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    Franchise opportunities compared

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue vs Subway

    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.

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue2025 FDDSubway2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    $252,450 – $838,460

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Subway

    $227,000 – $458,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    $35,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    Subway

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29

    Royalty · Item 6

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    1.5%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Subway

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36

    Before you compare

    • L & L Hawaiian Barbecue figures come from its 2025 FDD and Subway figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Subway discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only L & L Hawaiian Barbecue has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    $252,450 – $838,460
    Total estimated initial investment — range as disclosed
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Subway

    $227,000 – $458,000
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    $35,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    Subway

    $15,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29
    Royalty (Item 6)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    1.5%
    Royalty — Hawaii monthly
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Subway

    8%
    Royalty fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    1%
    National Brand Fund — West Coast monthly — 1%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Subway

    4.5%
    Advertising fee — 4.5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    229
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75

    Subway

    18,773
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 94
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    +15
    Calculated: 214 at end of 2022 → 229 at end of 2024

    Subway

    −1,360
    Calculated: 20,133 at end of 2023 → 18,773 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Subway

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

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Subway

    1974
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Subway

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Item 19 Restaurants
    29 percent
    other Percent of stores
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Item 19 Restaurants
    16 percent
    other Cumulative percent of stores
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Restaurants owned by individuals listed in Item 2
    43 percent
    other Percent of stores
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Subway

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    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.

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue vs Subway: common questions

    Which costs less to open, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue or Subway?
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue: $252,450 – $838,460 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27); Subway: $227,000 – $458,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Subway. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do L & L Hawaiian Barbecue and Subway royalties compare?
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue: 1.5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Subway: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue or Subway?
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue: 229 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75); Subway: 18,773 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 94). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do L & L Hawaiian Barbecue and Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups; Subway makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. 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 L & L Hawaiian Barbecue report

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

    Full Subway report

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

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