About Captain D's LLC
Captain D’s history goes back to 1969, when the first Mr. D’s Seafood and Hamburgers opened in Donelson, Tennessee. In 1974, the company name was changed to Captain D’s Seafood. Captain D’s menu features fish, shrimp, chicken, sides, desserts and sweet tea. Captain D’s is the leading fast-casual seafood restaurant with over 500 locations in 22 states.
Aside from maintaining a long and steady run of success, we have also disrupted the market with a truly unique model in a category of one. Our hybrid concept of casual dining food quality, at a QSR price point with a fast-casual service experience, is creating all kinds of buzz. Our dining experience is also heightened by our new smaller footprint and award-winning equipment innovations. Get on board.
We believe good seafood can transform any meal into a moment to remember. Throughout our 50-year history, our focus has been making great seafood available to everyone, every day and creating a place that makes an ordinary day feel special. From the friendly smiles and hand-crafted cooking of our crew members to our new, beachy restaurant design, we want you to be relaxed as we transport you to the coast. We think there’s something fun about eating at Captain D’s, and we believe treating yourself and your family to a special seafood meal shouldn’t break the bank. Just as hard as we work behind the scenes to guarantee the quality of our ingredients, we are dedicated to ensuring Captain D’s is a place where you can share really great seafood, in a warm and family-friendly environment, at unbeatable value.
Captain D’s does more than stand out. We stand alone. As the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, we are the only fish in the sea. By providing an alternative to burgers, pizza, and chicken, we have positioned ourselves to be the franchise of the future with no competition in the fast-casual space.
A Shore Thing
To attract and maintain customer loyalty, we offer an excellent product at a phenomenal price, with a dining experience that will keep customers coming back. Simply by focusing on seafood options, we already stand out. But, that’s only one part of it. The quality of our product also sets us apart. Our chef-driven menu starts with whole cut filets, no square patties made of processed seafood here. All of this at an affordable price—including a $4.99 value offering that will keep customers coming back again and again.
Our fastest-growing menu items are our grilled options that meet the demands of our more health-conscious customers, as well as our millennial diners. Head Chef Jason Henderson works directly with our Research and Development team in the corporate test kitchen to keep the menu fresh and on trend. As a brand with roots in the South, we offer true Southern hospitality and table service that provides everything from delivering orders hot and fresh to providing beverage refills. Along with our authentic food and hospitality, we offer real dishware and silverware to create an elevated dining experience for the whole family and cut down on the waste from your restaurant. Our dining experience is also heightened by our new restaurant design that has a beachside resort vibe that delivers a more modern, inviting customer experience. Plus our customers appreciate our drive thru and carry out options.
Company Founded
1969
Current Leadership
Phil Greifeld, CEO
Started Franchising
1969 (52 years)
Total Number of Units
529 (as of 2020)
Part-Time / Full-Time
Full Time
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Captain D’s LLC Franchise?
There are several costs associated with opening a Captain D’s LLC franchise. There is typically a franchise fee set by the franchisor, which covers the costs of opening a franchise location. Some other commons fees include equipment fees, marketing fees, licensing fees, insurance, and taxes, to name a few.
Some franchises may have a weekly fee that the franchisee pays for operating a Captain D’s LLC franchise. The weekly fee for opening a Captain D’s LLC franchise is not specified.
The full breakdown of these fees can be found in the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) provided to franchisees by the franchisor. The FDD report will contain additional information such as whether the franchise is renewable (Captain D’s LLC Is Renewable) and does the franchise offer financing support (Captain D’s LLC Captain D’s LLC has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll).
Captain D's LLC Company Details
Here are some additional details about Captain D's LLC.
Parent Company | Sentinel Capital Partners |
Initial Investment | $35,000 |
Net Worth Requirement | $1,000,000 |
Veteran Incentives | 50% off first-unit franchise fee; reduced royalty fee for first year |
Royalty Fee | 4.50% |
Ad Royalty | 1.10% |
Cash Requirement | $350,000 |
Term of Agreement | 20 years |
Absentee Ownership | No |
Run from Home | No |
Part Time | No |
Training and Support Offered By Captain D’s LLC
Captain D’s LLC offers several support options to its franchisees. With 529 (as of 2020) units, Captain D’s LLC aims to provide support to each franchise owner to help them operate a successful franchise location. Captain D’s LLC offers 219 hours on the job training, 21 hours classroom training, and Onsite store opening additional training.
Training and Support Offered
Here are the support options offered by Captain D's LLC.
On-The-Job Training | 219 hours |
Classroom Training | 21 hours |
Additional Training | Onsite store opening |
Ongoing Support |
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Marketing Support |
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Is Captain D’s LLC Right For You?
Captain D’s LLC has gone digital! Here are all of the ways you can find Captain D’s LLC online. Oftentimes, you can reach out to current franchisees of Captain D’s LLC online. Current franchisees may be able to offer personalized insights into what it is like owning a Captain D’s LLC franchise and offer tips to running a successful Captain D’s LLC franchise location.
Why Should You Start a Captain D’s LLC Franchise?
Investing in a Food franchise such as Captain D's LLC can kickstart your franchise portfolio. Our goal at Why Franchise is to provide you with the resources needed to be a successful franchise owner. Fill out the form below to get more information about Captain D's LLC franchise and we'll be in touch soon!