Burger King vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Burger King runs $1.9M–$3.3M. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $2.2M.
Burger King
$1.9M–$3.3M
total investment
Investment Difference
$2.2M
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Burger King | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.9M–$3.3M | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 4.5% | 8.0% | Burger King |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.0% | 4.5% | Burger King |
| Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $100K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | 52.4 yr | N/A | — |
Burger King Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.9M–$3.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 4.5%
- 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 $2.2M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Burger King also wins on royalty rate.