Maybe Subway Franchise’s Profit & Cost Is Not Worth It
Does Subway qualify as an E-2 visa business? How is Subway as a franchise investment? Why are there so many franchises for sale?
Written by
Visa Franchise
Published on
24 Mar 2022
Table of Contents:
This article is based on a video originally recorded on Visa Franchise Youtube Channel
Contents
Visa Franchise clients and potential franchise investors inquiry on a weekly basis about Subway investment opportunities based on Subway franchise for sale. It is one of the most global and visible fast food brands, with over 26,000 units and a presence in over 90 countries. We can understand why individuals from E-2 treaty countries seeking to invest in a Subway franchise for sale for an E-2 investor visa would be interested in the concept. As experts in the franchise investment industry, we developed well-defined guidelines for analyzing potential franchise investments.
Listen to this article
Our research and analysis on the Subway franchise for sale, which will be covered in-depth in this article, has determined that Subway is not only a poor investment choice but also not an eligible investment for an E-2 investor visa.
The total investment cost for a new Subway franchise unit can be anywhere from $115,000 to $260,000
Subway’s Problems
Subway’s problems are as complex as they are multi-faceted. Issues plaguing Subway are a result of the success it has had in expanding. It became the fast-food franchise with the most units in the U.S.
- Changes in taste,
- oversaturation of the market,
- a flawed development model,
- inability to innovate,
- and a grueling business model with high employee turnover.
These Are All Primary Reasons for Why Subway Has Begun to Fail as a Franchise System
Recent mass closures and the multitude of existing Subway units currently for sale are evidence of these systematic issues that Subway faces.
Also, Subway does not accept non-U.S. citizens or non-green cardholders to become franchisees. Therefore, we don’t recommend a Subway franchise for sale investment at this time. Also, it cannot even be considered an option for foreign nationals without a green card. This is due to Subway’s franchisee policy of only allowing U.S. citizens and green card holders to become franchisees.
Changing Consumer Tastes
The tastes and desires of consumers change over time. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Subway gained prominence as a “healthy” fast food option. Customers would go to Subway in order to have a fast, lower-calorie meal that would complement their busy lives. Subway’s “Eat Fresh” motto really connected with consumers that were looking for a fresher fast food option.
What Is “Healthy” Nowadays?
However, as time has passed what society considers “healthy” food has changed from just low calorie and fresh meals to higher quality ingredients. Many consumers are now making much more conscious decisions in relation to their dietary habits. These consumers require transparency in the ingredients of their food. They actively seek out brands such as Chipotle that offer transparency and higher quality of ingredients. Even if the price point is a little higher than what they would pay at Subway.
Subway Is Structurally Unable to Keep Up
As a franchise brand with over 26,000 units worldwide, Subway is structurally unable to change what its franchisees offer in order to meet the new tastes of the market. This has left Subway with a product that appeals to a lesser number of consumers. Which has led to decreased sales for many Subway franchisees.
Oversaturation of Subway Units in the Market
Flawed Development Model
The oversaturation of Subway units is the result of the deeply flawed development model. Subway still uses this model from decades ago.
To provide a background, Subway has a unique development model where they place a designated “area developer”, typically a franchisee or franchise salesperson, in a given market. That individual is then compensated based on the number of units that they can open within their market.
Subway Franchise’s Model
This model has worked very well in rapidly expanding the number of Subway units. It compensates unit growth above everything else. In essence, they incentivize area developers to open as many units in their designated area. This is, regardless of how many units the demographics and median income of the market indicate that it can sustainably support. The incentivization structure to development has led to the overdevelopment of Subway units in many markets around the U.S.
Subway Does Not Offer Any Substantial Territory Protection
A major benefit that many franchises offer their franchisees is territory exclusivity in the area surrounding their unit. This territory protection enables the franchisee to operate without fear that another franchisee will enter the market that they have worked to develop and negatively impact their sales. However, Subway does not offer any substantial territory protection to its franchisees. By not offering territory protection, Subway franchisees are at risk of competition from other Subway franchisees opening too close to their location.
