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Sandwich & Sub · 41 Brands
Sandwich & Sub franchises typically require $366K–$843K to open (median $621K), charge a median 6% royalty, and we track 41 brands with FDD data; 32 of them disclose Item 19 earnings. Every figure comes from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document: Item 7 for the investment range, Item 6 for royalties, and Item 19 for earnings. Compare the leading brands side by side in the table below before you shortlist.
Sandwich and sub franchise costs typically range from under $150,000 for compact, low-labor concepts to around $600,000 for larger dine-in delis and hot-sub restaurants. Cold-sub, hot-sub, deli, and cheesesteak concepts are gathered here, and each row reports investment, franchise fees, royalties, and Item 19 disclosures exactly as filed in the FDD. Sort by lowest investment to find the leanest builds — sub concepts are among the lowest-equipment entries in food service.
Franchises
41
Avg Investment
$579K–$1280K
Avg Royalty
5.4%
Item 19
78%
12 sandwich & sub brands ranked by total units in their latest FDD (Item 20). Investment is the Item 7 range; fee and royalty come from Items 5 and 6.
| Brand | Investment | Franchise fee | Royalty | Units | Item 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | $227K–$630K | $15K | 8% | 18,773 | No |
| Jersey Mike's | $436K–$1.2M | $20K | 6.5% | 3,201 | Yes |
| Jimmy John's | $366K–$728K | $35K | 6% | 2,737 | Yes |
| Arby's | $869K–$2.5M | $38K | 4% for Traditional… | 2,344 | Yes |
| Firehouse Subs | $405K–$1.6M | $20K | 6% | 1,249 | Yes |
| Charleys Philly Steaks | $203K–$1M | $25K | 6% | 766 | Yes |
| McAlister's Deli | $910K–$2.6M | $36K | 5% | 533 | Yes |
| Penn Station | $441K–$833K | $25K | 2%-8% tiered by monthly… | 321 | Yes |
| Schlotzsky's Deli | $675K–$2.3M | $36K | 6% | 267 | Yes |
| Which Wich | $254K–$822K | $30K | 6% | 150 | Yes |
| Capriotti's Sandwich Shop | $595K–$935K | $40K | 6% to 7% | 139 | No |
| Quiznos | $214K–$649K | $5K | 5% | 138 | Yes |
Editor's shortlist. The table ranks by the numbers alone. For our editors' picks, with the trade-offs and FDD footnotes behind each one, read Best Sandwich Franchises in 2026: 23 Sub, Deli, and Cheesesteak Brands on Real FDD Data.
Search, filter, and compare every sandwich & sub franchise we've analyzed. Select up to four to compare side by side.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arby'sFood & Beverage· Est. 2015 | Disclosed | $38K | $869K - $2.5M | 4–6.2% | 2,344 | |
| BHCFood & Beverage· Est. 2004 | None | $40K | $488K - $1.5M | 4.5% | 0 | |
| BlimpieFood & Beverage | None | $18K | $254K - $589K | 6% | 97 | |
| BuonaFood & Beverage· Est. 2021 | Disclosed | $40K | $3.9M - $5.8M | 4% | 0 | |
| Buona BeefFood & Beverage· Est. 2021 | Disclosed | $40K | $2.9M - $5.3M | 4% | 0 | |
| Capriotti's Sandwich ShopFood & Beverage· Est. 2007 | None | $40K | $595K - $935K | 6–7% | 139 | |
| Charleys Philly SteaksFood & Beverage· Est. 1990 | Disclosed | $25K | $203K - $1.0M | 6% | 766 | |
| Cheba HutFood & Beverage· Est. 2001 | Disclosed | $50K | $631K - $2.1M | 5% | 80 | |
| Chicha San ChenFood & Beverage· Est. 2016 | None | $250K | $359K - $537K | 1% | 11 | |
| Cousins SubsFood & Beverage· Est. 1978 | Disclosed | $25K | $465K - $1.2M | 6% | 34 | |
| Deli DeliciousFood & Beverage· Est. 2008 | Disclosed | $30K | $123K - $252K | 6% | 42 | |
| Earl of SandwichFood & Beverage· Est. 2004 | Disclosed | $25K | $303K - $640K | 6% | 26 | |
| Firehouse SubsFood & Beverage· Est. 2004 | Disclosed | $20K | $405K - $1.6M | 6% | 1,249 | |
| GoodcentsFood & Beverage· Est. 1991 | Disclosed | $30K | $311K - $506K | 6% | 62 | |
| Great SteakFood & Beverage | Disclosed | — | $154K | 6% | 24 | |
| Jason's DeliFood & Beverage | None | $35K | $1.7M - $2.5M | 4% | 73 | |
| Jersey Mike'sFood & Beverage· Est. 2019 | Disclosed | $20K | $436K - $1.2M | 6.5% | 3,201 | |
| Jimmy John'sFood & Beverage· Est. 2017 | Disclosed | $35K | $366K - $728K | 6% | 2,737 | |
| Lee's SandwichesFood & Beverage· Est. 2002 | None | $60K | $210K - $1.7M | 6.9% | 45 | |
| McAlister's DeliFood & Beverage | Disclosed | $36K | $910K - $2.6M | 5% | 533 | |
| Melt N DipFood & Beverage· Est. 2021 | Disclosed | $50K | $373K - $455K | 5% | 8 |
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Sandwich and sub franchise costs range from under $150,000 for small, streamlined shops to roughly $600,000 for larger delis and hot-sub restaurants. Buildout and equipment are the main variables. Item 7 of each FDD lists the exact initial investment.
Many sandwich and sub franchise opportunities are among the lower-capital options in food service because they need less cooking equipment and square footage, and some start under $150,000. Sort the table above by lowest investment to compare.
Sub and sandwich concepts often run leaner labor and food costs than full-menu restaurants, but per-unit volume varies by location. Brands that disclose Item 19 let you review actual average sales before investing. Use the Item 19 filter to find brands that publish revenue.
Sandwich and sub franchise royalties typically run 6% to 8% of gross sales, plus an advertising-fund contribution. All ongoing fees are detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. Compare royalty and ad-fund rates across brands above.
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