- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#79 Not ranked last year
- Initial investment
-
$200K - $1M
- Units as of 2023
-
1,280 8.8% over 3 years
For over 25 years, Firehouse Subs has striven to combine the love of food and doing good for the community. A portion of all Firehouse Subs sales goes to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. With over 1,000 U.S. franchises, Firehouse Subs is an identifiable brand, and each restaurant is decorated with authentic firefighter equipment. Its food may be just as memorable as the decor. They unlock their meats and cheeses' flavors by steaming them and loading them high on a toasted, secret-recipe sub roll.
As a franchisee, you'll be part of a franchise that helps you grow as an established brand. In return, they ask that you strive for excellence, devote yourself to the business, think of your community, motivate yourself and your team, and love to eat tasty subs.
Why You May Want to Start a Firehouse Subs Franchise
Firehouse Subs is a turnkey franchise that allows you to franchise multiple units in your local market. Besides the potential growth, its community service effort may be a reward in itself. When you start a Firehouse Subs franchise, you will be part of a franchise that has raised a large amount of money to improve the life-saving capabilities of first responders.
With a commitment to flavorful food, quality service, and public safety, Firehouse Subs is a sandwich shop inspired by a family's entrepreneurial spirit and decades of fire and police service.
Once you've established your location, you will likely receive ongoing support from your area representative and Firehouse Subs’ advertising team. Together, they will work to help you create one of the best marketing campaigns for your area. You will also likely have opportunities to network with other franchisees in your local market.
What Might Make a Firehouse Subs Franchise a Good Choice?
Many times in the past two decades, Firehouse Subs has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.
To be part of the Firehouse Subs team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees, including advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.
How to Open a Firehouse Subs Franchise
To get started with the process of opening a Firehouse Subs franchise, fill out an inquiry form, and a representative may be in touch with you.
After speaking with a Firehouse Subs franchise representative and filling out a confidential online application, you can download the Firehouse Subs’ Franchise Disclosure Document. Your application is sent to an area representative for review. Should they approve your application, that area representative may serve as your representative for the remainder of your tenure with the brand.
For the training, candidates must attend a discovery session at company headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. The franchise will conduct a credit and background check, and if everything looks good, they will issue you a franchise agreement. Your area representative will work with you to find the perfect location for your shop.
The next thing you know, you'll be serving subs to your local community.
Company Overview
About Firehouse Subs
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Submarine Sandwiches, Sandwiches |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Parent Company | Restaurant Brands Int'l. (RBI) |
| Leadership | Mike Hancock, President |
| Corporate Address |
12735 Gran Bay Pkwy., #150 Jacksonville, FL 32258 |
| Social | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 1995 (29 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 150 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada |
| # of Units | 1,280 (as of 2023) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Firehouse Subs franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$20,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$200,132 - $1,013,099 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$300,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$150,000 |
|
Veteran Incentives
|
10% off first-unit franchise fee |
|
Royalty Fee
|
6% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
5% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Firehouse Subs has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 336 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 32 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 15-20 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Firehouse Subs landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Firehouse Subs ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Firehouse Subs.
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
Capitalize On Diverse Revenue Streams with a Poolwerx Franchise!
With an investment that starts at only $135,000, Poolwerx franchisees have multiple revenue streams which include pool maintenance, cleaning and servicing for residential and commercial, swimming pool equipment sales and repairs, and retail sales.
20 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Chick-fil-A
The first-ever Chick-fil-A opened in 1967 in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall. A chicken sandwich sold for 59 cents and the restaurant was only 384 square feet — roughly the size of a two-car garage.
A D.C. Federal Court Declined to Rule on a Challenge to the Joint Employer Rule. Here's What This Update Means for the Franchise Industry.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has postponed hearing a case on the National Labor Relations Board's expanded Joint Employer Rule. The court will wait for a Texas federal court to rule first.
Want to Own a Franchise in the Billion-Dollar eSports Industry? Here's How.
Learn how to get involved in the exciting and lucrative eSports community. XP League is the premier coach-led youth esports league and first-to-market youth esports franchise in North America with 50+ locations spanning across the US and Canada.
Location Matters — How to Select the Right Place For Your Business to Succeed
An inferior location may be less expensive in the short term, but will cost more in marketing costs and when it's time to sell. Franchisors offer real estate knowledge and relationships to help their franchisees get the best possible location at the best possible price, giving them the best possible start.
Put Your Design Skills to Work with a Decorating Den Interiors Franchise
Discover the top benefits of owning a Decorating Den Interiors franchise, from extensive supplier access and supportive community to low overhead costs, perfect for creative entrepreneurs.