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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop vs Wingstop

    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.

    PSPotbelly Sandwich Shop2025 FDDWingstop2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    $654,019 – $1,274,099

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 26

    Wingstop

    $310,400 – $1,048,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    $40,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    Wingstop

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13

    Royalty · Item 6

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    6%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Wingstop

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Before you compare

    • Potbelly Sandwich Shop figures come from its 2025 FDD and Wingstop figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Only Wingstop has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    $654,019 – $1,274,099
    Estimated initial investment
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 26

    Wingstop

    $310,400 – $1,048,500
    Total initial investment, excluding real estate
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    $40,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    Wingstop

    $25,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    6%
    Royalty
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Wingstop

    6%
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    4%
    Brand fund maximum contribution — 4%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Wingstop

    $5,000
    Transfer marketing expenditure
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    441
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71

    Wingstop

    2,586
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 67
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    +12
    Calculated: 429 at end of 2022 → 441 at end of 2024

    Wingstop

    +660
    Calculated: 1,926 at end of 2023 → 2,586 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Wingstop

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

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Wingstop

    1997
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Potbelly Sandwich Shop

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Wingstop

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    PSPotbelly Sandwich Shop

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    Wingstop
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Wingstop Restaurants in the U.S. open entire 2025 Measured Period, franchis…
    55 restaurants
    other Systemwide WRI-owned count
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 65
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — WRI-owned Wingstop Restaurants open entire 2025 Measured Period
    $4,038,428
    other WRI-owned highest annual net sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Wingstop Restaurants open entire 2025 Measured Period
    $1,890,866
    other Franchised median annual net sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 65
    +2 more groups in the full report

    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 Wingstop: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Potbelly Sandwich Shop or Wingstop?
    Potbelly Sandwich Shop: $654,019 – $1,274,099 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 26); Wingstop: $310,400 – $1,048,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Wingstop. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Wingstop royalties compare?
    Potbelly Sandwich Shop: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Wingstop: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Potbelly Sandwich Shop or Wingstop?
    Potbelly Sandwich Shop: 441 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); Wingstop: 2,586 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 67). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Wingstop disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Potbelly Sandwich Shop has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; Wingstop has reviewed Item 19 figures for 5 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    PS

    Full Potbelly Sandwich Shop report

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

    Full Wingstop report

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

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