About Maryland Blue Crab Franchise
Maryland Blue Crab is a full service seafood restaurant franchise specializing in crab and seafood dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and proprietary recipes, seasonings, and sauces.
The brand delivers a fun, casual, family friendly dining experience with a comprehensive menu that includes appetizers, salads, soups, signature platters, sandwiches, beverages, and desserts available for dine in, carry out, and delivery.
The franchise fee is $18,500, and Maryland Blue Crab has been franchising since 2020.
Maryland Blue Crab Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$203K
Average Investment
$358K
Maximum Investment
$513K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $18,500 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 3% of Gross Revenues per month of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Gross Revenues per month (System Advertising Fee) and a minimum of $6,000 per quarter (Local Advertising) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $203,450 – $512,650 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $203K–$513K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (3% of Gross Revenues per month) and marketing fee (1% of Gross Revenues per month (System Advertising Fee) and a minimum of $6,000 per quarter (Local Advertising)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $18,500 | $18,500 |
| Technology | $6,000 | $23,000 |
| Kitchen Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures | $33,750 | $80,000 |
| Real Estate | $10,950 | $20,350 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $25,000 | $160,000 |
| Utilities | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Signage | $7,000 | $14,000 |
| Start Up Inventory | $9,600 | $15,000 |
| Vehicle | $0 | $10,000 |
| Vehicle Graphics | $0 | $800 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Staffing | $16,000 | $26,000 |
| Uniforms | $300 | $500 |
| Insurance | $4,500 | $12,000 |
| Travel, Lodging and Meals for Initial Training Program | $3,850 | $5,500 |
| Licenses, Permits, Certifications and other Professional Fees | $1,500 | $4,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | A flat fee of $5,000 (part transfer) or $10,000 (entire business transfer) |
| Renewal Fee | None |
| Technology Fee | Currently $100-$125 per terminal per month (POS system) and $300-$325 per month per location (CRM software) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of Audit Fees plus interest @ 18% per annum (1.5% per month) |
| Interest and Late Charges | 1.5% per month or maximum rate allowed by law, plus $25 |
| Additional Training | Up to $200 per person per day or costs of third party charges |
| Costs and Attorney’s Fees | Will vary under circumstances |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Music Subscription and Licensing Fees | Currently $25-$35 per month |
| Satellite or Cable Television Fees | Currently $100-$130 per month |
| Laundry Service Fees | Currently $50-$100 per week |
| Inspection Fee | $2,000 if you fail to pass an inspection for the second time |
| Web Page Edits, Updates, Changes, Maintenance and Promotion Fee | Currently a $65-$125 per hour |
| Product, Vendor and Equipment Testing Fee | Up to $200 per product or vendor $500 for equipment testing |
| Resale Fee | Varies |
| Temporary Management | Actual Costs |
| Conference Fee | Will vary under circumstances. Registration fee not to exceed $500 per person |
| Refresher Training and/or Continuing Education | Will vary under circumstances. Estimated not to exceed $200 per person per day |
| Liquidated Damages | Will vary under circumstances |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | three-week initial training program |
| Classroom Training | 51 Hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 131 Hours |
| Training Location | corporate headquarters in Larose, Louisiana |
| Additional Training | Additional training programs, certifications, seminars, and refresher courses may be available. Franchisee may be required to pay a fee of up to $200 per person per day for such training, plus travel, room, and board expenses. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | up to 4 miles driven in any direction from the Franchise Business |
| Description | A protected territory that will include up to 4 miles driven in any direction from the Franchise Business as defined by Google Maps or a similar mapping program, with the only exception being Non-Traditional Locations. The size may vary for densely or sparsely populated areas. Non-Traditional Locations are site-specific and do not grant a protected territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 7 years |
| Renewal Term | Up to one (1) seven-year renewal term |
| Renewal Fee | None |
| Renewal Conditions | Written notice of intent to renew, full compliance with the agreement, signing the then-current franchise agreement, meeting current training and qualification requirements, and upgrading the Restaurant to current standards. A general release may be required, but not for liability under Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law. |
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 (part transfer) or $10,000 (entire business transfer) |
| Transfer Conditions | Full compliance with the agreement, transferee qualification, all amounts due paid, completion of training by transferee, transfer fee paid, transferee agrees to be bound by all terms, and execution of other required documents including a release. |
| Termination for Cause | Violation of health or safety laws (72 hrs notice), failure to pay amounts owed (5 days notice), or other defaults (30 days notice). Non-curable defaults include failure to agree on a territory, abandonment, failure to complete initial training, misrepresentation, felony conviction, unauthorized assignment, loss of possession, unauthorized use of confidential information, failure to pay taxes/liens, dishonest/unethical conduct, assignment for benefit of creditors, or bankruptcy. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the agreement and for two (2) years following termination or expiration, franchisee may not own, operate, engage in, be employed by, or have any interest in any similar business within a ten (10) mile radius of the Accepted Location or any other System franchise/company-owned business. During the term, franchisee may not operate a competing business anywhere. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | Franchisee is not required to personally be involved in day-to-day operations, but the Restaurant must always be under the supervision of a General Manager who has successfully completed the franchisor's training program. The General Manager's identity must be disclosed to the franchisor. Franchisee is solely responsible for hiring, training, disciplining, and firing employees, and for all employment-related decisions. |
| Required Suppliers | Bayou Treasures, LLC (for seafood, seasonings and sausage); Franchisor or its affiliates (for miscellaneous forms, take-out menus, advertising, promotional and marketing materials and updates) |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisee must purchase all seafood, seasonings and sausage only from our affiliate Bayou Treasures, LLC. Franchisee must purchase all miscellaneous forms, take-out menus, advertising, promotional and marketing materials and updates from us. Franchisee cannot purchase unapproved products or supplies or lease/purchase unapproved kitchen equipment from vendors not on the pre-approved list without written permission. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | For the last fiscal year, we received nothing in allowances, rebates and commissions from our approved suppliers. |
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. Neither we or an affiliate receives any consideration for placing any financing with a lender. |
Maryland Blue Crab Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Maryland Blue Crab 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.
Maryland Blue Crab 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.
Maryland Blue Crab Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordMaryland Blue Crab 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.
Maryland Blue Crab System Growth
Total Units
1
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
1
Maryland Blue Crab currently operates 0 franchised locations and 1 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 1 states: MD
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
0
Net Income
$-1,738.83
Total Assets
$39K
Audited by ROGER AND ASSOCIATES, LLC for year ending December 31.
Maryland Blue Crab Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Maryland Blue Crab franchise ranges from $203,450 to $512,650, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $18,500. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Maryland Blue Crab charges a royalty fee of 3% of Gross Revenues per month of gross sales, plus a 1% of Gross Revenues per month (System Advertising Fee) and a minimum of $6,000 per quarter (Local Advertising) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Maryland Blue Crab 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 Maryland Blue Crab to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Maryland Blue Crab 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.
Maryland Blue Crab has been franchising since 2020. The FDD shows an investment range of $203,450-$512,650, a 3% of Gross Revenues per month royalty, and no 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 $18,500 and the total investment ranges from $203,450 to $512,650 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.
Similar Food & Beverage Franchises
Interested in Maryland Blue Crab?
Get free info on this franchise. We will send you a detailed FDD report by email.
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 Maryland Blue Crab and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Maryland Blue Crab or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com