Franchise opportunities compared
Square Cow vs Subcontain
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
Square Cow
$167,250
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21Subcontain
$266,900 – $969,500
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Square Cow
$59,500
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12Subcontain
$59,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10Royalty · Item 6
Square Cow
7%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13Subcontain
12%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11Before you compare
- Square Cow figures come from its 2025 FDD and Subcontain figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
- Only Square Cow has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
SubcontainSquare Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
System scale & health
SubcontainSquare Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Square Cow
Subcontain
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
SubcontainNot 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.
Square Cow vs Subcontain: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Square Cow or Subcontain?
- Square Cow: $167,250 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21); Subcontain: $266,900 – $969,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Square Cow. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Square Cow and Subcontain royalties compare?
- Square Cow: 7% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13); Subcontain: 12% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Do Square Cow and Subcontain disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Square Cow has reviewed Item 19 figures for 9 location groups; Subcontain 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 Square Cow report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Subcontain report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
