LOBSTER ROLL RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Harbor & Roll takes its name from the coastal docks where our seafood is sourced and the signature lobster roll we perfect. We operate in the fast-casual restaurant sector, offering premium New England seafood with the speed and price point of counter-service dining. Our core products are lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried and grilled coastal classics, and a curated beverage program. We run a vertically coordinated operation: contracted sustainable fisheries, daily cold-chain logistics, a central prep kitchen, and a high-throughput storefront designed for 60–80 covers and strong takeout/delivery volume. One-liner: Fresh, sustainable New England seafood served fast and consistently.

We target urban and affluent suburban diners ages 25–55 who pay for quality, convenience, and provenance. Short-term goals: open the flagship in a major U.S. market in 2026, hit break-even within 9–12 months, and reach 18%–22% gross margin on food. Long-term goals: scale to a 10-unit owned-and-operated footprint within five years and introduce a small-format franchise model and wholesale lobster roll SKU for grocery channels. What sets us apart is a certified sustainable supply chain, tight operations that deliver 6–8 minute service times for core items, and a coastal dining experience that justifies a premium price. One-liner: Build a repeatable premium seafood fast-casual brand that scales profitably.

Problem

Urban and suburban consumers lack accessible, authentic New England-style seafood; professionals and families need convenient, high-quality options they can eat year-round. Current market alternatives are low-quality, seasonal, or expensive, so casual consumption of lobster rolls is rare and fragmented.

That gap limits dining options, forces visits to costly fine-dining venues or seasonal coastal shacks, and pushes many customers toward lower-quality fast food; a dedicated, fast-casual seafood offering is necessary to make lobster rolls a regular, affordable choice for urban and suburban diners.

Solution

Urban and suburban diners lack accessible, high-quality New England seafood outside of expensive fine dining or low-quality alternatives. We deliver a year-round, fast-casual coastal-shack experience offering a focused menu of premium lobster rolls (Maine-style cold with mayonnaise and Connecticut-style warm with butter), clam chowder, and seafood classics, combined with streamlined counter and digital ordering, modern coastal interiors, and sustainable sourcing.

One line: Premium, fast-casual lobster rolls and seafood that balance quality, speed, and sustainability.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to bring the authentic taste of a New England summer to customers every day by offering a fast-casual dining experience that pairs premium lobster and seafood with unmatched convenience. We commit to sustainability, strict quality standards, and making high-quality seafood an accessible luxury for modern diners. We aim to be the premier destination for seafood lovers by honoring coastal culinary traditions while operating responsibly.

Key Success Factors

Success depends on product authenticity, prime positioning, tight operations, leadership, and a clear scale pathway.

• Deliver 100% sustainable fresh seafood and proprietary recipes
• Target urban professionals and foodies with coastal branding
• Maintain 3-month breakeven and 11-month payback
• Leverage Executive Chef and General Manager leadership
• Scale revenue to $3.7M by 2030 via expanded beverage program

Financial Summary

Compact financial snapshot for the Executive Summary: profitable launch in 2026 with fast payback and steady growth.

Financial requirements: total upfront capex $442,000 and minimum cash buffer $692,000; returns: IRR 13.2% and ROE 5.86%; breakeven Mar-26 and payback 11 months.

Outlook: profitable from month three, growing to $3.72M revenue and $1.54M EBITDA by Year 5.

Funding Requirements

We need USD 1,131,000 to cover opening capital and the minimum cash runway through May 2026.

Year 1 revenue is projected at USD 2,120,000 with EBITDA USD 756,000; Year 5 revenue is USD 3,721,000 with EBITDA USD 1,544,000; breakeven is March 2026, payback 11 months, projected IRR 13.2%, ROE 5.86%.