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    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe 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.

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe2026 FDDSubway2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $646,000 – $1,112,750

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Subway

    $227,000 – $458,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $35,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Subway

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29

    Royalty · Item 6

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Subway

    8%

    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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $646,000 – $1,112,750
    Total initial investment for one Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe — low estimate
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Subway

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

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    $35,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Subway

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

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    6%
    Royalty percentage of gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Subway

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

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    3%
    Advertising fee percentage of gross sales — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Subway

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

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    35
    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)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    +6
    Calculated: 29 at end of 2023 → 35 at end of 2025

    Subway

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

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Subway

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

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    2008
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Subway

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Subway

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe
    Franchised (8 locations) — other measures — Quartile2 of31full-yearfranchises
    $1,456,404
    other Quartile2
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    Franchised (31 locations) — other measures and revenue
    $1,447,902
    other Table1 Average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    Franchised (27 locations) — other measures and revenue
    $1,435,041
    other Table2 Average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 36
    +13 more groups in the full report
    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.

    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe vs Subway: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe or Subway?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: $646,000 – $1,112,750 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15); 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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe and Subway royalties compare?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12); 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, Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe or Subway?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe: 35 (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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe and Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 16 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 Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe 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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