Firehouse Subs vs Taco Bell Franchise Cost 2026
Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. Taco Bell runs $575K–$3.4M. The gap at midpoint: $1.5M.
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.5M
Firehouse Subs costs less
Taco Bell
$575K–$3.4M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Firehouse Subs | Taco Bell | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $351K–$667K | $575K–$3.4M | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $45,000 | Firehouse Subs |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 5.5% | Taco Bell |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 4.25% | Firehouse Subs |
| Net Worth Required | $300K | $1.5M | Firehouse Subs |
| Liquid Capital | $80K | $750K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.0 yr | 46.1 yr | Firehouse Subs |
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
Taco Bell Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $575K–$3.4M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.9M
Bottom Line
Firehouse Subs costs $1.5M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Taco Bell also wins on royalty rate.