How much does it cost to open a Jimmy John's franchise?

The total initial investment for a Jimmy John's franchise ranges from $366,200 to $728,200. This includes the franchise fee of $35,000, buildout costs, equipment, and initial working capital.

What are the ongoing fees for a Jimmy John's franchise?

Jimmy John's franchisees pay a 6.0% royalty fee and a 2.0% advertising/marketing fund contribution. These are typically calculated as a percentage of gross revenue.

How much money can you make with a Jimmy John's franchise?

Based on Item 19 financial performance data, the median Jimmy John's franchise generates $935,022 in annual revenue. Estimated owner profit is approximately $112,203.

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QSR 2,647 Units

Jimmy John's Franchise Cost Breakdown

Complete investment analysis based on official FDD data

Total Investment

$366,200 – $728,200

Franchise Fee

$35,000

Royalty Rate

6.0%

Initial Investment Range

Low: $366,200 High: $728,200

The total initial investment to open a Jimmy John's franchise ranges from $366,200 to $728,200, as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the one-time franchise fee of $35,000.

Midpoint estimate: $547,200

Franchise Fee

$35,000

One-time initial fee

The Jimmy John's franchise fee is a one-time upfront payment made to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. This fee grants you the right to operate under the Jimmy John's brand and is included in the total initial investment range above.

Ongoing Fees

Royalty Fee

6.0%

of gross revenue

Ad/Marketing Fund

2.0%

of gross revenue

Total Ongoing Fee Burden: 8.0% of gross revenue

Combined royalty and advertising fund contributions before any other fees.

