Maryland Blue Crab® vs Café 86
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Maryland Blue Crab® and Café 86 are full-service restaurants franchises. Maryland Blue Crab® requires an investment of $203K – $513K while Café 86 requires $230K – $468K. Neither Maryland Blue Crab® nor Café 86 makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD — a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule — so the two cannot be compared on disclosed unit revenue. FranchiseVerdict rates Maryland Blue Crab® D (Below average) and Café 86 B (Above average).
| Metric | Maryland Blue Crab® | Café 86 |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | DBelow average | BAbove average |
| Investment Range | $203K – $513K | $230K – $468K |
| Franchise Fee | $19K | $45K |
| Royalty Rate | 3.0% | 6.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/ANo Item 19 representation | N/ANo Item 19 representation |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Total Units | 1 | 17 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | +0 units | +7 units |
| Year Began Franchising | 2020 | 2022 |
| FDD Year | 2022 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$203K – $513K
$230K – $468K
Franchise Fee
$19K
$45K
Royalty Rate
3.0%
6.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/ANo Item 19 representation
N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate
N/A
N/A
Total Units
1
17
Unit Growth (YoY)
+0 units
+7 units
Year Began Franchising
2020
2022
FDD Year
2022
2025