A Jimmy John’s franchise cost is $366,200 to $733,500 for a traditional restaurant under the March 26, 2026 disclosure document, or $206,200 to $686,000 at a Non-Traditional site, including a $35,000 franchise fee.
Key takeaways
- Item 7 of the Jimmy John’s Franchise Disclosure Document issued March 26, 2026 prints 14 cost lines that add up exactly to $366,200 to $733,500 (traditional) and $206,200 to $686,000 (Non-Traditional).
- The traditional high end rose $5,300 from the March 27, 2025 FDD: insurance went to $20,000 at the top and office equipment to $2,500; every other line held still.
- Delivery is mandatory under Item 12, with your own employed drivers, auto liability written on an auto form (Item 8) and 24 hours to resume if you stop (Item 17).
- New deals signed by March 31, 2027 in listed markets earn a $125,000 (Standard) or $175,000 (Strategic) credit toward the 6% royalty, replacing the 2025 credit of up to $25,000 (Item 6).
- Inspire Brands’ franchising page asks for $200,000 in liquid assets and $1,000,000 in net worth; those minimums are a brand statement and do not appear in Item 7.
What does each Item 7 line pay for, traditional versus Non-Traditional?
Item 7 of the 2026 Jimmy John’s FDD prices a new restaurant in two columns. A traditional unit in a strip center, mall or free-standing building runs $366,200 to $733,500; a Non-Traditional unit inside a campus, airport, hospital or food court runs $206,200 to $686,000. Both totals include one month of rent and a security deposit but exclude buying land or a building (Item 7, note 2).
| Item 7 line | Traditional | Non-Traditional | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $35,000 | $17,500 | Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV, LLC |
| Rent, 1 month | $2,500 to $8,000 | $2,500 to $8,000 | Landlord |
| Security deposit | $2,500 to $8,000 | $2,500 to $8,000 | Landlord |
| Leasehold improvements | $115,000 to $310,000 | $31,500 to $300,000 | Outside suppliers |
| Furniture, fixtures, signage, equipment, POS | $120,000 to $215,000 | $65,000 to $195,000 | Outside suppliers |
| Architect and design services | $9,500 to $22,000 | $5,500 to $22,000 | Architect or franchisor affiliate |
| Office equipment (desk, chair, safe) | $2,200 to $2,500 | $2,200 to $2,500 | Outside suppliers |
| Utility deposits | $1,000 to $2,000 | $1,000 to $2,000 | Utility companies |
| Opening inventory and supplies | $6,000 | $6,000 | Designated and approved suppliers |
| Grand opening event | $3,000 to $5,000 | $3,000 to $5,000 | Advertising sources |
| Training travel, up to 3 people | $6,000 to $15,000 | $6,000 to $15,000 | Third parties |
| Insurance, 1 year of premiums | $11,500 to $20,000 | $11,500 to $20,000 | Insurance company |
| Miscellaneous (attorney, accountant) | $2,000 to $10,000 | $2,000 to $10,000 | Advisors and others |
| Additional funds, 3 months | $50,000 to $75,000 | $50,000 to $75,000 | Employees and suppliers |
| Total | $366,200 to $733,500 | $206,200 to $686,000 | Item 7 total row |
Two lines decide most of the budget. Leasehold improvements plus the equipment package come to $235,000 of the $366,200 traditional low (64%) and $525,000 of the $733,500 high (72%). Note 3 says the low leasehold figure assumes the landlord carries much of the build-out, and note 2 says a drive-thru restaurant sits at the expensive end because it is larger and needs more construction.
Leasehold improvements ($115,000 to $310,000) and equipment ($120,000 to $215,000) drive the traditional estimate. Jimmy John’s FDD issued March 26, 2026, Item 7.
The cover page says $5,000 to $39,400 of the traditional total goes to the franchisor or an affiliate, and $17,500 to $21,900 at a Non-Traditional site. The rest goes to landlords, contractors and suppliers, and Item 10 states that Jimmy John’s offers no financing for any of it. A traditional restaurant typically occupies 1,000 to 1,800 square feet; a Non-Traditional one 500 to 1,200.
