About CML Storefront Franchise
Cousins Maine Lobster Storefront is the fast casual restaurant extension of the popular Cousins Maine Lobster brand, offering lobster, seafood, soups, and other menu items from brick and mortar locations.
The storefront format provides a permanent dining destination for customers seeking the same high quality seafood the brand is known for.
The franchise fee is $40,000, and the brand has been franchising storefronts since 2017.
CML Storefront Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$263K
Average Investment
$581K
Maximum Investment
$898K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | The greater of 6% of your Gross Sales or $3,500 per month. of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of your Gross Sales. | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $263,200 – $897,900 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $263K–$898K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (The greater of 6% of your Gross Sales or $3,500 per month.) and marketing fee (2% of your Gross Sales.) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Application Fee | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Deposit Account | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $90,000 | $350,000 |
| Rent and Security Deposit | $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 | $27,500 |
| Insurance | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Office Equipment & Supplies | $250 | $5,000 |
| Computer Equipment (Hardware, Software, POS System, etc.) | $7,950 | $23,400 |
| Travel and Living Expenses for Training | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Licenses & Permits | $2,000 | $15,000 |
| Legal & Accounting | $3,500 | $12,500 |
| General Contractor | $750 | $40,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Additional Funds – three months | $50,000 | $75,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $10,000, plus our expenses associated with the transfer. |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Audit Fee | Actual cost of audit fees, plus the underreported fees, late charges on those fees, and interest on the fees you did not pay at 1.5% per month. Payable only if the audit shows an understatement greater than 2% of reported amounts. |
| Regional Advertising Cooperative Contribution | Up to $400 per month |
| Deposit Account | Amount needed to restore account to $20,000 |
| Advertising Materials | Our costs of producing advertising and promotional materials |
| Late, Dishonored Payment, or Insufficient Funds Fee | $50 for each day your payment is late |
| Default Fee | $300 |
| Interest | Daily equivalent of 1.5% per month simple interest of the delinquent amount or the highest rate permitted by law, whichever is less |
| Insurance | Our cost of premiums, plus an administrative fee equal to 20% of the cost of the premiums |
| Additional Training and Conventions | $500 per day plus travel expenses for additional onsite support; $300 per attendee for additional training, national conventions, and for new/replacement managers to attend initial training |
| Reimbursement of Inspection Costs | Varies |
| Relocation Fee | $10,000 |
| Interim Royalty | Our then-current Royalty, plus 2% |
| Management (Step-In) Fee | The direct expenses we incur on your behalf, plus our then-current, reasonable management fee |
| Reinspection Fee | $500 for each re-inspection, plus our travel, living, and lodging expenses |
| System Standards Violation | All costs of inspection and audit |
| Costs, administrative expenses, and attorneys’ fees | Will vary under circumstances |
| Trade Payable Reimbursement | Amount we pay on your behalf, plus interest at the lesser of 18% or the highest rate permitted by law |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Sales/Use Taxes | Will vary under circumstances |
| Liquidated Damages | The greater of: (a) $3,500; or (b) the combined monthly average of your Royalty Fees and Advertising Fund Contributions (without regard to any fee waivers or other reductions) that are owed by you to us during the six (6) month period prior to the date of early termination, multiplied by: the lesser of: (i) 24 months, or (ii) the number of full months remaining in the Term |
| Mobile App subscription | $250 per month |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | up to 7 to 10 days or less |
| Classroom Training | 74 Hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 110 Hours |
| Training Location | Los Angeles, California, and Portland, Maine locations |
| Additional Training | If you ask for (and we agree to provide) additional training, we will provide it to you for $500 per day, plus our travel expenses. We have the right to charge you our then-current fee as published in the Operations Manual (currently, $500 per day). Also, you must reimburse us our reasonable travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses we incur if we conduct training away from our headquarters. If the training occurs at a place other than your Storefront, you must pay for your (and your employees’ travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses. You and your Designated Manager, must attend and satisfactorily complete various training courses that we periodically provide at the times and locations we designate. Besides attending these courses, you must attend an annual meeting of all franchisees at a location we designate. You are responsible for all related travel and living expenses and wages. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | The lesser of: (i) approximately a population of 50,000 people; or (ii) a 5-mile radius. |
| Description | Your Territory will be an area consisting of the lesser of: (i) approximately a population of 50,000 people; or (ii) a 5-mile radius. Within this territory, we will not operate, nor license another party to operate, another Storefront under the Marks. However, you may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control, including Food Trucks which can operate within your Territory except within one-half (½) mile of your Storefront. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Advance written notice, not less than 6 months or more than 9 months, to renew; sign most current form of Franchise Agreement which may contain substantially different terms and conditions than your current Franchise Agreement, including a smaller geographic Territory; each of your owners must execute a general release in the then-current form; you cannot be in default of any provision of the Franchise Agreement and not have committed two or more breaches of the Franchise Agreement during any 12-month period during the term; have the right to continue to occupy your approved location or move to a different location we approve; you must remodel your Storefront and reimburse us for our costs to inspect it; prove that you have all current licenses, insurance, and permits; have fully performed your obligations under the Franchise Agreement, including obligation to be current in payment of all monetary obligations to us, and; be in compliance with our then-current training requirements; and pay our successor agreement fee of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | You cannot transfer the Franchise Agreement without our consent. Conditions include: full compliance with the Franchise Agreement and payment of all outstanding fees; franchisor declined right of first refusal; transferee completes and submits all application documents and is approved; transferee executes current franchise agreement or assumes existing one; payment of $10,000 transfer fee; upgrade, remodel, or replace assets to current standards; transferee completes initial training; franchisee and owners execute general release; financing subordinate to franchisor obligations; transferee assumes all liabilities; franchisee executes non-compete agreement. |
