Franchise opportunities compared
Jimmy John's vs Papa John’s Pizza
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
Jimmy John's
$206,200 – $686,000
2026 FDD · Item 7Papa John’s Pizza
$125,000 – $890,267
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Jimmy John's
Not available
Papa John’s Pizza
$5,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Royalty · Item 6
Jimmy John's
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 35Papa John’s Pizza
5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Jimmy John's and Papa John’s Pizza disclose 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 (Jimmy John's: 8, Papa John’s Pizza: 15). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s PizzaJimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
System scale & health
Jimmy John'sPapa John’s PizzaJimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Jimmy John's
Papa John’s Pizza
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Jimmy John'sPapa John’s PizzaItem 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.
Jimmy John's vs Papa John’s Pizza: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Jimmy John's or Papa John’s Pizza?
- Jimmy John's: $206,200 – $686,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Papa John’s Pizza: $125,000 – $890,267 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Papa John’s Pizza. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Jimmy John's and Papa John’s Pizza royalties compare?
- Jimmy John's: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 35); Papa John’s Pizza: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Jimmy John's or Papa John’s Pizza?
- Jimmy John's: 2,777 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81); Papa John’s Pizza: 3,291 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Jimmy John's and Papa John’s Pizza disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Jimmy John's has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 location groups; Papa John’s Pizza has reviewed Item 19 figures for 15 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 Jimmy John's report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Papa John’s Pizza report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
