ScorecardWorth It?HistoryDatabaseCompareDistress Signals
QSRLimited DataItem 19: ✓ DisclosedHigh Confidence · 85/100

Long John Silver's Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Long John Silver's.

Based on 2025 FDD · 3 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
58
C
Moderate Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
C
62/100
5/7 metrics · High confidence
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
Unlock 10 Reports — Start with Long John Silver's →Already have access? Sign in →

Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Long John Silver's franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Long John Silver's franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $691K – $4.2M. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$691K – $4.2M
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
Item 19 not disclosed
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
Estimate unavailable
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costs →Estimate franchise ROI →Check SBA default rates →Browse QSR franchises →Compare similar franchises →

Quick fee read: $35K franchise fee · 10% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

Free decision snapshot

Before you talk to Long John Silver's, check the numbers buyers usually miss.

The unlocked report ties this brand's FDD disclosures to SBA outcomes, Item 20 movement, fee load, missing-data labels, and buyer assumptions — so you can decide whether this is worth deeper diligence.

FDD disclosure qualitySBA default outcomesItem 20 unit movementFee/cost stressComparable brands
Unlock 10 reports — start with Long John Silver'sView sample report first

$19.99 one-time · Includes 10 reports · 7-day satisfaction guarantee

Total Investment Range$691K – $4.2M
MinMid: $2.4MMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$35K
Royalty Rate
5%
Ad Fund Rate
5%
Total Burden
10.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
297
-34 vs prior yr
Net Unit Growth
↓ -9.3%
Year over year
Net Closure Rate
10.3%
From FDD Item 20
Cash-on-Cash Return
~8–15%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
~5–12 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
~$800K–$2M
Item 19 disclosed
Red Flags Assessment
MEDIUM: Significant unit decline
MED ×1
Premium Data

Unlock Full Franchise Analysis

Get cash-on-cash return, payback period, SBA default rate, and red flag details for Long John Silver's.

CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
Unlock 10 Reports - $19.99

Or sign in if you already purchased

Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Long John Silver's vs. QSR Average

MetricLong John Silver'sQSR Avg
SBA Default Rate0.0%▲9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return - 14.2%
Total Investment$2.4M$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

SBA Loan Performance

Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2010-2024). 11 loans across 6 states.

Default Rate
0.0%
Low Risk
Total SBA Loans
11
6 states
Total Loan Volume
$7.0M
SBA 7(a) approved
Avg Loan Size
$634K
Per franchisee
Loan Status Breakdown
9
Paid in Full (82%)
1
Currently Active
0
Charged Off
$0
Total Charged Off ($)
● Paid● Active● Charged Off

Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.

Compare

Long John Silver's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Long John Silver's vs Loving CupLong John Silver's vs Donut King

Similar Franchises · QSR

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Revenue Only
$427K–$2.3M
Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
$427K – $2.3M
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K

Related Blog Posts

Xponential Fitness Explores Sale: What Franchisees and Investors Should Know (2026) | FranchiseIQ

Xponential Fitness (NYSE: XPOF) announced a strategic review on April 6, 2026, with Jefferies eng...

Founded 2017 - May 2024 · General
📬 Get notified when Long John Silver's changes fees
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Long John Silver's franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Long John Silver's's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Long John Silver's disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Long John Silver's →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

Explore More

All QSR FranchisesBest Fast Food FranchisesLow-Cost FranchisesLong John Silver's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Franchises With Item 19Industry Benchmarks