Firehouse Subs

Firehouse Subs is a premium fast casual sandwich franchise centered on firefighter heritage, community service, and hot, hearty steamed submarine sandwiches made with high quality ingredients. Chris and Robin Sorensen, former firefighters with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, founded the company on October 10, 1994, in Jacksonville, Florida. The brand has grown from one neighborhood shop to more than 1,400 locations across North America and international markets. Restaurant Brands International acquired Firehouse Subs for $1 billion in December 2021. The brand now operates alongside Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen while retaining its firefighter culture and community mission.

Chris and Robin’s father, Rob Sorensen, known as Captain Rob, served 43 years as a firefighter and fire captain with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue. He is honored within the franchise system as the Founder of the Founders. Their extended family included police officers, World War II and Vietnam military veterans, and firefighters. Chris was 34, earning $14,500 annually as a firefighter and raising three children, when he and 26 year old Robin opened the first restaurant. Restaurants feature custom painted murals connected to local fire and police services. More than 1,200 unique murals now exist, with no two alike.

The system exceeded 1,400 locations by early 2026. Development plans include 100 restaurants in Mexico with Foodplay, expansion into Australia’s $1.7 billion sandwich market with Retail Food Group, and a joint venture targeting 500 restaurants in Brazil over the next decade. Additional growth is planned in Switzerland, Albania, the UAE, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The system currently has approximately 1,360 restaurants, including 1,248 in the United States and Puerto Rico and 112 in Canada. About 1,206 United States locations are franchise owned and 42 are company operated, producing a 97 percent franchise ratio. Firehouse Subs operates in 46 United States states plus Puerto Rico and has international operations across six countries. Plans call for 800 or more net new units by 2028 and 765 international openings over the next decade. The brand also targets 300 annual restaurant openings within five years.

Estimated initial investment is $379,650 to $795,600 for an in line traditional location, $549,650 to $1,038,100 for an in line end cap with drive through, and $705,650 to $1,396,100 for a freestanding restaurant with drive through. The initial franchise fee is $20,000. Ongoing charges include a 6 percent royalty on gross sales and a 5 percent advertising and marketing fund contribution. Buyers need at least $150,000 in liquid capital, and franchise agreements run for 10 years. The usual period from initial inquiry to opening is 9 to 18 months. Restaurant experience is not required. Firehouse Subs has invested over $30 million in franchise incentives, including its 2026 Development Incentive Program, which offers $75,000 for one new restaurant and $100,000 per unit for two or more. A Veteran and First Responder Incentive offers up to $100,000 per restaurant.

The brand’s steaming process, portions, and ingredient standards support its premium position in the sandwich category.

Firehouse Subs heats premium meats and cheeses in commercial steamers for approximately one minute before placing them on proprietary toasted sub rolls. The company uses Boar’s Head meats, which arrive in uncut pieces weighing 4 to 14 pounds and are sliced fresh daily until thin enough to see through. The menu includes 16 hot specialty subs, such as the Hook and Ladder, Firehouse Meatball, Smokehouse Beef and Cheddar Brisket, and Jamaican Jerk Turkey. Build your own choices include USDA Choice roast beef, grilled chicken, and Virginia honey ham. Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper hot sauce is a proprietary condiment associated with the brand.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation began in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, when Chris and Robin Sorensen traveled to Mississippi to feed first responders and survivors. It has donated more than $105 million through over 7,100 grants to first responder organizations across North America. Grants have supported rescue boats, extrication tools, automated external defibrillators, bunker gear, thermal imaging cameras, ballistic vests, chest compression systems, and fire hoses. The Foundation holds a four star rating, its highest designation, and more than 70 percent of its funding comes from Firehouse Subs guests and the restaurant brand. In Canada, it awarded a record $1 million in lifesaving grants in 2024.

Training totals 668 hours, consisting of 332 classroom hours and 336 on the job training hours over approximately six to seven weeks. The process starts with a Day of Discovery at the Jacksonville headquarters, where prospective franchisees meet leadership and complete an in person interview. A Week of Discovery follows. Core instruction includes four to five weeks at a designated training restaurant, followed by a final week of virtual and classroom instruction through the Firehouse Subs Academy. Franchisees receive the Captain’s Advancement Manual and ongoing support with real estate, build out, marketing, field operations, and access to franchise owners across North America. No prior restaurant experience is required.

PeerSense data shows approximately 698 Small Business Administration loans totaling $214.3 million across 183 unique lending institutions in 46 states. The average loan size is approximately $307,000, which aligns with the investment for in line locations. The 7.3 percent chargeoff rate is below the 10.3 percent peer average for limited service restaurants. Since 2020, 29 loans have carried an average size of $423,810. Firehouse Subs has a PeerSense Franchise Performance Index score of 59, placing it in the Moderate tier based on consistent lending activity and manageable default rates.

Firehouse Subs combines firefighter heritage, premium food preparation, community programs, and ownership by Restaurant Brands International. Its system grew from 1,200 to more than 1,400 locations under RBI ownership, with plans for 800 net new domestic units and 765 international openings. Buyers can use this information when evaluating the concept and seeking financing partners with restaurant franchise experience.