Subway vs Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026
Subway runs $229K–$522K. Wingstop runs $389K–$902K. The gap at midpoint: $270K.
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Investment Difference
$270K
Subway costs less
Wingstop
$389K–$902K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Subway | Wingstop | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $229K–$522K | $389K–$902K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $20,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 8.0% | 6.0% | Wingstop |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.5% | 4.0% | Wingstop |
| Net Worth Required | $100K | $1.2M | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $600K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | N/A | 20.2 yr | — |
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Wingstop Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $389K–$902K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.6M
Bottom Line
Subway costs $270K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Wingstop also wins on royalty rate.