If you’ve been dreaming about owning and operating your own sandwich franchise, investing in one of these award-winning fast-casual food franchises could be a great option. Let’s explore some of the top food franchise opportunities available today.
FIREHOUSE SUBS
- Number of restaurant locations: 1,100 nationwide
- Founded: 1994 in Jacksonville, FL by Chris Sorensen & Robin Sorensen
- Currently owned by: Firehouse of America LLC
Firehouse Subs serves up subs that save lives. To date, they have donated more than $52 million in life-saving equipment to first responders through their non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Their mission is their brand. They were also named as a top franchise on Franchise Business Review’s Top 200.
See how they scored and hear what franchisees said about owning a Firehouse Subs franchise here.
How Much Does it Cost to Own a Firehouse Subs Franchise?
- Minimum investment: $80K
- Franchise fee: Single unit is $20,000
- Initial investment: The average turnkey investment is approximately $350,000.
- Royalty fees: 6% of sales
- Marketing fees: 3% – 5% of sales
PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS
Penn Station offers an upscale, fast-casual feel and is known for its cold sandwiches, hand-squeezed lemonade, and fresh-cut fries. They care about the communities they serve and have created several programs, including the student-athlete program, random acts of kindness, and fundraiser days. They also support the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network.
- Number of restaurant locations: 321
- Founded: 1983 by Jeff Osterfeld in Dayton, Ohio
- Currently owned by: Osterfeld Enterprises
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Penn Station Franchise?
- Cash required: $300,000
- Franchise fee: $25,000
- Initial investment: $383,844 – $613,764
- Royalty fees: 8%
- Marketing fees: 2-3%
SUBWAY
- Number of restaurant locations: 44,800 worldwide
- Founded: 1965 in Bridgeport, CT by Peter Buck and Fred DeLuca
- Currently owned by: Doctor’s Associates, Inc
With its green and yellow logo, “five-dollar foot-long” jingle, and “Eat Fresh” tagline, Subway immediately rises to the top as one of the most recognizable franchises in the country. In fact, the iconic sandwich shop is one of the largest in the world, with over 44,000 locations worldwide. It also has one of the lowest franchise fees in the industry at $15,000. The trade-off? The royalty fee is steep at 8% of gross sales, one of the highest in the industry. But for many, this trade-off has been worth it, allowing individuals and families to break into the fast-food business — an industry, where many of the big brands like McDonalds and Burger King are largely owned by investment firms.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Subway Franchise?
- Cash required: $15,000
- Franchise fee: $15,000 in the United States and Canada
- Initial investment: The total investment is an estimated $116,000 to $263,000 in the United States and $102,000 to $234,000 in Canada.
- Royalty fees: 8%
- Marketing fees: 4.5%
See this year’s Top Food & Beverage Franchises
LENNY’S GRILL AND SUBS
- Number of restaurant locations: 106
- Founded: 1998 in Memphis by Len and Sheila Moore
- Currently owned by: GOSH Enterprises, Inc.
Lenny’s Grill and Subs is known for its signature Philly cheesesteaks, grilled sandwiches, deli sandwiches, and salads. In 2019, Lenny’s was acquired by GOSH Enterprises, Inc, the parent company of Charley’s Philly Steaks and BIBIBOP Asian Grill. Since the acquisition, GOSH has paused major development while they invested time into refining the menu, operating systems, and brand. But they have plans for major growth, with a goal to double the size of their franchise system by 2023. To do this, they are incentivizing multi-unit ownership for new and existing franchisees.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Lenny’ Grill and Subs Franchise?
- Net worth required: $400,000
- Cash required: $75,000
- Franchise fee: $25,000
- Total investment: $193,344 – $449,399
- Royalty fees: 6%
- Marketing fees: 2%
CHICKEN SALAD CHICK
- Number of restaurant locations: 155
- Founded: 2008 in Alabama by Kevin and Stacy Brown
- Currently owned by: Brentwood Associates
Chicken Salad Chick’s claim to fame is its chicken salad sandwiches. Stacy Brown, owner and ”original chick,” came up with the idea in her very own kitchen in 2008 and began franchising in 2012. The restaurant now has 155 locations in 16 states, most of them in the Southeast. Its footprint stretches from Texas to Missouri to Virginia. In 2019, the company grew sales by 44%, according to Technomic data. They were also named as a top franchise on Franchise Business Review’s Top 200.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Chicken Salad Chick Franchise?
- Net worth required: $600,000
- Cash required: $200,000
- Franchise fee: $50,000 and a $10,000 grand opening marketing fee for the first restaurant
- Initial investment: $562,000 – $740,000 (not including tenant improvement funds)
- Royalty fees: 5%
- Marketing fees: 2%
JASON’S DELI
Jason’s Deli is a modified form of a New York-style delicatessen that offers a variety of delicatessen products, as well as sandwiches, soups, baked potatoes, pasta dishes, wraps, and a salad bar, as well as catering and delivery services. The majority of Jason’s Delis are located in retail or strip centers. There are 40 corporate-owned free-standing locations and 10 franchise-owned free-standing locations.
- Number of restaurant locations: 283
- Founded: 1976 BY Joe Tortorice Jr. in Beaumont, Texas.
- Currently owned by: Deli Management, Inc.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Jason’s Deli Franchise?
- Franchise fee: $35,000
- Initial investment: $1,126,105.80 to $1,576,444.80
- Royalty fees: 4%
- Marketing fees: 2%
Should you invest in a Food Franchise? Read on to see if a Food Franchise is a good fit for you.
JIMMY JOHNS
Jimmy Johns claim to fame is its “freaky” fast sandwiches. They have one cheese, seven meats, and a tight delivery radius (5-minute delivery zones) to ensure that sandwiches are always fresh and “freaky” fast. To keep entry and operating costs low and profits high, Jimmy Johns does not use friers or extra equipment. They rely on simple ingredients and everything is standardized. But it’s not just the simple ingredients, freaky fast food, and standardized processes that have helped Jimmy John’s soar; it’s also the people. “’Jimmy John has a special talent for taking ordinary people and pushing them to do extraordinary things,’” James North, president and CEO of Jimmy John’s told QSR magazine about his “larger-than-life, long-time boss.” “’That’s really the secret sauce to Jimmy John’s.’”
- Number of restaurant locations: 2,800+
- Founded: 1983 by Jimmy John Liautaud in Charleston, Illinois
- Currently owned by: Rourke capital/Inspire Brand, Inc.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Jimmy John’s Franchise?
- Net worth required: $1,000,000
- Cash required: $200,000
- Franchise fee: $30,000-$35,000
- Initial investment: $313,600 – $556,100
- Royalty fees: 6%
- Marketing fees: 4.5%
Before you invest in any franchise, it’s important to do thorough research and talk to as many current franchise owners as possible. You can find contact information for franchise owners at the end of each brand’s franchise disclosure document (FDD). You can also lean on Franchise Business Review to get aggregated reviews and feedback for certain brands.
