Arby's vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. The gap at midpoint: $544K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$544K
Firehouse Subs costs less
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Firehouse Subs | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $351K–$667K | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $20,000 | Firehouse Subs |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% | Arby's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 3.0% | Firehouse Subs |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $300K | Firehouse Subs |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $80K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 20.0 yr | Firehouse Subs |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
Bottom Line
Firehouse Subs costs $544K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.