Firehouse Subs vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $133K.
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Investment Difference
$133K
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Firehouse Subs | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $351K–$667K | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 8.0% | Firehouse Subs |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 4.5% | Firehouse Subs |
| Net Worth Required | $300K | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $80K | $100K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.0 yr | N/A | — |
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $133K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Firehouse Subs also wins on royalty rate.