franchise fee of $17,500 for the veteran’s first restaurant. You must pay one-half of the Franchisee Fee as a non-refundable Development Fee when you sign a Development Agreement for each restaurant scheduled for development. You must pay the other half of the Franchise Fee when you sign the Franchise Agreement for each restaurant, after we have accepted the site you select for the restaurant and prior to the start of construction. We have no obligation to refund the Franchise Fee or the Development Fee. 
  2. Real Estate. The estimated initial investment amount does not include the costs of location selection, land acquisition (by purchase or lease), land preparation, landscaping and other land improvements, or any associated financing costs. You will have responsibility for buying or leasing the real estate on which you intend to locate your Captain D’s restaurant. The cost of the real estate will vary greatly from location to location, and we have made no effort to state cost or average rental information because of the wide variances involved. The Captain D’s restaurant prototypes require a lot containing at least .60 acre for the 44-seat prototype, at least .50 acre for the 22-seat prototype, and at least .35 acre for the express prototype.
  3. Building and Leasehold Improvements. The 44-seat prototype contains approximately 1,970 square feet and 44 customer seats, which can expand to 2,400 square feet and 62 customer seats in appropriate circumstances. The 22-seat prototype contains approximately 1,600 square feet and 22 customer seats. The express prototype contains approximately 780 square feet with no dining room seating. If your location requires the use of union labor, your building costs will exceed the above amounts by a significant amount. If you convert an existing building, your building costs generally should fall below or in the lower range of the costs given.
  4. Training Expenses. You must pay for the costs incurred during the training of your employees, including room and board and employee salaries, wages, and fringe benefits during training and pre-opening. The cost of those items will vary. We pay for the cost of our opening team for your restaurant but will charge you for any travel and lodging expenses of the team that exceed $8,000.
  5. Equipment. Prices for equipment will vary for each restaurant because of the various local building codes and health requirements. Equipment includes kitchen equipment, such as a broiler, fryers, refrigerators, freezers, and sinks; trade fixtures, booths, tables, and chairs; and other equipment used to operate a restaurant.
  6. Computer Systems. The above amounts include the cost of the hardware and software for your required point-of-sale and computer systems. Those systems include a back-office computer, a training computer, up to three point-of-sale computers, and up to seven order monitors. Your costs will vary depending on the number of terminals and monitors you purchase for your restaurant. The costs for those systems do not become due until after you open your restaurant.
  7. Miscellaneous Opening Expenses. You also must pay for incorporation fees, legal fees, business license fees, and utility deposits. The cost of those items will vary.
  8. Insurance. See Item 8 of this Disclosure Document for information regarding our insurance requirements.
  9. Additional Funds – Three Months. The above amounts represent an estimate of your initial start-up expenses (including staff payroll costs) during the first three months after the opening of your Captain D’s restaurant. The estimate of additional funds does not include an owner’s salary or draw. The figures represent estimates, and you may have additional expenses starting your business. 
  10. Totals. We relied on our experience in developing company-owned Captain D’s restaurants during the past three years to compile the foregoing estimates. You should review the figures carefully with a business advisor before making any decision to purchase a Captain D’s franchise. The various third parties with whom you do business will determine the method and timing of the payments to them and whether they will refund any of those payments. We do not finance any part of your initial investment.    

Here’s how we get to know each other and become partners

Initial Call

We'll kick things off with a phone call so we can get to know you, and you can get to know us.

Review FDD

Learn about our franchise offering.

Application

Fill out our online application so we can do a background check and learn more about you to see if we’d be a good fit.

Market Visit

Come to our corporate office or our sales team will come to you.

Validation

Talk with franchisees for validation, and find out what they like about Captain D’s.

Final Call

Final call with our Franchise Development Manager to confirm we are a good fit.

Sign Agreement

Once we determine we are a good fit, you’ll sign your Franchise Agreement.

Let's Go

Let’s start finding you the perfect location!

Set Sail On A New Adventure With Captain D’s

Fill out the form below, and a member of our Franchise Development Team will contact you.

Location of Interest *(Required)
Do you have a Net Worth of $1,000,000 or more? *(Required)
Do you have liquid assets of $350,000 or more? *(Required)

* All fields required.