Subway (2026 FDD) Firehouse Subs (2026 FDD) Side-by-Side Comparison
Subway vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost (2026)
Side-by-side cost & fee comparison
Investment and fee figures use the formats recorded in each linked FDD analysis. Combined percentages, annualized fees and comparable outlet changes are calculations from those records. Fee conditions and samples can differ.
| Disclosure Metric | Subway | Firehouse Subs |
|---|---|---|
| FDD Year & Filing State | 2026 FDD (MN) | 2026 FDD (MN) |
| Category | Restaurants & Food | Restaurants & Food |
| Item 7 Total Investment | $263,000 – $630,000 | $405,350 – $875,950 |
| Item 5 Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Item 6 Royalty | 8% of total gross sales | 6% of Gross Sales |
| Item 6 Brand / Advertising Fund | 4.5% of total gross sales | 5% of Gross Sales |
| Sales-Based Percentage FeesFixed fees, minimums and sales-subset charges are separate. | Not a single percentage of sales | 11% of sales |
| Recurring Fixed Fees (Annual) | See Item 6 conditions | See Item 6 conditions |
| Required Liquid Capital | Not specified | Not specified |
| Required Net Worth | Not specified | Not specified |
| Capital Requirement Source & Conditions | Not specified | Not specified |
| Item 19 Financial Disclosures? | No Item 19 figures | Yes Average Annual Sales Volume - Counter Service Franchised Restaurants: $973,809 (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; 1,033 U.S. Counter Service franchised Restaurants continuously operated throughout 2025; excludes U.S. territories and restaurants with a drive thru) View Firehouse Subs earnings |
| Total System Outlets | Not comparable | 1,291 units |
| 3-Year Net Unit Growth | Not comparable | +100 franchised |
| 3-Year Average Franchise Exit Rate | Not comparable | 2.3% / yr |
| Initial Agreement Term | 20 years | 10 years |
| FDD Verification Status | Source review hold | Verified FDD Data |
Item 20 outlet histories and comparison limits
Subway has no calculated average exit rate because the Item 20 movements do not reconcile. The FDD's printed outlet rows remain below, but calculated system totals and net growth are withheld from this comparison. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Firehouse Subs added a net 100 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 2.3%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.
| System | Year | Start Outlets | Opened | Reported Exits | End Outlets | Franchise Exit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 2023 | 20,576 | +455 | -853 | 20,133 | — |
| Subway | 2024 | 20,133 | +453 | -1,005 | 19,502 | — |
| Subway | 2025 | 19,502 | +499 | -1,224 | 18,773 | — |
| Firehouse Subs | 2023 | 1,149 | +47 | -26 | 1,170 | 2.3% |
| Firehouse Subs | 2024 | 1,170 | +62 | -26 | 1,206 | 2.2% |
| Firehouse Subs | 2025 | 1,206 | +73 | -30 | 1,249 | 2.5% |
Detailed brand guides and earnings disclosures
Review our full itemized analysis for each system, including complete Item 7 line-by-line tables and Item 6 fee rules.
Official FDD sources
Franchise costs, fees and outlet records on this comparison page were compiled from the respective brand's official Franchise Disclosure Document filed with state regulators. Capital and net-worth requirements may instead come from the franchisor website when the FDD does not state them; those sources and conditions appear in the table above.
- Subway: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-04-30 (amended 2026-06-16), filed with MN regulators. View Subway filing record. Notice: Provisional publication — source review is in progress.
- Firehouse Subs: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-03-25 , filed with MN regulators. View Firehouse Subs filing record.
Frequently Asked Questions: Subway vs Firehouse Subs
These answers include records with unresolved source checks. Read the Subway source qualifications and Firehouse Subs source qualifications before using the figures.
- Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum, Subway or Firehouse Subs?
- Subway lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $263,000, compared with $405,350 for Firehouse Subs (a difference of $142,350). Their high estimates are $630,000 and $875,950, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
- How do Subway and Firehouse Subs Item 6 percentage fees compare?
- No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. Subway: royalty 8% of total gross sales; brand fund 4.5% of total gross sales. Firehouse Subs: royalty 6% of Gross Sales; brand fund 5% of Gross Sales.
- Do Subway or Firehouse Subs provide Item 19 financial disclosures?
- Only Firehouse Subs discloses financial performance representations in Item 19 (Average Annual Sales Volume - Counter Service Franchised Restaurants: $973,809 (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; 1,033 U.S. Counter Service franchised Restaurants continuously operated throughout 2025; excludes U.S. territories and restaurants with a drive thru)). Subway does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation. A sales disclosure does not establish owner income.
- What do the Item 20 outlet records show for Subway and Firehouse Subs?
- Subway has no calculated average exit rate because the Item 20 movements do not reconcile. The FDD's printed outlet rows remain below, but calculated system totals and net growth are withheld from this comparison. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Firehouse Subs added a net 100 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 2.3%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.