Firehouse Subs^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2025

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What Is Firehouse Subs?

Firehouse Subs is a sandwich restaurant franchise specializing in large-portion hot submarine-style sandwiches served in a fire-fighting themed atmosphere. Primary service channels include on-site consumption, carry-out, delivery, and catering, with catering identified as a significant revenue stream.

Firehouse Subs Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor's strong operator prep-a perfect 100 training-and-support score and 368 initial training hours-means new owners receive extensive support, but there are notable legal risks: seven disclosed lawsuits, including four alleging fraud, which warrants close review before investing and may signal recurring franchisor-franchisee conflict and financial exposure.

Pros

The 100 training-and-support score (well above typical for ALL) combined with 368 initial training hours (well above typical for Food & Beverage) shows the franchisor invests heavily in preparing new operators, which reduces startup mistakes and speeds your path to operational competence.

Outlet terminations: 0 (well below typical for Food & Beverage) - no formal terminations indicates past operators are, on balance, maintaining their businesses rather than being forced out.

Num franchisor-initiated enforcement: 0, Franchisee-initiated judgments: 0, Franchisee-initiated settlements: 0, and Govt agency penalties: 0 (all well below typical) - there’s minimal formal enforcement or regulatory action on record, which points to relatively cooperative franchisor–franchisee dynamics.

Cons

Item 7 Training Max: $25,000 (well above typical for ALL) - this high maximum training cost increases the upfront cash you’ll need before opening and raises your initial investment burden.

Reacquired outlets: 14 (well above typical) and Outlet non-renewals: 9 (well above typical) - a high number of reacquisitions and non-renewals indicates operator turnover and that some franchisees are exiting the system.

Total lawsuits disclosed: 7 (well above typical) including Num cases alleging fraud: 4 (well above typical) - an unusually high number of lawsuits, especially fraud allegations, signals recurring legal friction you should investigate further.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

82/100

NORMAL

Firehouse Subs. The Facts: FRG faces ongoing trademark challenges - a TTAB opposition alleges fraud, lack of commercial use, and tarnishment of "FIREHOUSE SUBS" applications; proceedings are pending and FRG plans to move to dismiss. The Advice: Review Item 1 trademark ownership/registrations, franchise IP licenses and post-termination use rights, and monitor TTAB and court dockets.

Territory Protection

35/100

NORMAL

Firehouse Subs grants a protected, site-specific trade area (generally a 1-mile radius) for each franchised restaurant but does not provide broader exclusivity; rights are contingent on meeting development/performance quotas. The franchisor retains the right to develop nearby units, increase market density, and sell via e-commerce and other alternative channels.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

Firehouse Subs provides an extensive 368-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses, and on-site support carries additional costs.

Franchisee Stability

84/100

Good

Firehouse Subs earns a Good Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 2.12% is well below the typical Food & Beverage franchise (around 5%). Across the three reported years, there were 73 total exits; ceased operations dominated with 52, alongside 18 non-renewals, 3 franchisor buybacks, and no terminations, and this occurred among about 1,170 franchised outlets in the most recent year.

The dominance of ceased operations suggests location-level economics drove many exits, meaning operators chose to close underperforming units rather than the franchisor enforcing departures. Investigate lease terms, local demographics, and unit-level profitability where closures clustered to understand whether sites struggled for market reasons or operational execution. Beyond its industry-relative position, a 2.12% three-year turnover rate is genuinely exceptional in absolute terms across all of franchising. For prospective franchisees, examine unit-level economics in the geographies where closures have concentrated.

Unit Growth Analysis

Firehouse Subs is up about 96 net units since 2021-roughly 3.2% annual growth-so the system is growing steadily but is firmly in mature-enterprise territory. This reads like a Sleepy Giant: you’re buying into a stable, lower-risk brand with predictable support and thin runway for big unit gains, so expect competition for the best locations, likely premium pricing for available territories, and a business that pays out as an owner-operated cash flow play rather than a rapid expansion opportunity.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Firehouse Subs Franchise?

Opening a Firehouse Subs franchise requires a total initial investment of $378,650 to $1,037,100, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$378,650

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$1,037,100

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$20,000

Real Estate$200,000

Equipment & Assets$130,200

Reserves$10,000

Training$6,000

Other$12,450

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$20,000

Real Estate$455,000

Equipment & Assets$204,500

Reserves$45,000

Training$25,000

Other$287,600

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Firehouse Subs Franchise Owners Make?

Firehouse Subs franchise locations reported average gross sales of $964,457 and median gross sales of $926,456 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$964,457

Median Gross Sales:

$926,456

High Gross Sales:

$3,469,050

Low Gross Sales:

$170,513

Sample Size:

1022

Percent Attaining Average:

44.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Franchised Traditional Development restaurants show an average annual sales volume of 964,457 in 2024 with restaurant-level EBITDA averaging 90,821 for the P&L sample, indicating franchised outlets generate meaningful operating profit before non-cash and above-restaurant costs.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability across franchised Traditional Development units (low of 170,513 to a high of 3,469,050), and only 44% of the 1,022-sample met or exceeded the average, signaling wide dispersion in outcomes driven by location and operator factors.

Data Scope and Limitations: The sales figures are for fiscal 2024 and based on franchised reporting; expense/P&L detail is from a smaller subset (665 restaurants) and EBITDA is reported instead of consolidated net income, so individual results may differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Firehouse Subs a good franchise to own?

Whether Firehouse Subs is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: Firehouse Subs operates 1248 locations, received a legal risk score of 82/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Firehouse Subs franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Firehouse Subs franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $378,650 to $1,037,100. Firehouse Subs disclosed average gross sales of $964,457 in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of Firehouse Subs franchises?

In the 2025 FDD, Firehouse Subs reported 0 terminated franchises and 9 non-renewals out of 1248 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

How long does it take to break even with a Firehouse Subs franchise?

Break-even timelines for Firehouse Subs franchises are not disclosed in the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Firehouse Subs a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, Firehouse Subs operates 1206 franchised locations and 42 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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