Cruisin’ Tikis Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Cruisin' Tikis is an entertainment franchise offering guided cruises aboard floating, motorized tiki-bar boats on local waterways. Franchisees run a boat-tour operation managing captains, vessels, bookings, and events.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Cruisin’ Tikis franchise requires a total initial investment of $83K – $124K, including a $20K franchise fee and an ongoing 6.0% royalty[2]. The 2024 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2024 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $83K – $124K
- 8th pct Recreation & …
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- 7th pct Recreation & …
- Units
- 106
- 45th pct Recreation & …
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Recreation & Entertainment · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Recreation & Entertainment avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $83K – $124K including a $20K franchise fee, 6.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSFigures are from UNAUDITED, internally-prepared interim financial statements as of March 31, 2024 (YTD). Item 21 states audited statements for FYE Dec 31, 2023/2022/2021 are in Exhibit D, but those audited pages are not present in the extracted text (image-based), so audited figures and auditor name are unavailable. Total Revenue $119,678 comprises Franchise Royalties $63,604, Franchise Fees $34,392, and National Advertising (Escrow) $21,682. Net Income is a net loss of $(124,147). Cover page carries a state-required Financial Condition risk warning that the franchisor's financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services and support.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 66/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHSystem growing at 53.6% CAGR over 3 years with 106 total units. Strong expansion trajectory.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Cruisin' Tikis International, Inc.
- CEO title
- Director and President
- Karen Darby
- Incorporated in
- FL
- HQ
- 635 NW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311
- Auditor
- South Florida Audit & Assurance, Services
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $120K
- vs $1.1M prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Karen Darby
- Headquarters
- FL
- Founded
- 2018
- FDD year
- 2024
- States available
- 13
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 92% below the typical recreation & entertainment franchise.
Source: FDD 2024 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2024 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $20K | $20K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $1K | $2K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $62K | $102K |
| Total initial investment | $83K | $124K |
Source: Cruisin’ Tikis 2024 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $83K – $124K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $1K – $2K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $20K – $20K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 8.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 6.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $0 |
| Transfer fee | $1K |
| Renewal fee | $0 |
| Total fee load | 8.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Cruisin’ Tikis did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Cruisin’ Tikis unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
107%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2024 FDD
Financial Performance
Figures are from UNAUDITED, internally-prepared interim financial statements as of March 31, 2024 (YTD). Item 21 states audited statements for FYE Dec 31, 2023/2022/2021 are in Exhibit D, but those audited pages are not present in the extracted text (image-based), so audited figures and auditor name are unavailable. Total Revenue $119,678 comprises Franchise Royalties $63,604, Franchise Fees $34,392, and National Advertising (Escrow) $21,682. Net Income is a net loss of $(124,147). Cover page carries a state-required Financial Condition risk warning that the franchisor's financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services and support.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 8.0% (near the Recreation & Entertainment average).
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Operator retention
System expanding at 53.6% CAGR over 3 years across 106 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Recreation & Entertainment averages
How Cruisin’ Tikis Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2024 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 106
- Opened
- 15
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +53.6%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +53.6%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 15
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 2
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 13 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
13
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA loan disclosures. This brand has only 6 7(a) loans on file; statistical reliability is limited below 10 loans.
- Total loans
- 6
- Loan volume
- $4.0M
- Median loan
- $370K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
- limited sample (6 loans) — rate not shown below 10
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 5
- Defaults
- N/A
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Regulatory history, missing financial disclosures, territorial vulnerability, and questionable corporate stability create meaningful investment risk despite modest growth trajectory.
Litigation (Item 3)
One action: Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation v. Cruisin' Tikis, LLC (California DFPI). Affiliate CTL paid $5,000 administrative penalty for offering unregistered franchises under California Franchise Investment Law; resolved via Consent Order dated February 3, 2022.
Largest disclosed settlement: $5,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · South Florida Audit & Assurance, Services
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 66 / 100 verdict
- 01MEDNo Item 19 (Average Revenue/Net Income) disclosed — impossible to validate ROI on $83K-$124K investment
- 02MINORRegulatory violation (Feb 2022 Consent Order) shows compliance lapses in franchise registration and disclosure
- 03MINORUnprotected territory creates direct competition risk from other franchisees and company-owned units
- 04HIGHGoing Concern = False suggests potential financial instability or disclosure issues at corporate level
- 05MED6% royalty on undisclosed revenue base makes profitability assessment impossible
- 06MINORModest unit growth (12.8% YoY) from low base (106 units) indicates immature/fragile system
- 07MINOR5-year term is relatively short; renewal risk unclear
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 8.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2024 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 30 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 30 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Broward County, Florida |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | FL |
| Litigation count | 1 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
One action: Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation v. Cruisin' Tikis, LLC (California DFPI). Affiliate CTL paid $5,000 administrative penalty for offering unregistered franchises under California Franchise Investment Law; resolved via Consent Order dated February 3, 2022.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 0 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 0 hrs
- Ongoing training
- Optional
- Time to open
- 3 mo
- From signing to launch
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Fare Harbor or Peek Pro
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Fare Harbor or Peek Pro
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
2 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Cruisin’ Tikis · FDD (2024) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Cruisin’ Tikis franchise?
The total investment to open a Cruisin’ Tikis franchise ranges from $83K – $124K, with an initial franchise fee of $20K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Cruisin’ Tikis franchise owners earn?
Cruisin’ Tikis does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Cruisin’ Tikis FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Cruisin’ Tikis FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Cruisin’ Tikis's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Cruisin’ Tikis (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Cruisin’ Tikis franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Cruisin’ Tikis has 106 total units in the United States, including 106 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 15 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Cruisin’ Tikis a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Cruisin’ Tikis as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 66 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.