What moved between the 2025 and 2026 Jimmy John’s disclosure documents?
Comparing the FDD issued March 27, 2025 with the one issued March 26, 2026, the traditional low end stayed at $366,200 and the high end rose from $728,200 to $733,500. The 2026 document also adds a separate Non-Traditional column. The bigger change sits outside Item 7: the royalty incentive for new restaurants grew from a credit of up to $25,000 to credits of $125,000 or $175,000.
| Line or term | FDD issued March 27, 2025 | FDD issued March 26, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 7 total, traditional | $366,200 to $728,200 | $366,200 to $733,500 | +$5,300 at the high end |
| Item 7 total, Non-Traditional | No separate column | $206,200 to $686,000 | New column |
| Insurance, 1 year | $11,500 to $15,000 | $11,500 to $20,000 | +$5,000 at the high end |
| Office equipment | $2,200 | $2,200 to $2,500 | +$300 at the high end |
| New-restaurant royalty incentive | Franchise fee credited to royalty, up to $25,000, plus a 1%, 2%, 4% then 6% royalty step-up | $125,000 (Standard Markets) or $175,000 (Strategic Markets) royalty credit, plus reduced fund rates | Credit up to 7 times larger |
| Franchised restaurants at fiscal year end | 2,647 (2024) | 2,737 (2025) | +90 |
The line-by-line comparison is in the downloadable file jimmy_johns_fdd_2025_vs_2026.csv (15 rows, both Item 7 tables), where each column sums to its printed total. Guides that still quote $728,200, a $25,000 royalty credit or $361,200 to $674,200 are reading the 2025 or 2024 filing; the 2024 range appears in no document we opened, so we report it only as an older figure in circulation.
Why must every Jimmy John’s run its own delivery, and what does that cost?
Item 12 of the 2026 FDD says Jimmy John’s generally requires all franchisees to offer delivery and that “it is not an optional service.” You deliver only inside an area the franchisor sets by email after you find a site, using your own employed drivers unless a Third-Party Delivery Platform is approved or required. The area has no minimum or maximum size, is not exclusive, and can be reduced at any time.
The delivery rule carries costs that a carry-out sandwich shop may not face. Item 8 requires a separate automobile liability policy on all owned, hired, rented and non-owned vehicles, written on an auto form rather than inside a business owner’s policy, plus an affidavit that the insurer reviews every driver’s motor vehicle record at hire and at least once a year. That requirement is one reason the Item 7 insurance line reaches $20,000.
| Delivery-related requirement | Cost or rule printed | 2026 FDD item |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery service | Required; own employed drivers; area set by the franchisor | Item 12 |
| Automobile liability insurance | Separate auto form; MVR review at hire and annually; insurer rated A-VII or better | Item 8 |
| Online ordering (Olo) | About $150 set-up and $85 a month | Item 11 |
| Point-of-sale system (Signature Systems, Inc.) | $25,000 to $55,000, then $250 to $500 a month | Item 11 |
| Loyalty program equipment | $800 to $1,200, then about $100 a month | Item 11 |
| Delivery and catering charges | Count as Gross Sales for royalty and fund | Item 6 |
| Stopping delivery | 24 hours to resume before it is a default | Item 17(g) |
Adding the three monthly technology charges in Item 11 gives about $435 to $685 a month for POS support, Olo and loyalty, before any third-party delivery commissions, which the FDD does not price. Our review of franchise technology requirements across 259 FDDs sets that range against other systems, and our study of franchise insurance requirements covers auto-form and MVR clauses.
How do the $125,000 and $175,000 royalty credits work?
Item 6, note 2 of the 2026 FDD offers a royalty credit to anyone who signs a Franchise Agreement or new Development Agreement by March 31, 2027 for a traditional restaurant in a listed market: $125,000 per restaurant in the Standard Markets and $175,000 in the Strategic Markets. The credit is applied against the 6% royalty, and the 4.5% fund contribution is cut for the first 3 years.
