Firehouse Subs vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $1.3M.
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.3M
Firehouse Subs costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Firehouse Subs | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $351K–$667K | $1.3M–$2.3M | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $45,000 | Firehouse Subs |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 4.0% | Firehouse Subs |
| Net Worth Required | $300K | $500K | Firehouse Subs |
| Liquid Capital | $80K | $500K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.0 yr | 14.1 yr | McDonald's |
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
Firehouse Subs costs $1.3M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. McDonald's also wins on royalty rate.