FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2021–2025

Long John Silver's Item 20: outlets, exits & growth

In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2025, from the 2026 FDD), Long John Silver's reported 261 franchised outlets at year end. 25 of 281 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system (exit rate 8.9%, fiscal 2025), while 5 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved -24.6% over 2021–2025.

Item 20 · outlet status by yearas filed
Status (FTC)20212022202320242025
Outlets at start674635589539502
Opened012215
Transfers221524174
Terminations02000
Non-renewals011576
Reacquired by franchisor25919200
Ceased — other reasons3641331519
Outlets at end635587539502479
Net change-39-48-50-37-23
How the exit count is computedfiscal 2025

0 terminations + 6 non-renewals + 19 ceased (other) = 25 exits ÷ 281 at start = 8.9%

These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchised outlet left the system — including voluntary non-renewals and outlets that ceased for other reasons, which can include sales or absorption into another franchise. Transfers (4) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate”, and not every exit is a closure or a failure; Item 20 does not say why any outlet left. On a small starting base, a single exit moves this rate sharply.

Franchised outlets by state · fiscal 202537 states/territories
StateFranchisedCompany-owned
OH4011
KY3212
VA26—
TX2151
TN190
CA14—
MO134
FL10—
WV811
GA70
IN745
NE7—
PA718
SC70
AR51
IL512
KS58
MI515
OK38
CO2—
IA27
MD21
NC20
NV2—
NY2—
AZ12
MA1—
MN1—
NH1—
NJ1—
NM111
OR1—
WA1—
AL0—
CT0—
LA01
WY0—

The Long John Silver's validation checklist

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