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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.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 3% ad fund + $1,165/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 97 franchised Potbelly Shops open for the entire 12-period timeframe (12 full periods) beginning with fiscal Period 1 in 2025 through fiscal Period 12 in 2025.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $1,344,085
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Unlock financial performance dataHow 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 | $629K – $999K | $40K | 6.0% | 122 |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $276K – $771K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,650 |
| TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ | $300K – $721K | $35K | 6.0% | 1,371 |
| FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT) | $405K – $1.6M | $20K | 6.0% | 1,249 |
| Zaxby's | $1.4M – $3.8M | $35K | 6.0% | 826 |
| Qdoba | $548K – $1.3M | $40K | 5.0% | 652 |
Fast Casual Average 109 franchises | $518K – $1.2M | $38K | 5.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 109 Fast Casual franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2025)
Outlets by state across the United States
+11 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA 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.
29 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
127 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
127 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Potbelly Sandwich Shop franchise ranges from $628,938 to $999,371. This includes a franchise fee of $40,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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