The lists are printed as images on pages 33 and 34. By our count the Standard list names 58 markets, including Minneapolis-St. Paul MN, Denver CO, Nashville TN and New York NY, and the Strategic list names 47, including Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Los Angeles CA and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale FL. Jimmy John’s states it may modify both lists, so confirm your market in writing before you sign.
| Program (2026 FDD, Item 6) | Who qualifies | Royalty effect | Fund effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | New traditional deal in a Standard Market signed by March 31, 2027 | $125,000 credit toward the 6% royalty | 2% year 1, 3% years 2 and 3, then 4.5% |
| Strategic | New traditional deal in a Strategic Market signed by March 31, 2027 | $175,000 credit | 1% year 1, 2% years 2 and 3, then 4.5% |
| Early Opening | Standard or Strategic deals that open before the required date | 0% royalty until that date, up to 6 months | None stated |
| VetFran | Honorably discharged veterans signing their first agreement | $10,000 credit per restaurant, up to $100,000 | None stated |
| Pioneer | First developer of 2 or more restaurants in AK, HI, ME, NH, RI or VT | $50,000 credit for each of the first 2 | None stated |
| Retrofit Multi-Brand | Adding Jimmy John’s to a Dunkin’ you already run | $42,500 credit; 1%, 2%, 4%, then 6% | 2%, 3%, 4%, then 5% |
| New Multi-Brand | Opening Jimmy John’s with a new Dunkin’ | $67,500 credit; 1%, 2%, 4%, then 6% | 2%, 3%, 4%, then 5% |
Every program carries the same “Incentive Eligibility Requirements”: substantial compliance with all agreements, opening on time to the approved design, and submitting all development costs within 120 days of opening. The Standard and Strategic credits do not apply to renewals, Non-Traditional sites, relocations or purchases of an existing restaurant. Our veteran franchise discount study compares the VetFran credit with other systems.
Which charges come out of the weekly Wednesday debit?
Jimmy John’s collects royalty and fund contributions every Wednesday on Gross Sales for the week ending the prior Tuesday, by automatic debit from an Electronic Depository Transfer Account (Item 6, note 4). If you miss a sales report, the franchisor may debit 120% of the last royalty and fund amount, plus a 10% late fee and interest of up to 1.5% a month.
| Fee | Amount | When | Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of weekly Gross Sales | Every Wednesday | Item 6 |
| Advertising and Development Fund | Up to 4.5% (currently 4.5%); 2.25% Non-Traditional | Every Wednesday | Item 6 |
| Cooperative advertising | Up to 2% of Gross Sales | As the cooperative directs | Item 6 |
| Local marketing spend | At least 0.5% of weekly Gross Sales | From 120 days after opening | Item 11 |
| Transfer | $12,500 new owner; $7,500 existing franchisee; $2,500 immediate family | Half on request, balance before closing | Item 6 |
| Successor franchise | $10,000 | At renewal after 10 years | Items 6, 17 |
| Relocation | $2,500 plus costs | As incurred | Item 6 |
| Non-compliance | $250, then $500, then $1,000 per repeat | When billed | Item 6 |
Without an incentive, the percentage charges reach 11% of Gross Sales (6% royalty, 4.5% fund, 0.5% local) and up to 13% if a 2% cooperative is formed. If the franchise ends early through your default or walk-away, note 8 allows liquidated damages of up to 36 months of your average monthly royalty.
| Worked example: a 3-restaurant development deal | Arithmetic | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Development fee at signing | 3 restaurants x $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Fee balance per Franchise Agreement | $35,000 minus $10,000 credited | $25,000 each |
| Total initial fees, 3 units | $30,000 + (3 x $25,000) | $105,000 |
| Item 7 for 3 traditional units, before any overlap | 3 x $366,200 to 3 x $733,500 | $1,098,600 to $2,200,500 |
The example applies Item 5 as written: the development fee is $10,000 per restaurant and “the balance of the initial franchise fee” is due when each Franchise Agreement is signed. A development deal requires at least 3 restaurants (Item 1); our area development agreement research explains schedule and default terms. Ask the franchisor whether any of the three openings would qualify for Standard or Strategic credits.
