Jimmy John's vs Subway
See which one brings in more, and what it costs to get there, read straight from the filings. Independent: no commissions, no franchisor revenue.
Jimmy John's lists an Item 7 opening range of $366,200 to $733,500, compared with $263,000 to $630,000 for Subway. Jimmy John's reports an Item 19 average of $1,007,437; Subway discloses no Item 19 earnings figure, a transparency contrast. Subway has the larger Item 20 system, 18,773 units versus 2,777 for Jimmy John's; Subway has fewer Item 3 actions, 1 versus 12 for Jimmy John's. Independent analysis, no commissions, no franchisor revenue.
One of These Numbers Decides Whether the Next Ten Years Work
Everything that decides it, side by side: cost to open, ongoing fees, what a location actually brings in, system size, and lawsuits on record, straight from each filing.
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Subway |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to openFDD Item 7 | $366,200 to $733,500 | $263,000 to $630,000 |
| Total ongoing feesFDD Item 6 | Variable fee model | 12.5% |
| Average unit revenueFDD Item 19 | $1,007,437 | Not disclosed |
| Median unit revenueFDD Item 19 | $955,639 | Not disclosed |
| System sizeFDD Item 20 | 2,777 | 18,773 |
| LitigationFDD Item 3 | 12 actions | 1 actions |
Item 19 reports historical gross revenue, not profit. It does not include your labor, rent, debt service, or owner pay.
Some Signals Are Real Strengths. Others Hinge on Your Deal
Five signals, scored the same way for both, so you see at a glance where a brand is a disclosed strength and where the number is only a starting point for your own deal.
| Signal | Jimmy John's | Subway |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Structure(Item 6) | ||
| Unit Economics(Item 19) | ||
| Litigation History(Item 3) | ||
| Operator Validation(Item 20) | ||
| Term & Exit Terms(Item 17) |
The Numbers Don't Tell You Which One to Buy.
The Read Does
What the cost range, the fee load, and the litigation record actually mean for your capital, and the questions to take into validation. That read is Zorzee Pro.
- The head-to-head read
- What the fee load actually costs
- What the litigation record signals
- The diligence questions to take to validation
- The Zorzee Report Pro every Tuesday, one franchise decoded each week
- The full Signal Tracker across the portal
- 10% off the Zorzee Files: FDD guides, DCF templates, and more
An Investment, a Job, or a Lemon?
Which one you get comes down to the operator behind the brand, your market, and how you'd run it. Telling those apart takes someone who's read hundreds of them, before it's your money on the line.
Four months of research and more confused than when you started?
You've seen the filings and the numbers. What none of it tells you is whether this is a business that fits your money and your life. That is what fifteen minutes with a Zorzee-approved independent Franchise Consultant is for: whether this brand belongs on your shortlist, and what to validate before it does. Working with one costs you nothing and carries no obligation. Your franchise fee is the same whether you use one or not.
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Every Number Names Its Source
Every figure traces to the exact FDD item behind it, laid out in full in each brand's dossier. We can show you all of it because no franchisor pays us to hide any of it. Open either one and see for yourself.
Questions Buyers Ask About Jimmy John's vs Subway
Short, sourced answers to what buyers actually search.
Does Jimmy John's or Subway cost more to open?
Subway costs less to open, $263,000 to $630,000 under Item 7, versus $366,200 to $733,500 for Jimmy John's.
Which makes more money, Jimmy John's or Subway?
Jimmy John's reports an Item 19 average of $1,007,437. Subway does not disclose Item 19, so a direct revenue comparison is not possible. Item 19 is gross sales, not profit.
Which has more litigation, Jimmy John's or Subway?
Jimmy John's discloses more, 12 Item 3 actions versus 1 for Subway.
Which is bigger, Jimmy John's or Subway?
Subway is larger, 18,773 Item 20 units versus 2,777 for Jimmy John's.
Which is the better franchise, Jimmy John's or Subway?
Zorzee doesn't rate franchises good or bad; it depends on your capital, your market, and how you'd run it. Subway has the lower entry cost and runs the bigger system.
Ever Wondered Which One's Actually Better?
The filings can't tell you. Neither can 10 more comparisons. "Better" comes down to your money, your market, and how you'd run it, which is exactly what the clarity call is for. Or keep exploring the matchups below.
More Sandwich Matchups
The favorite on paper isn't always the one to own. See how the rest of the field really stacks up.
Independent analysis, no commissions, no franchisor revenue.