FranchiseVerdict
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F83/100FDD 2022

Maryland Blue Crab® — Litigation & Risk

Food & Beverage - Full Service · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5

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Lower Risk

No litigation cases disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.

Source: FDD Items 3–5

FDD Items 3 & 4

Litigation Metrics

Cases disclosed
0
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
83 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
AVOID
STRONG / MODERATE / CAUTION / AVOID

7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present

SBA Loan Performance

Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Default rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.

Total 7(a) loans
2
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
0.0%
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted

FDD Items 5, 6 & 17 — what you give up

Contract Risk Indicators

Mandatory arbitration
Required
Disputes resolved outside court — limits your legal options
Jury trial waiver
Waived
You give up the right to a jury trial
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
Louisiana
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there

What drove the 83/100 rating

Risk Score Breakdown

  1. 01HIGHGoing Concern status is FALSE — indicates the franchisor may have serious financial viability issues
  2. 02MINOROnly 1 unit in system with unknown growth trajectory — signals potential market failure or brand stagnation
  3. 03MINORNo average revenue or net income disclosure (no Item 19) — impossible to assess ROI or validate investment claims
  4. 04MINORHigh investment range ($203K–$512K) relative to unknowable returns creates extreme financial risk for franchisee
  5. 05MINORSingle unit makes it impossible to validate business model or replicate success across territories

Severity inferred from FDD text — not a regulatory or legal classification

Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice — consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.