Potbelly franchise
Potbelly is a sandwich shop serving toasted sandwiches, soups, salads and hand-dipped shakes, often with live music in older shops. Shops compete for lunch and catering business in urban and suburban areas. At the end of 2025 there were 470 Potbelly locations in the US, 122 franchised and 348 company-owned, so most are run by the company itself.
- Cost to open
- $629K–$999K
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 470+77 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2009
- Franchisor based in
- Chicago, Illinois
- Time to open
- Must open within 360 days of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Potbelly Franchising, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Potbelly franchise costs
Opening one Potbelly shop costs an estimated $628,938 to $999,371. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Potbelly Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 27
Potbelly franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000, per shop (reduced under incentive programs). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Potbelly Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 15
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of weekly total revenue, paid each Wednesday. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 3% of gross sales |
Source: Potbelly Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 18
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Potbelly publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives average and median weekly gross sales for franchised shops, plus sales, costs and profit for company shops. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Potbelly Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 69
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 80 (+35) | 345 | 4 |
| 2024 | 102 (+22) | 342 | 2 |
| 2025 | 122 (+20) | 348 | 2 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Potbelly Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 75
How Potbelly compares
Of the 46 fast food franchises on this site, Potbelly is the 22nd cheapest to open and the 36th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Potbelly | Typical fast food |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $629K | $701K |
| Royalty | 6% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 4.4% | 2% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +171.1% | +6.3% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 39 of 46 |
Typical is the median across the 46 brands in fast food franchises.
Other fast food franchises
Potbelly franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Potbelly?
Must open within 360 days of signing, according to Potbelly's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Potbelly help with financing?
No. Potbelly does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Potbelly franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Potbelly growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 85 franchised locations opened and 8 closed or left, a net change of +171.1%. About 4.4% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2% typical for fast food franchises.
How does Potbelly compare with other fast food franchises?
Of the 46 fast food franchises here, Potbelly is the 22nd cheapest to open (low end $629K against a $701K median) and the 36th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 5% median.
Does Potbelly say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives average and median weekly gross sales for franchised shops, plus sales, costs and profit for company shops. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Potbelly based?
Potbelly Franchising, LLC is based in Chicago, Illinois and the brand has sold franchises since 2009.