- Subway is one of the cheapest restaurants to franchise.
- The company charges a $15,000 franchise fee, and startup costs range from $116,000 to $263,000.
- By comparison, McDonald’s charges a franchise fee of $45,000, and startup expenses can cost up to $2.2 million.
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Subway is one of the cheapest major fast-food restaurants to franchise.
Subway’s fee for becoming a franchisee is $15,000, and startup costs, which include construction and equipment leasing expenses, range from $116,000 to $263,000, according to the company.
Opening a McDonald’s restaurant requires as much as $2.2 million in startup costs alone, by comparison, and the company charges a $45,000 franchise fee.
But Subway restaurants generate less revenue than McDonald’s units.
A Subway restaurant, on average, generates $417,000 in sales annually, compared to $2.7 million in average annual revenue for McDonald's restaurants, according to QSR magazine.
Subway also charges its franchisees hefty ongoing fees.
The company charges franchisees a weekly fee of 12.5% of gross sales minus the sales tax. The company says 8% goes toward the franchise royalties and 4.5% goes towards advertising.
Here's a breakdown of some of the costs for setting up a Subway restaurant and operating it for three months, according to the company:
- Initial franchise fee: $15,000
- Real property costs: $2,000 to $24,000
- Leasehold improvements: $12,000 to $143,000
- Equipment: $3,000 to $65,000
- Security system (not including monitoring costs):$1,000 to $7,500
- Outside signs: $1,200 to $21,000
- Opening inventory: $2,500 to $10,000
- Insurance: $400 to $4,000
- Training expenses (including travel and lodging): $2,000 to $7,000
- Legal and accounting: $400 to $8,000
- Opening advertisement: $1,000 to $6,000
- Miscellaneous expenses: $1,600 to $20,000