Captain D's
Health Score
55 Our derived Health Score (1–100) = growth (30%) + fees (20%) + scale (20%) + transparency (15%) + data quality (15%) franchisor_financial_condition_riskco_heavy_systemsystem_shrinking
Investment Range Total estimated initial investment from the FDD, including franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital.
$899K–$1.4M
Franchise Fee One-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor for the right to operate under their brand.
$17,500–$35,000
Royalty Ongoing fee paid to the franchisor, typically a percentage of gross revenue, paid weekly or monthly.
4.5%
Gross Sales. Veterans Program: 2.5% first full year of first restaurant, then standard 4.5% thereafter.
Total Units Total number of franchised and company-owned locations currently operating.
530
-0.5% growth
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Avg Revenue Average gross revenue reported by franchisees in the FDD's Item 19 financial performance representation.
$1.1M
Median Revenue Middle value of reported revenues — half of units earn more, half earn less. Often more useful than average.
$1.0M
Sample Size Number of franchise locations included in the financial performance data. Larger samples are more reliable.
214
Above Average Percentage of reporting units that earned above the system average. Below 50% means a few top performers skew the average up.
42.5%
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-29
Unit Growth
| Year | Total Units | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 535 | — | — |
| 2023 | 540 | — | — |
| 2024 | 530 | — | — |
Other Ongoing Fees
| Fee | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| POS and Training Systems Maintenance & Support | $Up to $236/month plus equipment repair and shipping costs | monthly |
| Opening Team Travel & Lodging (excess over franchisor's $8,000 cover) | $Travel and lodging exceeding $8,000 | one-time |
| Operating Personnel (if failing standards) | $Estimated not to exceed $2,500/month | as incurred |
Quick Facts
Fee Burden Combined percentage of gross revenue paid in ongoing fees (royalty + advertising/marketing fund).
6.5%
royalty + ad fund
Franchised Number of locations owned by independent franchisees, not the franchisor.
237
Company-Owned Locations owned directly by the franchisor. High ratios can signal corporate confidence — or difficulty selling franchises.
293
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Free Consultation
Seriously considering Captain D's?
A franchise consultant can verify the Item 19 numbers with real franchisee contacts, flag territory conflicts, and walk you through the FDD before you sign. Their fee is paid by the franchisor — your consultation is free.
Source: FDD filed in MN, 2025. Extracted 2026-04-05.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Captain D's a franchise?
- Yes, Captain D's is a franchise with 530 locations. Prospective owners purchase the right to operate under the Captain D's brand and system by signing a franchise agreement and paying a franchise fee. The full terms are disclosed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
- How much does it cost to open a Captain D's franchise?
- The total initial investment for a Captain D's franchise ranges from $899K to $1.4M, according to the 2025 FDD. This includes the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
- How much do Captain D's franchise owners make?
- According to the 2025 FDD Item 19, the median annual gross revenue for a Captain D's franchise is $1.0M (based on 214 units). Note that gross revenue is not profit — operating costs, royalties, rent, and labor must be subtracted.
- How many Captain D's franchise locations are there?
- As of the 2025 FDD, Captain D's has 530 total units (-0.5% growth rate).