Franchise opportunities compared
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen vs Potbelly Sandwich Works
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
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
$504,545 – $3,923,245
2026 FDD · Item 7Potbelly Sandwich Works
$628,938 – $999,371
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
$50,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 25Potbelly Sandwich Works
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29Potbelly Sandwich Works
$50
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen 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 (Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 65, Potbelly Sandwich Works: 55). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich WorksPopeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
System scale & health
Popeyes Louisiana KitchenPotbelly Sandwich WorksPopeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Popeyes Louisiana KitchenPotbelly Sandwich WorksItem 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.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen vs Potbelly Sandwich Works: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen or Potbelly Sandwich Works?
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $504,545 – $3,923,245 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Potbelly Sandwich Works: $628,938 – $999,371 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Potbelly Sandwich Works royalties compare?
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29); Potbelly Sandwich Works: $50 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen or Potbelly Sandwich Works?
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3,177 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 104); Potbelly Sandwich Works: 470 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Potbelly Sandwich Works disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has reviewed Item 19 figures for 65 location groups; Potbelly Sandwich Works has reviewed Item 19 figures for 55 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 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Potbelly Sandwich Works report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
