Cookout vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026
Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. The gap at midpoint: $341K.
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$341K
Firehouse Subs costs less
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cookout | Firehouse Subs | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $500K–$1.2M | $351K–$667K | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $0 | $20,000 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Cookout |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 3.0% | Cookout |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $300K | Firehouse Subs |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $80K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 2.8 yr | 20.0 yr | Cookout |
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
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 $341K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cookout also wins on royalty rate.