Jersey Mike's and the sandwich franchise category
Average unit volume and cost to open for Jersey Mike's and nine sandwich peers. Every figure is from each brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, as filed with state regulators.
The tables surface the numbers; the reader draws the conclusion.
| Brand | Segment disclosed | System Size | Units in Item 19 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAlister's Deli | Total (Net Sales) | 572 | 477 | $1,868,219 |
| Jersey Mike's | Traditional Franchised | 3,227 | 2,606 | $1,367,578 |
| Potbelly | System, all shops | 470 | 434 | $1,333,774 |
| Schlotzsky's | Drive-thru format only | 294 | 201 | $1,157,190 |
| Jimmy John's | All restaurants | 2,777 | 2,581 | $1,007,437 |
| Firehouse Subs | All (Annual Sales Volume) | 1,291 | 1,033 | $973,809 |
| Charleys | All (Gross Sales) | 826 | 713 | $845,372 |
| Penn Station | All (Net Sales) | 322 | 318 | $821,723 |
| Port of Subs | Franchised (Gross Sales) | 122 | 87 | $540,305 |
| Subway* | — | 18,773 | — | not disclosed |
| Median of 8 disclosing peers | $990,623 | |||
* Subway's current FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. A franchisor may elect not to make one.
System size = total US outlets (franchised + company-owned) per each brand's 2026 FDD, Item 20, at fiscal year-end 2025. “Units in Item 19” is the count included in each brand's disclosed average — a subset that varies by brand.
| Brand | System Size | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAlister's Deli | 572 | $910,175 | $2,575,400 |
| Schlotzsky's | 294 | $675,365 | $2,261,500 |
| Potbelly | 470 | $628,938 | $999,371 |
| Penn Station | 322 | $440,600 | $819,700 |
| Jersey Mike's | 3,227 | $436,176 | $1,162,228 |
| Port of Subs | 122 | $419,895 | $938,570 |
| Firehouse Subs | 1,291 | $405,350 | $1,577,750 |
| Jimmy John's | 2,777 | $366,200 | $733,500 |
| Subway | 18,773 | $263,000 | $630,000 |
| Charleys | 826 | $203,492 | $1,004,447 |
| Median of 9 disclosing peers | $419,895 | $999,371 | |
System size = total US outlets per each brand's 2026 FDD, Item 20 (FYE 2025). Both tables run highest to lowest.
Source & methodology
How to read the averages. Item 19 is not standardized — each franchisor decides which of its units to include in the disclosed average and how to define sales (net vs. gross). For most brands here, the figure covers 80–99% of the system; Penn Station's covers about 99%. Two are narrower, and the table labels each. Schlotzsky's figure reflects its drive-thru-format restaurants only. It reports formats separately and publishes no blended average. Port of Subs reports franchised units only, with company-owned units disclosed separately. Every figure is shown as filed, with the segment it represents named in the table.
Figures are presented as filed, without adjustment. ClearlyFDD does not comment on securities offerings.
Go deeper than the tables
ClearlyFDD reads and explains the Franchise Disclosure Documents behind Jersey Mike's and 1,800+ other brands — every figure sourced to its Item and page.