Captain D's vs FIREHOUSE SUBS
Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.
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Captain D's
QSR
Investment
$899K to $1.4M
Franchise fee
$35,000
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
227
FIREHOUSE SUBS
QSR
Investment
$380K to $1.4M
Franchise fee
$20,000
Item 19 status
Cost Data Only
Units
1,170
Lower entry cost
Leans right
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Leans right
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
| Metric | Captain D's | FIREHOUSE SUBS |
|---|---|---|
Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $20,000 |
Min Investment | $899K | $380K |
Max Investment | $1.4M | $1.4M |
Royalty Rate | 4.5% | 6.0% |
Ad Fund Rate | 1.0% | 5.0% |
Total Ongoing Burden Royalty plus ad fund when available. | 5.5% | 11.0% |
Median Revenue (Item 19) | $1.0M | $964K |
Cash-on-Cash Return Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available. | 6.8% | 2.2% |
Payback Period | 14.8 yrs | 46.0 yrs |
Revenue per Dollar Invested | 0.90x | 1.09x |
Franchised Units | 227 | 1,170 |
1-Year Net Unit Change | 10 | 36 |
Net Unit Growth Rate | 4.5% | 3.1% |
Net Closure Rate Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change. | N/A | N/A |
SBA Default Rate | 14.3% | 7.5% |
SBA Loan Count Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful. | 23 | 605 |
Average SBA Loan Size | $914K | $321K |
Item 19 Status | Revenue Only | Cost Data Only |
Has Item 19 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Quality Score | 100 | 100 |
What stands out
- • Captain D's opens at $899K to $1.4M, while FIREHOUSE SUBS ranges from $380K to $1.4M.
- • Captain D's shows an Item 19 disclosure; FIREHOUSE SUBS shows an Item 19 disclosure.
- • Captain D's has 227 franchised units versus 1,170 for FIREHOUSE SUBS.
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Last updated: April 2026