Franchise opportunities compared
Potbelly Sandwich Shop 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.
Initial investment · Item 7
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
$654,019 – $1,274,099
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 26Subway
$227,000 – $458,000
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
$40,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Subway
$15,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 29Royalty · Item 6
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
6%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17Subway
8%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 36Before you compare
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop 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 neither brand has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
SubwayPotbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
System scale & health
SubwayPotbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Subway
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
No reviewed Item 19 figures
SubwayNot 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.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop vs Subway: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Potbelly Sandwich Shop or Subway?
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: $654,019 – $1,274,099 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 26); 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 Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Subway royalties compare?
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: 6% (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, Potbelly Sandwich Shop or Subway?
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: 441 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); Subway: 18,773 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 95). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Subway disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; 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.
Keep researching
Full Potbelly Sandwich Shop 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
