Arby's vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $677K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$677K
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 8.0% | Arby's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 4.5% | Arby's |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $100K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | N/A | — |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $677K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.