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Firehouse Subs Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Firehouse Subs is a sandwich franchise that offers a variety of hearty, made-to-order subs and sandwiches, featuring high-quality meats and cheeses, providing a satisfying and flavorful dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

1249
+
7%
7%
Franchise fee

?

$20,000
Investment

?

$405,000 - $1,578,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$948,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Sign up

Firehouse Subs is a well-known American restaurant chain established by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, who are former firefighters. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Firehouse Subs is famous for its extensive variety of hot submarine sandwiches and its firefighting-themed decor.

Shortly after its inception, Firehouse Subs began franchising, using the founders' unique background to create a distinctive brand in the fast-casual dining sector. The chain offers a range of salads, sides, and beverages alongside its signature subs.

Want to know what Firehouse Subs franchise owners actually earn? See the full income analysis, break-even timeline, and owner salary breakdown at SharpSheets → Firehouse Subs Franchise Owner Income.

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Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Firehouse Subs franchise is $405,000 - $1,578,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Firehouse Subs provides three eligible standalone restaurant formats in Item 7: Inline, Inline End Cap with Drive Thru, and Free-standing with Drive Thru.

Restaurant Format Initial Investment Range
Inline $405,350 - $875,950
Inline End Cap with Drive Thru $528,159 - $1,087,050
Free-standing with Drive Thru $767,950 - $1,577,750

The following table presents the estimated expenditures for the Inline format.

For further details concerning the listed costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Background Check Fee $0 - $450
Initial Franchise Fee $20,000 - $20,000
Mural $3,500 - $6,000
Training $7,000 - $26,000
Market Introduction Fee $5,000 - $5,000
Real Estate
Architectural & Engineering Fees $11,000 - $20,000
POS System/Technology $5,000 - $7,500
Real Property Improvements $0 - $10,000
Leasehold Improvements $210,000 - $459,000
Deposits and Prepaid Expenses $2,500 - $21,500
Exterior Signs $4,500 - $21,900
Interior Branding & Graphics $7,000 - $16,000
Equipment and Fixtures $105,000 - $169,000
Opening Inventory $12,000 - $25,000
Business Licenses $650 - $14,900
Insurance $500 - $1,500
MIS System Fee $1,200 - $1,200
Legal, Accounting and Professional Fees $500 - $6,000
Additional Funds (Working Capital – 3 months) $10,000 - $45,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment $405,350 - $875,950

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Firehouse Subs provides three eligible standalone restaurant formats in Item 7: Inline, Inline End Cap with Drive Thru, and Free-standing with Drive Thru.

Restaurant Format Initial Investment Range
Inline $405,350 - $875,950
Inline End Cap with Drive Thru $528,159 - $1,087,050
Free-standing with Drive Thru $767,950 - $1,577,750

The following table presents the estimated expenditures for the Inline format.

For further details concerning the listed costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Background Check Fee $0 - $450
Initial Franchise Fee $20,000 - $20,000
Mural $3,500 - $6,000
Training $7,000 - $26,000
Market Introduction Fee $5,000 - $5,000
Real Estate
Architectural & Engineering Fees $11,000 - $20,000
POS System/Technology $5,000 - $7,500
Real Property Improvements $0 - $10,000
Leasehold Improvements $210,000 - $459,000
Deposits and Prepaid Expenses $2,500 - $21,500
Exterior Signs $4,500 - $21,900
Interior Branding & Graphics $7,000 - $16,000
Equipment and Fixtures $105,000 - $169,000
Opening Inventory $12,000 - $25,000
Business Licenses $650 - $14,900
Insurance $500 - $1,500
MIS System Fee $1,200 - $1,200
Legal, Accounting and Professional Fees $500 - $6,000
Additional Funds (Working Capital – 3 months) $10,000 - $45,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment $405,350 - $875,950

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Firehouse Subs's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

Firehouse Subs had 1291 total units in 2026, of which 1249 were franchised-owned and 42 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Firehouse Subs

key competitors in the

Sandwich

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

1249

New
+
7%
7%

6.00%

$405,000

-

$1,578,000

$948,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

9.9%

xx%

n.a.

Training 

Firehouse Subs provides an extensive training program to ensure franchisees have the skills and knowledge needed for effective operation. Here's an overview of their training process:

Before the restaurant opens, the franchisee, their Managing Owner, and an additional employee or owner participate in Firehouse Subs' initial training program.

The training program lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. The first 6-7 weeks are held at one of Firehouse Subs' Training Restaurants or another designated location. The final week of classroom training is conducted virtually through Fire Academy and online meetings.

The comprehensive training program includes:

  • Skills Training Modules: 144 hours of on-the-job training.
  • Administration Training: 96 hours of hands-on training.
  • Management Operations and Leadership Training: 96 hours of practical training.
  • Franchisee Classroom Sessions: 24 hours of virtual classroom sessions.

Territory Protection

You will not be granted an exclusive territory with Firehouse Subs. This means you may encounter competition from other franchisees, Firehouse Subs-owned outlets, or other distribution channels and competitive brands managed by Firehouse Subs.

If you operate a Concession Shop, you must submit all intended locations for Firehouse Subs' written approval in advance.

Generally, Firehouse Subs will not approve the operation of a Concession Shop within two miles of an established permanent Full Shop location. The Franchise Agreement authorizes you to manufacture and sell Approved Products at retail exclusively from the specific Shop location that Firehouse Subs has accepted.

Competitors

Below are some of Firehouse Subs's key competitors in the Sandwich sector.

Supreme Deli

Franchisees

?

24
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$21,000 - $229,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Frank & Furter's

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$351,000 - $875,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$642,000

Abu Omar Halal

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$267,000 - $1,169,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Extreme Pita

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$186,000 - $513,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Sub-Ology

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$285,000 - $443,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Miller's Famous Sandwiches

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$336,000 - $691,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

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