How Much It Really Costs To Open A Potbelly Franchise

Embarking down the path of becoming your own boss can be a bit daunting, but for many people, ultimately it becomes something of great passion and joy. One of the many avenues available to Americans who want to become their own boss (with some corporate oversight, some more slight than others) is franchising.

According to a September 2020 posting at Small Biz Genius, there are over 750,000 franchised businesses across the United States, which provide employment for about eight million people. Some 50 percent of those employees belong to fast food establishments like McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Chick-fil-A. But, what if you're looking to serve up something that errs a bit more on the healthy side of things, like subs and sandwiches? Then maybe a Potbelly Sandwich Shop would be right up your alley. Potbelly, which first started off as an antique store in Chicago (per Potbelly), is a quirky little sandwich franchise that Reddit users seem to enjoy quite a bit.

Per the Potbelly Sandwich Shop website, franchise owners would have to make an initial investment that falls between $564,050-$782,700, which is broken down among several fees that are needed for things like construction and food. Franchises America notes that along with the investment fee, if you're looking to open up a Potbelly, you'll need to cough up an additional franchise fee of $40,000, have a minimum net worth of $500,000, and have a cash flow of about $200,000. Potbelly also charges franchise owners a six percent royalty fee for running one of their establishments.

Entrepreneur reports that Potbelly also requires franchise owners to enter a renewable 10-year contract as well. All in all, there are about 37 distinct fees that a franchise owner needs to be mindful of when thinking about opening a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, per Franchise Chatter.

In addition to the above fees, prospective owners must allocate funds for marketing programs, training, and computer systems and support.