Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchises enable operators to run quick-service restaurants that sell sandwiches, soups, salads, shakes, desserts, and other food and beverage products prepared according to specific recipes, standards, and using proprietary and branded ingredients. The business model involves granting franchises for individual shops or multi-unit development areas, requiring franchisees to follow strict operational procedures, purchase assets from affiliates, and compete in a crowded market of sandwich shops, quick-serve restaurants, and convenience stores. They target the general public seeking high-quality, freshly-prepared fast-casual food in a distinctive atmosphere.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 3% brand fund + $1,061/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 73 franchised traditional Potbelly Shops and 5 franchised non-traditional Potbelly Shops open for the entire 12-period timeframe in 2024.
* Weighted average gross revenue calculated from 73 traditional franchised units (average $1,227,247.51) and 5 non-traditional franchised units (average $3,414,013): (73 * $1,227,247.51 + 5 * $3,414,013) / (73 + 5) = $1,367,424.79. Median gross revenue is the stated median for traditional franchised units (1,161,729). Revenue top quartile is the average from the top performing segment (>$1500K) of traditional franchised units (1,740,311). Revenue bottom quartile is the average from the lowest performing non-zero segment ($500K-$1000K) of traditional franchised units (839,277). No profit, net income, or EBITDA data were provided for franchised units.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How Potbelly Sandwich Shop Compares
Key Insights
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Fast Casual
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Potbelly Sandwich Shop Current | $654K – $1.3M | $40K | 6.0% | 95 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $379K – $1.4M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,248 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M – $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K – $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 107 franchises | $532K – $1.2M | $39K | 5.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+9 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchisees (2014 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
153 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
153 Contacts Available
Unlock all Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchise ranges from $654,019 to $1,274,099. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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