One of the lowest-cost entries among major QSR brands, with a very large global footprint. Royalty and ad fees are on the high side for the category.
The estimated total initial investment for a Subway franchise is $230K–$520K, which includes an initial franchise fee of approximately $15K. Ongoing royalties are 8% of gross sales, typically alongside a brand or advertising fund contribution. The system counts roughly 37,000 locations.
Within the Food & Beverage category of the FranchiseCo Index, Subway's entry cost places it in the entry ($75K–$250K) tier. Use the Franchise Index to compare it against every other brand in the category, or run the Affordability Calculator to see whether it fits your budget before you go further.
Request the current Franchise Disclosure Document and verify Items 5, 6, and 7 against the estimates above — figures change with every annual FDD renewal. Our guide How to Read an FDD covers the seven items that decide deals, and Franchise Costs Explained covers the costs that don't appear in brochures. The franchisor's official site is subway.com.