Cousins Maine Lobster Franchise Costs, Fees & Profits (2026)

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $266,600 - $965,800

REPORTED ROI (Item 19): $1,299,825 (average gross sales for brick-and-mortar restaurants operating in 2025)

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.

Brand history

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.

• Fresh-From-Maine Supply Chain: All lobster served by Cousins Maine Lobster is harvested in North Atlantic waters and processed under strict quality control measures.

• Delivering Quality and Convenience: Cousins Maine Lobster offers the quality customers expect from a seafood restaurant in a more accessible, relatively affordable format through its fast casual restaurants and food trucks.

• Appealing Heritage and Storytelling: Cousins Maine Lobster heavily incorporates its history and connection to Maine lobster into the guest experience to connect consumers with the product.

• Turnkey Supply Chain: Franchisees do not have to independently source seafood on the open market. Cousins Maine Lobster has an affiliated supplier that distributes key items directly to locations.

• Proprietary Tech Stack: Franchisees have access to customized point-of-sale systems, digital menu boards and a mobile app.

• National Marketing Support: Cousins Maine Lobster manages a centralized advertising fund for brand building, public relations, creative materials and more.

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.

Franchise costs

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:

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:

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:

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.

• Liquid Assets: $250,000

• Net Worth: $500,000

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.

Market and competition

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.

1. Initial Inquiry: Fill out the application form on the website, and connect with a member of the development team within 24 hours.

2. Market Evaluation and FDD Review: Speak with the team about your market and vision for Cousins Maine Lobster in your community. Receive and review a copy of the brand’s Franchise Disclosure Document, and schedule a review call with the team for more information.

3. Founders Meeting: Speak with Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac about your market.

4. Discovery Day: Visit Tselikis, Lomac and the corporate operations team in Los Angeles to further discuss the opportunity.

5. Final Decision and Franchise Agreement: If all parties are in agreement after Discovery Day, proceed to sign the franchise agreement and officially become an owner.

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