Chick-fil-A vs Subway
Compare published costs, candidate requirements and operating commitments.
All amounts are USD. Read the restaurant format, sales basis and exclusions beside each figure. Missing information means the reviewed sources did not establish a comparable amount.
Availability and operating model
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A selects full-time restaurant Operators. Meeting the published minimum requirements does not guarantee selection.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Chick-fil-A US franchise requirementsSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Operating commitment
Full-time daily operation; divest other non-passive businesses. The initial fee must come from non-gifted, non-borrowed funds.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Chick-fil-A US franchise requirementsSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Subway
Subway is seeking multi-unit applicants and buyers interested in acquiring at least five existing restaurants.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Subway US franchise FAQSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Web page references the FDD without giving its issue year.
Operating commitment
Restaurant, business or franchising experience is preferred for the applicant or an equity partner; a three-week training program is required.
United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor
- Subway US franchise FAQSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Web page references the FDD without giving its issue year.
Published financial requirements
These figures describe different transactions and obligations. Initial fees, separate development fees and liquid-capital requirements are distinct; they are not added together here as a total project budget.
| Requirement | Chick-fil-A | Subway |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment / development estimate | Not comparable for this model United States The Operator fee is not a restaurant-development estimate; the reviewed page does not provide a comparable total investment range.
| $199,135–$536,745 US restaurant estimate; building size, configuration and location vary
|
| Initial franchise fee | $10,000 US Operator initial franchise fee This fee is not the total cost to develop a restaurant.
| $15,000 US; per restaurant
|
| Separate development fee | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
|
| Liquid capital / personal funds | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| $100,000 US; minimum per location Higher requirements may apply by territory.
|
| Net worth | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| $150,000 US; minimum per location Higher requirements may apply by territory.
|
| Royalty / service fee | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| 8% Percentage of gross sales
|
| Advertising / marketing contribution | Not verified in reviewed sources United States No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
| 4.5% Percentage of gross sales
|
Sources and review limits
The check date records when a source was reviewed. It is not the source publication date or the issue date of an FDD. Official web summaries that refer to an FDD are identified as summaries.
Chick-fil-A
- Chick-fil-A US franchise requirementsSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).
Subway
- Subway US franchise FAQSource checked (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Web page references the FDD without giving its issue year.
Build a scenario from your own assumptions
These requirements do not establish restaurant sales or owner earnings. Use a budget for the actual format and transaction, and enter your own operating assumptions in the calculator.
Open the franchise scenario calculatorFollow QSR news and operator insights
QSR Intelligence Briefing
Weekly insights on the QSR industry. No spam, just intelligence.