Franchise opportunities compared

    Potbelly Sandwich Works vs Protein Bar and Kitchen

    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 Works

    $628,938 – $999,371

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    $369,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    Not available

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    $50

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    $1,000 the “Royalty”) will be — 1000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Potbelly Sandwich Works: 55, Protein Bar and Kitchen: 1). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    $628,938 – $999,371
    Potbelly shop — Total initial investment: $628,938 $999,371
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    $369,500
    0 - $ 25 ,000 As arranged As incurred Unaffiliated Vendors TOTAL ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT : — 369500
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    $50
    000, (2) temporarily reduce the Royalty percentage payable for that Potbelly Shop by — 50%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    $1,000 the “Royalty”) will be — 1000
    temporarily close your Business without our consent , your royalty fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    3%
    ype of fee 1 Column 2 Amount Column 3 Due Date Column 4 Remarks Brand Fund Currently — 3% — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    2%
    iencies and are compliant with all terms of the Franchise A greement. Brand Fund Contribution 4 — 2 — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    470
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    3
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    +45
    Calculated: 425 at end of 2023 → 470 at end of 2025

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    +2
    Calculated: 1 at end of 2023 → 3 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

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

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    2009
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

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

    Potbelly Sandwich Works

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Protein Bar and Kitchen

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Potbelly Sandwich Works
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Systemwide franchised+affiliate — Suburban
    270 shops
    other Systemwide franchised+affiliate 2025 Suburban
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Systemwide franchised+affiliate — Urban
    54 shops
    other Systemwide franchised+affiliate 2025 Urban
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Systemwide franchised+affiliate — All Shops
    415 shops
    other Systemwide franchised+affiliate 2024 All Shops
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 73
    +52 more groups in the full report
    Protein Bar and Kitchen
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    27.7 percent
    other COGS
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54

    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 Works vs Protein Bar and Kitchen: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Potbelly Sandwich Works or Protein Bar and Kitchen?
    Potbelly Sandwich Works: $628,938 – $999,371 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27); Protein Bar and Kitchen: $369,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Protein Bar and Kitchen. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Potbelly Sandwich Works and Protein Bar and Kitchen royalties compare?
    Potbelly Sandwich Works: $50 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Protein Bar and Kitchen: $1,000 the “Royalty”) will be — 1000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Potbelly Sandwich Works or Protein Bar and Kitchen?
    Potbelly Sandwich Works: 470 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75); Protein Bar and Kitchen: 3 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Potbelly Sandwich Works and Protein Bar and Kitchen disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Potbelly Sandwich Works has reviewed Item 19 figures for 55 location groups; Protein Bar and Kitchen has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. 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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