Chick-fil-A vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026
Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. The gap at midpoint: $777K.
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$777K
Firehouse Subs costs less
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Chick-fil-A | Firehouse Subs | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $342K–$2.2M | $351K–$667K | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $10,000 | $20,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 3.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $0 | $300K | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $10K | $80K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.3 yr | 20.0 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
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 $777K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.