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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Fat Shack vs Firehouse Subs

    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.

    Fat Shack2026 FDDFirehouse Subs2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Fat Shack

    $183,250 – $487,600

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18

    Firehouse Subs

    $405,350 – $1,577,750

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Fat Shack

    $35,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Firehouse Subs

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 24

    Royalty · Item 6

    Fat Shack

    6% · percent of Gross Sales

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Firehouse Subs

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Firehouse Subs discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Fat Shack: 2, Firehouse Subs: 11). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Fat Shack

    $183,250 – $487,600
    TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18

    Firehouse Subs

    $405,350 – $1,577,750
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Fat Shack

    $35,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Firehouse Subs

    $20,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 24
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Fat Shack

    6% · percent of Gross Sales
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Firehouse Subs

    6%
    Royalty rate: 6% of Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Fat Shack

    1.5% of gross sales
    Marketing and Promotion Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Firehouse Subs

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Fat Shack

    31
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 48

    Firehouse Subs

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Fat Shack

    +1
    Calculated: 30 at end of 2023 → 31 at end of 2025

    Firehouse Subs

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Fat Shack

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Firehouse Subs

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Fat Shack

    2015
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 11

    Firehouse Subs

    1995
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Fat Shack

    2013
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9

    Firehouse Subs

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Fat Shack
    Franchised (24 locations) — revenue
    $614,309
    median Annual Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 46
    Company-owned (2 locations) — revenue
    $620,432
    mean annual Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 46
    Firehouse Subs
    Franchised (1,033 locations) — other measures
    $154,410
    other Counter Service
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Franchised (704 locations) — EBITDA and revenue and other measures and costs
    $103,119
    other EBITDA, All
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 76
    Franchised (35 locations) — other measures — 35 franchised Free Standing Restaurants with a Drive Thru continuously operated…
    $1,054,318
    other Free-Standing w/Drive Thru
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 74
    +8 more groups in the full report

    Item 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.

    Fat Shack vs Firehouse Subs: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Fat Shack or Firehouse Subs?
    Fat Shack: $183,250 – $487,600 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18); Firehouse Subs: $405,350 – $1,577,750 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Fat Shack. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Fat Shack and Firehouse Subs royalties compare?
    Fat Shack: 6% · percent of Gross Sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); Firehouse Subs: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Fat Shack and Firehouse Subs disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Fat Shack has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups; Firehouse Subs has reviewed Item 19 figures for 11 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Fat Shack report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Firehouse Subs report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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