How much does it cost to open a Subway franchise?

The Subway Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $227,000–$458,000 for lower initial investment, non-traditional location (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 51); $263,000–$458,000 for lower initial investment, standard restaurant (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 51). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote.

What is the Subway initial franchise fee?

The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $15,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 29). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report.

What ongoing fees does Subway charge?

The disclosed ongoing royalty is $8 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 36). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $5 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 36). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6.

Does Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

No. The reviewed Subway FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19.

How many Subway locations are there?

The FDD reports 18,773 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 94). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability.

Subway

Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

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

Reviewed sources

Subway franchise operates one of the world's largest quick-service restaurant chains, specializing in made-to-order submarine sandwiches and salads with a focus

Quick facts

How much does it cost to open a Subway franchise?: The Subway Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $227,000–$458,000 for lower initial investment, non-traditional location (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 51); $263,000–$458,000 for lower initial investment, standard restaurant (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 51). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
What is the Subway initial franchise fee?: The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $15,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 29). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
What ongoing fees does Subway charge?: The disclosed ongoing royalty is $8 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 36). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $5 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 36). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
Does Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?: No. The reviewed Subway FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
How many Subway locations are there?: The FDD reports 18,773 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 94). 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: $227,000 – $458,000 (Lower initial investment, non-traditional location); $263,000 – $458,000 (Lower initial investment, standard restaurant); several initial fee options apply.
2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.

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 2 single-unit formats

2026 FDD · Item 7

Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)

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

Lower initial investment, non-traditional locationPDF p. 51$227,000 – $458,000
Lower initial investment, standard restaurantPDF p. 51$263,000 – $458,000

Standard single-unit franchise fee

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29
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 feeMain ongoing fee

54 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?

No financial performance representation in Item 19

The reviewed 2026 FDD for Subway has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.

Outlet Changes — Item 20

How has the outlet count changed?

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

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 94

Net −1,360 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 ($227,000 – $458,000) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Subway reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
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?
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]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 29
[2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 94

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

Territory & operations

1,749 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

Loading…

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

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 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Pennsylvania transfers 2025
“2025 37”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Rhode Island transfers 2024
“2024 6”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Dakota transfers 2025
“2025 5”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Dakota transfers 2023
“2023 9”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Tennessee transfers 2024
“2024 14”
Note: This is a state-specific row, not a national/systemwide Total row, so it is outside the permitted Item 20 verification scope.
Item 20 · PDF p. 95 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Idaho transfers 2025
“2025 3”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Vermont transfers 2025
“2025 2”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Puerto Rico transfers 2023
“2023 15”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 98 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 West Virginia transfers 2023
“2023 18”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Virginia transfers 2025
“2025 37”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Virginia transfers 2023
“2023 83”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Pennsylvania transfers 2024
“2024 44”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oregon transfers 2025
“2025 9”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 95 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Illinois transfers 2024
“2024 70”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Utah transfers 2025
“2025 3”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 96 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 New Jersey transfers 2025
“2025 8”
Note: This Item 20 entry is state-specific or is a state-specific transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Washington transfers 2023
“2023 48”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Pennsylvania transfers 2023
“2023 46”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Vermont transfers 2024
“2024 2”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 95 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Illinois transfers 2023
“2023 70”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Washington transfers 2025
“2025 30”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Utah transfers 2023
“2023 19”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Virginia transfers 2024
“2024 42”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 96 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Missouri transfers 2023
“2023 22”
Note: This Item 20 claim is state-specific; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Utah transfers 2024
“2024 14”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Washington transfers 2024
“2024 40”
Note: This Item 20 claim is a state-specific outlet or transfer entry; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Carolina transfers 2024
“2024 35”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Puerto Rico transfers 2025
“2025 7”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Carolina transfers 2023
“2023 28”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Carolina transfers 2025
“2025 41”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Rhode Island transfers 2023
“2023 1”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Puerto Rico transfers 2024
“2024 9”
Note: This Item 20 claim identifies an individual state’s outlet count or transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 96 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 North Dakota transfers 2023
“2023 6”
Note: This Item 20 entry is state-specific or is a state-specific transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 96 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 New Mexico transfers 2023
“2023 7”
Note: This Item 20 entry is state-specific or is a state-specific transfer count; the permitted review scope is national/systemwide Total rows only.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Ohio transfers 2023
“2023 67”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 96 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 North Dakota transfers 2025
“2025 1”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Ohio transfers 2024
“2024 75”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oklahoma transfers 2024
“2024 24”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Tennessee transfers 2023
“2023 40”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Ohio transfers 2025
“2025 93”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oregon transfers 2024
“2024 10”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 South Dakota transfers 2024
“2024 9”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oregon transfers 2023
“2023 26”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oklahoma transfers 2023
“2023 7”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Oklahoma transfers 2025
“2025 20”
Note: The full cited page confirms this state-level Item 20 figure, but the review scope allows verification only from national/systemwide Total rows.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Texas transfers 2025
“2025 86”
Note: This is a state-specific row, not a national/systemwide Total row, so it is outside the permitted Item 20 verification scope.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Texas transfers 2024
“2024 156”
Note: This is a state-specific row, not a national/systemwide Total row, so it is outside the permitted Item 20 verification scope.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Texas transfers 2023
“2023 208”
Note: This is a state-specific row, not a national/systemwide Total row, so it is outside the permitted Item 20 verification scope.
Item 20 · PDF p. 97 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Table 2 Tennessee transfers 2025
“2025 28”
Note: This is a state-specific row, not a national/systemwide Total row, so it is outside the permitted Item 20 verification scope.

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

Subway

Headline figures

Quick facts

What the disclosures show

What does it cost to open?

Startup Investment — Item 7

Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)

Ongoing Fees — Item 6

What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

How has the outlet count changed?

Questions to investigate

For the franchisor

For current and former owners

For your advisors

Sources & vintage history

Citations (2026 FDD)

Territory & operations

Legal & agreement

Franchisor financial statements

SBA-backed loans to franchisees

Related research

Head-to-head comparisons

At a glance

Reader notes on wording