Captain D's

Seafood
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Franchise 500 2023
2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#309 Ranked #434 last year
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Initial investment
$899K - $1.4M
Units as of 2023
533 Increase 0.8% over 3 years

The Captain is calling: 'Whalecome' to a refreshing adventure! Captain D's is a chain of fast-food seafood that provides casual dining and high-quality food, with genuine Southern hospitality. Pier-ing into Captain D's beginnings, its humble start back in Tennessee of 1969, goes to show how it has been open for more than 45 years. If you are ready to be outstanding in a sea of ordinary, you may wish to open a Captain D's. 

Read on to see why the Captain D's franchise could be a great catch for potential franchisees.

Why You May Want to Start a Captain D's Franchise

The significant advantage of owning a Captain D's franchise is that you may have very little franchise competition. You also may be given the opportunity to stand out from other restaurants and not be in the ocean of sameness that other restaurants tend to find themselves in. In addition, the franchisor sources the seafood and negotiates the best prices for franchisees. 

Captain D's could be a game-changer and market disruptor that has continued to experience success. Many times throughout its existence, Captain D's has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. 

What Might Make a Captain D's Franchise a Good Choice?

Captain D's believes that success is sustainable. To be part of the Captain D's team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, ongoing fees will include advertising, royalty, and renewal fees. Additional expenses may include incorporation fees, business license fees, legal fees, and utility deposits.

The brand is currently in ongoing development, and it is estimated that the new restaurant prototypes can help franchisees reduce their startup costs. Even if startup costs are reduced, franchisees will still need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. 

Potential franchisees can choose to cater to customers who opt to dine in, drive through, or carry out their fast food seafood.

How To Open a Captain D's Franchise

You can jump into this opportunity and become a Captain D's franchisee by submitting an inquiry form. Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. Speak to existing franchisees and ask questions directed to Captain D's team.

As you decide if you wish to open a Captain D's franchise, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Captain D's franchise would do well in your community. If there are many other seafood restaurants and/or fast food places in the area, you may want to reconsider your decision. 

Make waves in your community by providing delicious seafood at an affordable price with a Captain D’s franchise! 

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Company Overview

About Captain D's

Industry Food
Related Categories Seafood , Miscellaneous Quick-Service Restaurants
Founded 1969
Leadership Phil Greifeld, CEO
Corporate Address 624 Grassmere Park Dr., #30
Nashville, TN 37211
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1969 (55 years)
# of employees at HQ 96
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

# of Units 533 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Captain D's franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$898,600 - $1,354,200
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$350,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
50% off first-unit franchise fee; reduced royalty fee for first year
Royalty Fee Information Circle
4.5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
1.1%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
20 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Captain D's has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 219 hours
Classroom Training 21 hours
Ongoing Support
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 25
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Captain D's landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Captain D's ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022