Chick-fil-A vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $911K.
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$911K
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Chick-fil-A | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $342K–$2.2M | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $10,000 | $15,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 8.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.5% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $0 | $100K | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $10K | $100K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.3 yr | N/A | — |
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $911K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.