Franopolis

    Firehouse Subs

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching Firehouse Subs franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources
    Franchising since
    1995
    Source: franchise.org
    Headquarters
    Jacksonville, FL United States
    Source: franchise.org

    Firehouse Subs is a quick-service restaurant franchise that operates sub sandwich restaurants in North America. Founded in 1994 by firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, the brand serves sub sandwiches and emphasizes hearty food, service, and community support.

    Headline figures

    Quick facts

    How much does it cost to open a Firehouse Subs franchise?
    The Firehouse Subs Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $405,350–$1,087,050 for traditional — inline total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 34); $875,950–$1,087,050 for traditional — inline total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 34); $528,159–$1,087,050 for traditional — end cap with drive thru total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 34); $1,087,050 for traditional — end cap with drive thru total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 34); $767,950–$1,577,750 for free-standing with drive thru total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 36); $1,577,750 for free-standing with drive thru total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 36). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the Firehouse Subs initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $20,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 24). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
    What ongoing fees does Firehouse Subs charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Firehouse Subs disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Firehouse Subs FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 73). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details

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

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $405,350 – $1,087,050 (Traditional — Inline total investment low); $875,950 – $1,087,050 (Traditional — Inline total investment high); $528,159 – $1,087,050 (Traditional — End Cap with Drive Thru total investment low); $1,087,050 (Traditional — End Cap with Drive Thru total investment high); $767,950 – $1,577,750 (Free-standing with Drive Thru total investment low); $1,577,750 (Free-standing with Drive Thru total investment high); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 11 separate groups: other measures for 1,033 franchised locations; EBITDA and revenue and other measures and costs for 704 franchised locations; other measures for 35 franchised locations; other measures for 35 franchised locations; other measures for 69 franchised locations; EBITDA and other measures and revenue and costs for 704 franchised locations; costs and EBITDA for 704 franchised locations; other measures for franchised locations; other measures for franchised locations; other measures for franchised locations; other measures for franchised locations. They are not combined.

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

    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Range across 6 single-unit formats

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (6)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.

    • Traditional — Inline total investment lowPDF p. 34$405,350 – $1,087,050
    • Traditional — End Cap with Drive Thru total investment lowPDF p. 34$528,159 – $1,087,050
    • Free-standing with Drive Thru total investment lowPDF p. 36$767,950 – $1,577,750
    • Traditional — Inline total investment highPDF p. 34$875,950 – $1,087,050
    • Traditional — End Cap with Drive Thru total investment highPDF p. 34$1,087,050
    • Free-standing with Drive Thru total investment highPDF p. 36$1,577,750

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 24
    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.

    Royalty rate: 6% of Gross SalesMain ongoing fee

    31 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?

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

    Franchised locations

    Other measures · 1,033 locations

    Who is counted
    1,033 franchised Counter Service Firehouse Subs Restaurants continuously operated for FY2025.
    Period
    Low (All column)
    Excluded
    76 locations were excluded from the sales data for not operating continuously during FY2025; the FDD states the 1,109 Counter Service count excludes 21 locations permanently closed during 2025.
    Method
    Historical annual gross sales; reported from franchisees/POS; un-audited.

    Franchised locations

    EBITDA, revenue, costs and other measures · 704 locations

    Who is counted
    704 franchised Firehouse Subs Restaurants continuously operated for FY2025 with P&L data used for Section B calculations.
    Excluded
    433 with missing or incomplete P&L statements and 97 not open for all of 2025 were excluded.
    Method
    Derived from profit and loss statements submitted; not all continuously operated outlets submitted complete statements.

    Franchised locations

    Other measures · 35 locations

    Who is counted
    35 franchised Free Standing Restaurants with a Drive Thru continuously operated for FY2025.
    Period
    Average Restaurant Annual Sales Volume (All column)
    Excluded
    4 locations were excluded for not operating continuously during FY2025; none permanently closed during the period.
    Method
    Historical annual gross sales; reported from franchisees/POS; un-audited.

