Which costs less to open, Nan Xiang Express or Subway?

Nan Xiang Express: $488,000 – $925,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16); 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 Nan Xiang Express and Subway royalties compare?

Nan Xiang Express: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); 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, Nan Xiang Express or Subway?

Nan Xiang Express: 10 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39); 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 Nan Xiang Express and Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

Nan Xiang Express makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Subway makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

Franchise opportunities compared

Nan Xiang Express 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.

Nan Xiang Express2026 FDD

Subway2026 FDD

Initial investment · Item 7

Nan Xiang Express

$488,000 – $925,500

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

Subway

$227,000 – $458,000

2026 FDD · Item 7

Initial franchise fee · Item 5

Nan Xiang Express

$60,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

Subway

$15,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29

Royalty · Item 6

Nan Xiang Express

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

Subway

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36

Before you compare

Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
Subway discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
Only neither brand has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

Financial commitment

Disclosure

Nan Xiang Express

Subway

Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

Nan Xiang Express

$488,000 – $925,500

Total Estimated Initial Investment (range)

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

Subway

$227,000 – $458,000

2026 FDD · Item 7

Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

Nan Xiang Express

$60,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

Subway

$15,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29

Royalty (Item 6)

Nan Xiang Express

Royalty

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

Subway

Royalty fee

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36

Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

Nan Xiang Express

$1,500

Brand Fund Contribution — first month

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

Subway

4.5%

Advertising fee — 4.5%

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36

System scale & health

Disclosure

Nan Xiang Express

Subway

Total outlets (Item 20)

Nan Xiang Express

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39

Subway

18,773

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 94

Net outlet change (Item 20)

Nan Xiang Express

Calculated: 4 at end of 2023 → 10 at end of 2025

Subway

−1,360

Calculated: 20,133 at end of 2023 → 18,773 at end of 2025

Outlet exits (Item 20)

Nan Xiang Express

Not available

No complete exit records for a year

Subway

Not available

No complete exit records for a year

Franchising since (Item 1)

Nan Xiang Express

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Subway

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Franchisor founded (Item 1)

Nan Xiang Express

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Subway

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

Nan Xiang Express

Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

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.

Nan Xiang Express vs Subway: common questions

Which costs less to open, Nan Xiang Express or Subway?: Nan Xiang Express: $488,000 – $925,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16); 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 Nan Xiang Express and Subway royalties compare?: Nan Xiang Express: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); 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, Nan Xiang Express or Subway?: Nan Xiang Express: 10 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39); 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 Nan Xiang Express and Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?: Nan Xiang Express makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; 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