Subway vs Taco Bell Franchise Cost 2026
Subway runs $229K–$522K. Taco Bell runs $575K–$3.4M. The gap at midpoint: $1.6M.
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.6M
Subway costs less
Taco Bell
$575K–$3.4M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Subway | Taco Bell | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $229K–$522K | $575K–$3.4M | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $45,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 8.0% | 5.5% | Taco Bell |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.5% | 4.25% | Taco Bell |
| Net Worth Required | $100K | $1.5M | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $750K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | N/A | 46.1 yr | — |
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Taco Bell Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $575K–$3.4M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.9M
Bottom Line
Subway costs $1.6M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Taco Bell also wins on royalty rate.