Franopolis

    Cousins Subs

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Reviewed sources

    Cousins Subs franchise specializes in made-to-order submarine sandwiches, serving fresh ingredients and signature recipes that have built a loyal customer base

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    Headline figures

    Cousins Subs quick facts

    Is Cousins Subs a franchise?
    Yes. Cousins Subs offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 34 franchised and 58 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 61).
    How much does it cost to open a Cousins Subs franchise?
    The Cousins Subs Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $464,700–$1,164,500 for cousins subs shop — total initial investment: $ 464 , 700 - $ 1,164,500 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 22); $1,164,500 for shop total initial investment — upper end (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 22). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the Cousins Subs initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $25,000 (2025 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 12). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
    What ongoing fees does Cousins Subs charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 15). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $25,000 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 13). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Cousins Subs disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Cousins Subs FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 53). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Cousins Subs locations are there?
    The FDD reports 92 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 61). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Cousins Subs a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1Opening costs are estimated at $464,700 – $1,164,500 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 28 separate groups: other measures for 18 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 17 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 19 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 19 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 17 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 17 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 16 Affiliate-owned locations; other measures for 10 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 10 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 9 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 11 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 10 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 12 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 12 Franchised traditional locations; other measures for 4 Franchised locations; other measures for 5 Franchised locations; revenue for 10 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 25 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 21 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 6 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 20 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 24 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 3 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 16 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; revenue for 25 Affiliate-owned Cousins Submarines, Inc. locations; other measures for 12 Franchised traditional locations. They are not combined.
    3. 3Outlets declined by 2 in 2025, to 92 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Franchises under $500kOther brands whose disclosed Item 7 low end fits this budget.Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Cousins Subs head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    Cousins SubsVSLittle Caesars
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    Cousins SubsVSWingstop
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    Cousins SubsVSSubway
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    Cousins SubsVSFive Guys
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    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Total estimated initial investment

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    Weekly continuing service fee; gross receipts definition — 6%Main ongoing fee

    34 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    28 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.

    18 locations

    Other measures · 18 locations

    Who is counted
    Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; High third
    Excluded
    Partial-year, permanent closures, special-event locations and food trucks excluded; 2025 temporary relocation franchise excluded. PDF56.
    Method
    Ranked annual gross receipts, thirds. Fiscal 2023 53 weeks; 2024/2025 52 weeks; acquired shops assigned by at least six months affiliate ownership. Gross receipts definition PDF56.

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 61

    Net +0 outlets, 2022–2025

    092202218220231882024922025+90+6−96

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($464,700 – $1,164,500) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Reported units decreased from 94 to 92 in 2025. What drove the change?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 22
    2. [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; High thi… · PDF p. 53
    4. [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops · PDF p. 53; PDF p. 54
    5. [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; High thi… · PDF p. 53; PDF p. 54
    6. [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; Middle t… · PDF p. 53
    7. [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; Low third · PDF p. 53
    8. [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; Middle t… · PDF p. 53; PDF p. 54
    9. [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; Low third · PDF p. 53
    10. [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; includes four affiliate non-traditional shops; Low third · PDF p. 54
    11. [11]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; High third · PDF p. 54; PDF p. 55
    12. [12]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Middle third · PDF p. 54
    13. [13]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Low third · PDF p. 54
    14. [14]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops · PDF p. 54; PDF p. 55
    15. [15]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Middle third · PDF p. 55
    16. [16]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Low third · PDF p. 55
    17. [17]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; High third · PDF p. 55
    18. [18]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Low third · PDF p. 55
    19. [19]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Non-traditional: co-branded pizza or within/attached convenience store; full fi… · PDF p. 55
    20. [20]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Non-traditional: co-branded pizza or within/attached convenience store; full fi… · PDF p. 55
    21. [21]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $0–$699,999 · PDF p. 57
    22. [22]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $700,000–$999,999 · PDF p. 57
    23. [23]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue greater than $1,000,000 · PDF p. 57
    24. [24]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $0–$699,999 · PDF p. 58
    25. [25]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $700,000–$999,999 · PDF p. 58
    26. [26]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue greater than $1,000,000 · PDF p. 58
    27. [27]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $0–$699,999 · PDF p. 59
    28. [28]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $700,000–$999,999 · PDF p. 59
    29. [29]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue greater than $1,000,000 · PDF p. 59
    30. [30]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full fiscal year shops; traditional franchise shops; Middle third · PDF p. 55
    31. [31]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 61

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD

    Territory & operations

    37 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.

    What changed from 2025 to 2026

    • Franchise fee: $10 → $25,000
    • System size: 188 → 92 units

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

    Loading…

    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Little CaesarsWingstopSubwayFive GuysSonic Drive-InJimmy John's

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Cousins Subs vs Little CaesarsCousins Subs vs WingstopCousins Subs vs SubwayCousins Subs vs Five GuysCousins Subs vs Sonic Drive-InCousins Subs vs Jimmy John's
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

    Reader notes on wording

    Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.

    • Item 12 · PDF p. 39 · 2025 FDD

      Our summary: Territory protection: one-mile radius with stated exceptions

      “Cousins and its affiliates will not, so long as the Franchise Agreement is in effect and you are in compliance with the Franchise Agreement, operate or grant a franchise for the operation of another Cousins Subs Shop within a radius of 1 mile of the premises of your Shop except for Non - Traditional Venues (defined below) , or if, in Cousins judgment, the Shop is located within a central business district in which case the 1 mile radius protection will not apply.”

      Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.

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