Dunkin' vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $792K.
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$792K
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dunkin' | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $526K–$1.8M | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 5.9% | 8.0% | Dunkin' |
| Ad Fund Fee | 5.0% | 4.5% | Subway |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $100K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | 96.5 yr | N/A | — |
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $792K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dunkin' also wins on royalty rate.