Why Do the Franchisees Think this Is a Good Investment?
Subway’s oversaturation due to its deeply flawed development model has led to many issues for its franchisees. As an established franchise, Subway continued to grow with a large number of units over the years. This might have functioned as a strong indicator to potential franchisee investors that Subway was a “good” or “relatively safe” franchise investment.
Sales Cannibalization
However, this is no longer the case. Subway has developed too many units in the vast majority of markets in the U.S. It is well known within the industry that the biggest competitor to a Subway franchisee is another Subway franchisee located nearby. The term for this is “sales cannibalization,” and it occurs when the sales of one unit or product decrease the sales of another unit or product.
The Zero-sum Game
Due to the sheer amount of Subway units, Subway franchisees end up competing with each other in a zero-sum game where unit economics deteriorate to the point that almost all of the units in a given area are no longer economically viable. This has led to many owners putting up their units for sale as well as, what we strongly suspect, many more owners that would sell their unit given the chance and the right price.
Poor Business Case
By this point, we have covered the downward pressure on sales that a typical individual Subway unit franchisee might face due to the competition of subway franchisees located too closely in their area. However, there are a number of other factors that negatively impact the business case of a Subway franchise owner. High employee turnover and long store operating hours require the typical franchise owner to be very active and spend many hours working in the business.
High Royalties and Advertising
Additionally, the relatively high royalties and advertising fund that Subway charges its franchisees, at roughly 8% and 5%, respectively, further deteriorates the business case for its franchisees by making it much harder to earn a high profit. With not enough profit to support a full-time manager, many Subway franchisees are forced to spend long hours working within their Subway unit. This has caused many franchisees to refer to a Subway franchise for sale investment as «the best way to own your own minimum wage job».
Clearly, the multitude of issues that a typical Subway franchise owner faces should make any potential franchisee think twice before considering investing in a Subway franchise of their own.
High Investment Level for a Subway Franchise for Sale
Individuals typically seek to invest in franchises so that they can own and manage the business rather than work within the business. A single unit operator might need to work 70+ hour weeks within their restaurant in order to generate any sort of substantial profit.
The total investment cost for a new Subway franchise unit can be anywhere from $115,000 to $260,000. Depending on the size and location of the unit, the investment can actually be significantly higher.
Is a Subway Franchise for Sale Worth It?
It is a very common need for a Subway franchisee to own multiple Subway units in order to generate enough income to support the cost of a full-time manager. Then it negates the whole purpose of investing in a franchise business in the first place.
Subway Investment Not Available to Foreign Nationals
At Visa Franchise we receive many inquiries regarding Subway franchise investment opportunities from our clients going through their own internal research process. Many of these individuals come from countries outside the U.S. where Subway has historically performed well and maintains a strong brand. Every country is different. The reasons outlined in this article help to illustrate the poor potential of a Subway franchise for sale here in the U.S., especially if the individual only wants to invest in a Subway in order to obtain their E-2 investor visa.
You Must Be a Citizen Green Card Holder
However, without even considering the above factors covered in detail that should cause potential Subway franchisees to think twice before investing, it is important to note that Subway does not even accept franchisees that are not U.S. citizens or green card holders. Therefore, as a foreign national looking to invest in an E-2 eligible business investment or L-1 eligible business investment, it is not time well spent to consider Subway as an investment option.
Many other Franchise Options Besides Subway Franchise for Sale
Our message to individuals who happen to be interested in a potential Subway investment (or after reading this article, *were* interested in a potential Subway investment) is to not be discouraged. There are many great franchise investments out there that offer their franchisees many opportunities to grow and generate income. Visa Franchise offers our consulting services to those individuals looking for the best franchise investment opportunity that fits their individual profile and investment goals as well as is open to foreign nationals looking to do an E-2 investor visa or L-1 investor visa. Our job is to actively find these opportunities in order to give our clients the peace of mind that they are investing in a business that will allow them to live and work in the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream.
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