    Franchised locations

    Other measures · 35 locations

    Who is counted
    35 franchised Free Standing Firehouse Subs Restaurants with a Drive Thru continuously operated during FY2025.
    Period
    Median (All column)
    Excluded
    Four were excluded for not operating continuously during FY2025; none permanently closed during this period.
    Method
    Historical annual gross sales; reported from franchisees/POS; un-audited.

    Franchised locations

    Other measures · 69 locations

    Who is counted
    End-Cap Strip Center w/Drive Thru franchised restaurants open throughout 2025
    Period
    High (All column)
    Method
    Historical annual gross sales; reported from franchisees/POS; un-audited.

    Franchised locations

    EBITDA, revenue, costs and other measures · 704 locations

    Who is counted
    Franchised restaurants grouped by December 2025 Performance and Expandability (PNE) score
    Period
    All, median
    Method
    Historical 2025 sales and profit-and-loss data; PNE score is monthly and based on current/trailing 12-month metrics, 80% operations performance and 20% brand alignment; scores aggregated to grades A, B, D and F.

    Franchised locations

    Costs and EBITDA · 704 locations

    Who is counted
    Franchised restaurants continuously operated in fiscal 2025; section B annual sales level cohorts
    Excluded
    433 restaurants did not submit or submitted incomplete P&L statements; 97 were not open for all of 2025.
    Method
    Derived from profit and loss statements submitted; not all continuously operated outlets submitted complete statements.

    Franchised locations

    Other measures

    Who is counted
    Free-standing drive-thru

    Franchised locations

    Other measures

    Who is counted
    End-Cap drive-thru

    Franchised locations

    Other measures

    Who is counted
    franchised restaurants with submitted P&L

    Franchised locations

    Other measures

    Who is counted
    Counter Service franchised

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Coverage not stated in the reviewed record · counts as of year end of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 ·

    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 ($405,350 – $1,577,750) 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?

    • 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]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 24
    2. [2]Item 19 — Franchised (1,033 locations) — other measures · PDF p. 73
    3. [3]Item 19 — Franchised (704 locations) — EBITDA and revenue and other measures and costs · PDF p. 76
    4. [4]Item 19 — Franchised (35 locations) — other measures — 35 franchised Free Standing Restaurants with a Drive Thru continuously operated… · PDF p. 74
    5. [5]Item 19 — Franchised (35 locations) — other measures — 35 franchised Free Standing Firehouse Subs Restaurants with a Drive Thru contin… · PDF p. 74
    6. [6]Item 19 — Franchised (69 locations) — other measures · PDF p. 75
    7. [7]Item 19 — Franchised (704 locations) — EBITDA and other measures and revenue and costs · PDF p. 77
    8. [8]Item 19 — Franchised (704 locations) — costs and EBITDA · PDF p. 76
    9. [9]Item 19 — Franchised locations — other measures — Free-standing drive-thru · PDF p. 74
    10. [10]Item 19 — Franchised locations — other measures — End-Cap drive-thru · PDF p. 74
    11. [11]Item 19 — Franchised locations — other measures — franchised restaurants with submitted P&L · PDF p. 75
    12. [12]Item 19 — Franchised locations — other measures — Counter Service franchised · PDF p. 73

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

    Territory & operations

    156 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

    Fiscal yearMeasureReported value
    2025rbi consolidated net income attributable to common shareholders$776
    2025rbi consolidated total liabilities$20,456
    2025rbi consolidated total assets$25,615
    2025rbi consolidated total revenues$9,434
    2025rbi consolidated net income$1,075
    2025rbi net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations$1,714

    These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

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    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 and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Donatos PizzaMSMoe’s Southwest GrillNNNAF NAF Middle Eastern GrillParis Banh MiPickleman’s Gourmet CafePSPizza Schmizza

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Firehouse Subs vs Donatos PizzaFirehouse Subs vs Moe’s Southwest GrillFirehouse Subs vs NAF NAF Middle Eastern Grill
    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

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