Schlotzsky’s
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Schlotzsky’s franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 1971 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Atlanta, GA United States Source: franchise.org
Schlotzsky's serves sandwiches, pizzas, flatbreads, calzones, salads and soups. Its restaurants provide individual meals and catering options, including subs for group events.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Schlotzsky’s franchise?
- The Schlotzsky’s Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $668,775–$959,255 for non-traditional total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 46); $675,365–$1,458,170 for endcap or inline restaurant total initial investment low end: $675,365 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 43); $1,403,145–$2,261,500 for freestanding total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 44). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Schlotzsky’s charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $25,000 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Schlotzsky’s disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Schlotzsky’s FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 87). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Schlotzsky’s locations are there?
- The FDD reports 294 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 89). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $668,775 – $959,255 (Non-traditional total investment low); $675,365 – $1,458,170 (Endcap or inline restaurant Total Initial Investment low end: $675,365); $1,403,145 – $2,261,500 (Freestanding total investment low); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 2 separate groups: other measures for 201 Franchised Traditional Restaurants including Cinnabon Express; excludes non-traditional, non-Cinnabon, co-branded other than Cinnabon, affiliate-owned and ineligible franchises locations; other measures for 34 Franchised Traditional Restaurants including Cinnabon Express; excludes non-traditional, non-Cinnabon, co-branded other than Cinnabon, affiliate-owned and ineligible franchises locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets declined by 14 in 2025, to 294 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
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 3 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Non-traditional total investment lowPDF p. 46$668,775 – $959,255
- Endcap or inline restaurant Total Initial Investment low end: $675,365PDF p. 43$675,365 – $1,458,170
- Freestanding total investment lowPDF p. 44$1,403,145 – $2,261,500
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty rateMain ongoing fee
52 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?
Two separate populations, not a revenue-and-profit comparison. Revenue is not owner income.
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 201 locations
- Who is counted
- Traditional franchise restaurants with a drive-thru that reported sales all 52 weeks of FY2025
- Period
- Top quartile average net sales
- Excluded
- 2 of 203 drive-thru franchises not reporting sales for all 52 weeks (including 1 opened in FY2025); 13 permanently closed in FY2025, each open at least 12 months before closing; none reacquired
- Method
- Average Net Sales by quartile; figures calculated from financial reports submitted by franchisees, not audited or independently verified
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 34 locations
- Who is counted
- Traditional franchise restaurants without a drive-thru that reported sales all 52 weeks of FY2025
- Period
- Top quartile attaining/exceeding average share
- Excluded
- 4 of 38 without-drive-thru franchises not reporting sales for all 52 weeks (including 3 opened in FY2025); 3 permanently closed in FY2025, each open at least 12 months before closing; none reacquired
- Method
- Average Net Sales by quartile; figures calculated from financial reports submitted by franchisees, not audited or independently verified
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 year-end of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 89
Net −23 outlets, 2023–2025
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 ($668,775 – $2,261,500) 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 308 to 294 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]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchise restaurants with a drive-thru that reported sales all 52… · PDF p. 87
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchise restaurants without a drive-thru that reported sales all… · PDF p. 87
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 89
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
364 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.
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.
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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.