Other Ongoing Fees

Fee Type	Rate	Type	Notes
Royalty	6.0	PCT	Due on Wednesday of each week on Gross Sales during previous week ending Tuesday. Gross Sales includes all revenue from operating Restaurant, delivery and catering charges, business interruption insurance proceeds, relocation/closure amounts, and gift/loyalty card sales (except JIMMY JOHN'S gift cards). Excludes taxes collected and paid to taxing authority, revenue from selling JIMMY JOHN'S gift cards, and is reduced by documented refunds, credits, discounts, and loyalty program redemptions.
Advertising and Development Fund	4.5	PCT	Up to 4.5% of Restaurant's weekly Gross Sales (currently the full 4.5%) or 2.25% for Non-Traditional Locations. Due on Wednesday of each week on Gross Sales during previous week ending Tuesday.
Cooperative Advertising Programs	2.0	PCT	Up to 2% of Restaurant's Gross Sales. Paid as Cooperative Program directs. Item 11 discusses Cooperative Advertising Programs.
Successor Franchise	10000.0	FIXED	Due when you acquire successor franchise after initial franchise term expires.
Site design fee and kitchen layout design fee	1200.0	VARIABLE	Currently $1,200 for a PSL and $750 for a PKL, but may increase if affiliates' costs increase. Payable if you choose to have affiliate develop a PSL or PKL in connection with remodeling or refurbishing the Restaurant. PSL services only offered to Restaurants that have or will have a drive-thru.
1-week or 3-Week Certified Management Training Program for New, Additional, or Repeat Trainees	1500.0	VARIABLE	Currently $1,500 (or $2,000 for expelled trainee re-attending); may increase to up to $5,000. Due upon registration in training program. Initial training provided for 2 people at no additional cost. May be charged for initial training of more than 2 people, training newly-hired managers, and re-training. First-time franchisee opening first Restaurant not charged additional training fee for third trainee for that first Restaurant.
New Training and Additional Guidance or Support	400.0	VARIABLE	Currently $400 per person per day plus expenses if provided at franchisor location; currently $600 per person per day plus expenses if provided at franchisee Restaurant; may increase per-person, per-day fee up to $1,000. Due when new training or additional guidance or support begins. May be charged for new training programs and additional guidance or support franchisee needs or requests (excluding aspects relating to labor relations and employment practices).
District Manager Training	2000.0	VARIABLE	Currently $2,000; may increase to up to $5,000. Due upon registration in training program.
Controlling Ownership Interest Transfer	12500.0	VARIABLE	$12,500 if transferee is not an existing JIMMY JOHN'S franchisee that has operated at least 1 Restaurant for 1 full year; $7,500 if transferee is an existing franchisee that has operated at least 1 Restaurant for 1 full year; no charge if transferred to an entity franchisee controls; $2,500 if transferee is immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, or sibling). Half due (and non-refundable) when franchisee requests transfer approval; balance due before transfer completed.
Non-Controlling Ownership Interest Transfer	1000.0	FIXED	Due before the transfer's proposed effective date for transfer of a non-controlling ownership interest.
Product and Service Purchases	N/A	VARIABLE	Discussed in Item 8. Due as incurred. Franchisee will buy products and services from franchisor, affiliates, designated and approved vendors whose items meet standards and specifications, and/or other suppliers to the industry. Prices depend on the supplier and item/service involved.
Testing	N/A	VARIABLE	Costs of testing (amount depends on circumstances, including supplier's location, testing required, and item involved). Due when billed. Covers costs of testing new products or inspecting new suppliers franchisee proposes.
Relocation	2500.0	FIXED	$2,500 plus costs and expenses. Due as incurred. Due if franchisee wishes to relocate the Restaurant's premises.
Computer Systems, Maintenance, and Support	N/A	VARIABLE	Costs of service. Due as incurred. Covers computer system support and ongoing development and software upgrades that franchisor or affiliates might provide in the future. Franchisor and affiliates do not now provide these services but may charge for them if they do.
Franchisee Convention	500.0	VARIABLE	Up to $500. Due when billed. May be charged this fee to attend each franchisee convention (franchisee also must pay travel and living expenses). Fee intended to help cover conference costs and may increase if costs of conducting the conference increase.
Regional Advisory Council	N/A	VARIABLE	Council Assessments. Due when billed. Franchisor has right to enforce payments, which may vary among councils.
Audit	N/A	VARIABLE	Cost of inspection or audit (amount depends on circumstances and extent of non-compliance). Due 15 days after receiving examination report. Due if: 1) Franchisor conducts on-site examination because franchisee fails to submit reports, supporting records, or other required information in a timely manner; or 2) Franchisee understates required Royalties or Fund contributions by more than 3% for the audit period.
Interest	1.5	PCT	Lesser of 1.5% per month or highest commercial contract interest rate law allows. Due when billed. Due on all overdue amounts more than 7 days late.
Non-Approved Restaurant Opening	2500.0	FIXED	$2,500 for each day Restaurant is open without franchisor approval. Due when billed. Due if franchisee opens Restaurant for business before being approved to do so.
Non-Compliance	250.0	VARIABLE	$250 to $1,000 for deviations from operational requirements/Brand Standards. Due when billed. Due if franchisee deviates from system requirements for operations or Brand Standards. Serves as compensation for administrative and management costs, not for damages. May be charged $250 for each deviation. If same (or substantially similar) deviation discovered on 1 or more consecutive, subsequent visits/inspections, may be charged $500 for 1st repeat deviation and $1,000 for second and each subsequent repeat deviation.
Unauthorized Advertising Fee	1000.0	FIXED	$1,000 per occurrence. Due when billed. Due if franchisee uses unapproved advertising or marketing materials.
Late Fee	10.0	PCT	10% of original amount due but not paid on time. Due when billed. Due for each late payment.
Confidential Operations Manual	500.0	FIXED	$500. Due 15 days after billing. Charge for replacement copy.
Management Fee	600.0	FIXED	$600 per person per day (plus costs and expenses). Due as incurred. Unless franchisee is a Sophisticated Franchisee, payable when franchisor, affiliate, or another third party manages Restaurant after Operations Partner's death or disability or after franchisee's default or abandonment.
Costs and Attorneys' Fees	N/A	VARIABLE	Will vary under circumstances and depend on nature of non-compliance. Due as incurred. Due when franchisee does not comply with the Franchise Agreement.
Indemnification	N/A	VARIABLE	Will vary under circumstances and depend on nature of third-party claim. Due as incurred. Franchisee must reimburse franchisor and affiliates if any are held liable for claims from Restaurant's operation or incur costs to defend them.
Maintenance Cost Reimbursement	600.0	FIXED	$600 per day plus costs and expenses. Due as incurred. Franchisee must provide reimbursement if franchisor or designee corrects Restaurant's sub-standard appearance or condition (if franchisee does not do so when required); amount depends on extent of non-compliance.
Customer Complaint Reimbursement	N/A	VARIABLE	Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement. Due as incurred. Franchisee must provide reimbursement if franchisor or designee resolves a customer complaint because franchisee does not do so; amount depends on extent of non-compliance.
Insurance Reimbursement	N/A	VARIABLE	Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement. Due as incurred. Franchisee must provide reimbursement if franchisor or designee obtains insurance for franchisee because franchisee fails to obtain or maintain required coverage (franchisee's failure is a Franchise Agreement default).
Tax Reimbursement	N/A	VARIABLE	Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement. Due as incurred. Franchisee must reimburse franchisor for any taxes franchisor must pay to any state taxing authority on account of either franchisee's operation or franchisee's payments to franchisor (except for certain income-related taxes of franchisor).
De-identification Reimbursement	N/A	VARIABLE	Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement. Due as incurred. Franchisee must provide reimbursement if franchisor or designee incurs costs to de-brand the Restaurant after the franchise ends because franchisee fails to do so as required.

What You Get

Financial Performance (Item 19)

Median Revenue

$935,022

per year, per location

Profitability Estimate

Estimated Owner Profit

$112,203

per year

Profit Margin

12.0%

of revenue

Estimation method: benchmark

Estimated ROI (Simple Payback): 4.9 years

Based on midpoint investment of $547,200 and estimated annual owner profit of $112,203.

Unit Growth & Failure Rate

Avg. Annual Closure Rate

0.1%

Low risk — below industry average

Net Unit Growth

+31 units

From 2022 to 2024

Unit Activity History

Year	Start	Opened	Closed	Transfers	End
2022	2616	+67	-7	—	2597
2023	2597	+58	-1	—	2602
2024	2602	+88	-1	—	2647

Is a Jimmy John's Franchise Worth It?

Based on the FDD data, here is a data-driven snapshot of the Jimmy John's franchise opportunity:

Overall Score

81/100

Strong opportunity

Est. Payback Period

4.9 yrs

Average payback

Risk Level

Low

0.1% annual closure rate

Jimmy John's scores well across our evaluation criteria, indicating a strong franchise system. With median unit revenue of $935,022 and a combined fee burden of 8.0% of gross revenue, prospective franchisees should model their own financial projections carefully. For a complete analysis including risk factors, deal-breaker flags, and detailed financial modeling, see the full report.