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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Long John Silver’s Franchise

Long John Silver’s is a quick-service seafood restaurant franchise founded in 1969 in Lexington, Kentucky. Acquired from YUM! Brands in 2011 by LJS Partners LLC, a consortium of franchisee investors and operators, the brand operates today as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The network spans company-owned and franchised restaurants across the US, with a developing international presence.

The menu centers on wild-caught Alaska pollock, salmon, and north Pacific cod, sourced from the Bering Sea and north Pacific waters, served through fried and grilled preparations. All seafood is antibiotic, hormone, GMO, and additive-free, cooked in high oleic canola oil. The brand’s responsible sourcing approach predates sustainability becoming a broader industry focus and remains a stated differentiator.

Long John Silver’s has been modernizing its restaurant estate under a “True North” brand identity, with refreshed store formats, digital menuboards, self-service ordering kiosks, and the Xenial point-of-sale system. The Seacret Society™ loyalty app supports digital ordering and repeat visits. The franchise is positioned as an accessible, value-oriented option in the QSR seafood category.

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Why buy a Long John Silver’s Franchise?

The QSR seafood category occupies a distinct niche in the US fast-food market with limited national competition. Long John Silver’s holds more than five decades of brand recognition built around an accessible seafood menu that separates it from the broader QSR field. For those looking to buy a Long John Silver’s franchise, that recognition and a value-oriented price point provide a foundation that would take years to build independently.

The brand’s modernization investment covers new store formats, digital menuboards, self-service kiosks, and the Xenial point-of-sale system, all targeting improved unit economics and customer experience. The Seacret Society™ loyalty app supports digital ordering and repeat visits, while the National Online Training and Standards Portal and Franchise Business Director program provide operational and field support.

Long John Silver’s Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1969

    • Franchising Since

      1969

    • New Startup Cost

      $690,500 – $4,160,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $20,000 – $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5–6%

      of Gross Receipts

    • Marketing Fee

      1–5%

      of Gross Receipts

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      485

    • New Units Opened *

      2

    • Units Transferred *

      17

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Long John Silver’s – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Long John Silver's supports franchisees through a 6-week operating manager training program at a certified training restaurant. Each franchisee is assigned a dedicated Franchise Business Director (FBD) who maintains weekly contact and conducts at least one formal restaurant evaluation annually. Ongoing support includes a National Online Training and Standards Portal, 24/7 IT helpdesk, and an Annual Business Review (ABR). Food safety is audited twice yearly by certified National Food Safety Audit Providers. Buyers of an existing Long John Silver's unit should confirm what initial training and Xenial POS access transfer with the sale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Long John Silver's suits operators with prior restaurant or foodservice management experience who are comfortable running a team-staffed, fast-paced kitchen environment. The model is operations-led: day-to-day priorities cover staff management, food quality compliance, and service speed standards. The brand targets candidates with capability for multi-unit development, and prior QSR or casual dining experience is a stronger fit than general business ownership alone. Resale buyers should assess their own operational depth alongside the acquired unit's staffing position and management team stability.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Long John Silver's has built national consumer recognition through more than 55 years as a dedicated QSR seafood brand. In 2026 the brand returned to NASCAR sponsorship as the featured partner on a Cup Series entry, extending national marketing reach. The brand also expanded its consumer footprint through a retail launch of its signature tartar sauce in select Kroger stores nationwide. For resale buyers, brand-level awareness should be weighed alongside the specific unit's local reputation, customer review profile, and visibility within its trade area.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US quick-service restaurant sector is a high-volume market where seafood remains a focused niche with limited national QSR competition. Consumer interest in seafood is supported by its health positioning as a high-protein, lower-fat alternative to beef and chicken. The QSR format's combination of speed and affordability captures demand from value-oriented consumers who want seafood without the cost of sit-down dining. For resale buyers, local seafood demand, proximity to competing concepts, and the unit's performance relative to regional peers are practical evaluation factors.

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