Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is an emerging brand with passionate fans. The goal of this blog post is to highlight the initial and ongoing financial demands of purchasing a Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls franchise. You can also find a copy of a publicly filed disclosure document at the end of this post.
Please note, we have no affiliation with the franchisor. We are a franchise law firm and we help entrepreneurs evaluate franchise opportunities so they can make informed decisions.
Our blog posts only contain a small amount of the information you will need to consider when purchasing a franchised business. You can learn more about franchising and franchise law by exploring our site. Regardless of whether you consider this franchisor or another franchise opportunity, it would be our pleasure to provide legal support. We offer fixed fee franchise disclosure document review (“FDD Review”).
The Cost to open a Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls franchised outlet
Interested in opening your own Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls franchise business? Expect to invest between $162,983 to $464,050 to launch your first location. That is what Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls estimates it will cost you to get your location ready to open and operate for 3-months according to its 2023 franchise disclosure document (“FDD”).
The Initial Franchise Fee
As of 2023, the initial franchise fee is $35,000 for each franchised location. This fee goes to Mason’s Lobster Franchising, LLC when you sign a franchise agreement. This initial franchise fee has not increased over the past year. They also offer a discounted fee on multi-unit deal
The Build-out expenses
You will need funds sufficient to build-out a franchised location. This includes the store lease, design, buildout and construction, furniture and fixtures, hardware and software, kitchen wares, signage, initial marketing, initial inventory, and certain other items.
The initial estimated expenses are laid out in Item 7 of the Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls Franchise Disclosure Document.
The construction and buildout expenses make up a bulk of the estimated startup costs.
The Operating Expenses
According to the 2023 FDD, you will need $10,000 to $12,500 in cash on hand to operate a Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls franchise location for the first three months. This amount does not include any owner draw or salary.
The Ongoing Expenses due to Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls
You will naturally incur ongoing operating expenses for any business. The franchise relationship typically involves ongoing support and an ongoing obligation to pay certain royalty fees. As of 2023, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls collects 5% of Gross Sale as ongoing royalty fee on a weekly basis. They also require a marketing contribution into a brand fund of up to 2% of Gross Sales (currently 1%), and require the same to be spent on local marketing efforts. Additional fees paid to the franchisor are included in Item 5 of the FDD.
Paying ongoing royalties and fees is the cost of doing business. You pay these fees in exchange for the franchisor allowing you to take advantage of their “know how” and use their marks, systems, and processes to offer their products and services.
Does Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls negotiate with prospects?
Maybe.
Dr. Chester L. Karrass wrote a book entitled: In business as in life, you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Our experience has found this adage to be true.
You should consult with a franchise attorney about negotiating the business and legal terms of every franchise agreement.
Are there Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls franchise Requirements to Participate in Day-to-Day Operations?
Any restaurant requires full time attention and management. The Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls franchise agreement provides that the franchisee’s managing owner must either participate in the day-to-day operations or employ a designated manager who completes Masons’ initial training.
How many franchised locations?
Franchisors disclose the total number of outlets in operation in Item 20 of the FDD. Over at least the past 3 years, franchised outlets have increased at a consistent and steady rate. Overall, the franchisor has grown from 7 franchised outlets on January 1, 2020, to 20 franchised outlets on December 31, 2022. The franchisor also disclosed in Item 20 that they had 10 additional franchise agreement signed where the outlet had not opened as of the end of 2022. No outlets have been terminated, reacquired, or otherwise stopped doing business in the past 3 years. Current outlets are located in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. New outlets are also expected in Massachusetts.
Competitors
There are a number of competing franchise opportunity’s in the lobster roll space. A few examples include:
- Cousins Maine Lobster
- Lobster Dog’s Food Truck
- Mystic Lobster Roll
- Masshole Lobster Truck
Where can i find the 2023 Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls franchise fDD?
Click here for the initial version of the 2023 franchise disclosure document issued on April 20, 2023 which was filed in Virginia through the NASAA electronic filing depository. Please note, this disclosure document may may not be in its current form or approved in all states. We have no affiliation with Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and relied on publicly available information to compile this blog post. Minor changes may occur in the FDD, or the franchisor may not be authorized to offer franchises in your state. You should consult with franchise counsel and reach out to the franchisor directly if you are seriously considering a franchise opportunity.
Meet the Author
Derek A. Colvin
Derek is a graduate of Penn State Law and Old Dominion University. He started his legal career in public service as a prosecuting attorney before entering private practice. He currently serves business clients as a partner at Waldrop & Colvin, the law department for your business.
Derek is laser-focused on delivering efficient and effective solutions for business legal needs. As a seasoned litigator set on thinking critically and communicating effectively, Derek is well-suited to advise and protect your business as an independent owner, franchisor, or franchisee.
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