Franchise opportunities compared
A Sub Above vs Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
A Sub Above
$436,176 – $1,162,228
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 1Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
$646,000 – $1,112,750
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15Initial franchise fee · Item 5
A Sub Above
$20,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
$35,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Royalty · Item 6
A Sub Above
6.5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (A Sub Above: 1, Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 16). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Pickleman’s Gourmet CafeA Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
System scale & health
Pickleman’s Gourmet CafeA Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
A Sub Above
Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Pickleman’s Gourmet CafeItem 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
A Sub Above vs Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: common questions
- Which costs less to open, A Sub Above or Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe?
- A Sub Above: $436,176 – $1,162,228 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 1); Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: $646,000 – $1,112,750 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for A Sub Above. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do A Sub Above and Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe royalties compare?
- A Sub Above: 6.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, A Sub Above or Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe?
- A Sub Above: 3,227 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59); Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 35 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do A Sub Above and Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- A Sub Above has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 16 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full A Sub Above report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