| Termination for Cause | We can terminate the Franchise Agreement, automatically or by notice to you, with or without a cure period, if you breach a material provision of the Franchise Agreement. Curable defaults include failure to obtain insurance, employee license issues, owner disputes, failure to resolve customer complaints (14 days to cure); failure to pay amounts owed (5 days to cure); selling unapproved products/services (48 hours to cure, no cure for seafood/lobster/soups/bread/packaging). Non-curable defaults include insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, final judgment of $25,000+, dissolution, execution levied, property foreclosure, failure to open on time, abandonment, felony conviction, unauthorized transfer, lease cancellation, failure to comply with material laws, repeated defaults (2+ notices in 12 months), understatement of Gross Revenue by 2%+, material misrepresentations, failure to allow audits/inspections, violation of non-compete/confidentiality, interference with relations, adverse effect on System/Marks, selling unapproved seafood/soups/bread, challenging Marks, terrorism law violations, cross-default, or failing minimum inspection score twice in 24 months. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, you and your owners/managers/officers/directors/members/partners will not directly or indirectly own, invest in, partner with, serve as an officer/director for, be employed by, act as consultant for, represent, act as agent for, or divert/attempt to divert any customer/person/business to a Competitive Business anywhere. After termination/expiration, for 2 years, you will have no involvement in any Competitive Business within: (a) fifteen (15) miles of the Territory or any Storefront then in existence or under construction; or (b) the territory of any Storefront or Food Truck that is then in operation. You must not solicit customers of your Storefront or any other Storefront for a period of three (3) years. You may not use our Trade Secrets in any business after termination/expiration. You must disassociate from Marks and return confidential materials. Ownership of less than 5% in a publicly traded company that is a Competitive Business is excluded from these restrictions. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Your Storefront must at all times be under your direct, day-to-day, full-time supervision. If you are a legal entity, you must have a Designated Manager, approved by us, to act as an on-premises supervisor. Your Designated Manager does not need to hold an equity interest in you. Your Designated Manager will be required to attend and successfully complete our initial training program. If you are a legal entity, then all your directors, members, partners, and/or officers and any individual that owns an interest in you or the Franchise Agreement must sign our Owner Agreement assuming and agreeing to be personally responsible for all of the obligations of the Franchise Agreement, and agree to be bound by the confidentiality provisions and non-competition provisions of the Franchise Agreement and agree to certain restrictions on their ownership interests. If you are married, we require your spouse to sign the Owner Agreement. |
| Required Suppliers | We or our affiliates are the only approved suppliers of lobster and seafood inventory that you must buy for and use in your Storefront. You must purchase all your lobster, seafood, bread, whoopie pies, soups, and other food items from our affiliate (currently CSD), which is the only approved supplier of these items. You must use our designated supplier, F.C. Dadson, for construction management services and for front of house décor and finishes. You must purchase beverages and various other food inventory products from suppliers and vendors that we designate or approve. You must obtain a merchant services account from an approved supplier for credit card processing. You must purchase your POS System, Digital Signage System, Networking System, Mobile App Equipment, related software, phone system, and other technology products from our designated suppliers. You must purchase your employee uniforms from our approved supplier(s). |
| Supply Restrictions | You must purchase all your lobster, seafood, bread, whoopie pies, soups, and other food items from our affiliate (currently CSD), which is the only approved supplier of these items. You must use our designated supplier, F.C. Dadson, for construction management services and for front of house décor and finishes. All of the equipment, supplies, fixtures, and signage you purchase for your Storefront must be approved by us and comply with our System standards and specifications. You must obtain a merchant services account from an approved supplier for credit card processing. You must purchase your POS System, Digital Signage System, Networking System, Mobile App Equipment, related software, phone system, and other technology products from our designated suppliers. Upgrades to these items may be required periodically. You must purchase your employee uniforms from our approved supplier(s). You must obtain and carry, at your expense, insurance policies that we periodically require protecting you and us, from carriers approved by us. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, our affiliate, CSD, derived $23,951,328.13, or 92% of its total revenues, which totaled $26,115,649.26 from the sale of products and services to our and CMLS’s franchisees, collectively. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, CMLF derived $10,093.25, or 0.2% of its total revenues of $4,579,869, from the sale of products and services to CMLF’s and our franchisees. We and our affiliates may derive revenue or other material consideration from required purchases or leases by franchisees from approved suppliers. We and our affiliates may charge a reasonable markup on all items that you are required to purchase from us or our affiliates. There are no caps or limitations on the maximum amount of payments we may receive from our suppliers as the result of franchisee purchases. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease or obligation. |
CML Storefront Franchise Earnings — Item 19
CML Storefront does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
CML Storefront does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
CML Storefront Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordCML Storefront has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
CML Storefront System Growth
Total Units
7
Franchised
7
Company-Owned
0
CML Storefront currently operates 7 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
Public Figures (Item 18)
The following public figures are associated with this franchise: Barbara Corcoran
State Registrations
Registered in 29 states: CA, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$482K
Net Income
$236K
Total Assets
$226K
Audited by VELEZ HARDY for year ending December 31st.
CML Storefront Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a CML Storefront franchise ranges from $263,200 to $897,900, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $40,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
CML Storefront charges a royalty fee of The greater of 6% of your Gross Sales or $3,500 per month. of gross sales, plus a 2% of your Gross Sales. contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the CML Storefront Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from CML Storefront to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
CML Storefront does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
CML Storefront has been franchising since 2017. The FDD shows an investment range of $263,200-$897,900, a The greater of 6% of your Gross Sales or $3,500 per month. royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $40,000 and the total investment ranges from $263,200 to $897,900 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $50,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from CML Storefront and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with CML Storefront or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com