Who sells you the franchise, and where does Inspire Brands fit?
The franchisor is Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV, LLC, a Delaware company formed June 12, 2017 for a securitization; Jimmy John’s Franchise, LLC was franchisor from 1993 until July 2017 and now provides support under a management agreement (Item 1). Inspire Brands, Inc. became an indirect parent on October 18, 2019, and Item 1 ties the system to funds managed by Roark Capital Management, LLC.
Inspire ownership shows up in the cost in two places. Multi-Brand Locations pair Jimmy John’s with Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings or Sonic, each under its own franchise agreement; our Dunkin’ franchise cost page covers that side. Item 8 reports that the franchisor and affiliates received $65,600,000 from suppliers on franchisee purchases in fiscal 2025, including $3,400,000 for convention costs, and that restricted purchases are “virtually 100%” of the total.
Jimmy John’s itself sold no products directly to franchisees in fiscal 2025 (Item 8), so the money flows through designated suppliers, including Checkmate.com, Inc., in which Inspire Brands owns an interest. Our franchise supplier rebate study places the $65,600,000 figure next to other systems’ Item 8 disclosures.
How many months from signing to the first sandwich?
Item 11 estimates 9 to 12 months from signing the Franchise Agreement and paying the fee to opening. Two contract deadlines sit behind that estimate: you must secure an accepted site within 12 months and open within 16 months, and missing either is a non-curable default under Item 17. Jimmy John’s answers a site proposal in about 30 days.
| Milestone | Timing | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Sign; pay $35,000 fee | Month 0 | Item 5 |
| Site decision | About 30 days after you submit a site | Item 11 |
| Four-week training program | Scheduled 10 to 12 weeks before opening | Item 11 |
| Estimated opening | 9 to 12 months after signing | Item 11 |
| Site secured | Within 12 months | Items 11, 17 |
| Opening deadline | Within 16 months | Items 11, 17 |
| Development costs submitted (incentive deals) | Within 120 days of opening | Item 6 |
| Local marketing 0.5% begins; suggested grand opening | Day 120; days 90 to 120 | Items 7, 11 |
Staffing is part of opening cost. For a first restaurant, certified managers must cover 14 full shifts a week for the first 12 months, and your Operations Partner must work at least 5 half shifts on 5 separate days each week (Item 11). Two trainees attend at no fee; each extra trainee costs $1,000 a week.
Are more Jimmy John’s restaurants opening than closing?
Item 20 of the 2026 FDD shows franchised restaurants rising from 2,602 at the end of 2023 to 2,647 in 2024 and 2,737 in 2025. Openings climbed from 58 to 88 to 123, while terminations, non-renewals and other closures fell from 53 to 43 to 33. Company-owned units dipped from 42 to 40.
Franchised openings rose from 58 to 123 and exits fell from 53 to 33 between 2023 and 2025. Jimmy John’s FDD issued March 26, 2026, Item 20.
| Item 20 measure | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchised outlets, year end | 2,602 | 2,647 | 2,737 |
| Franchised openings | 58 | 88 | 123 |
| Terminations, non-renewals and ceased operations | 53 | 43 | 33 |
| Transfers between franchisees | 205 | 170 | 124 |
| Company-owned outlets, year end | 42 | 42 | 40 |
Table 5 lists 75 signed Franchise Agreements not yet open and projects 87 franchised and 3 company openings in the coming year. Item 19 reports Annual Unit Volumes for 2,581 franchised restaurants that were open all of 2025; this site does not republish those figures, and our Item 19 research explains how to read them in the FDD itself.
Which Jimmy John’s route fits your capital and your market?
The route that costs least on paper depends on location rules in Items 5 and 6, not on the brand. A new traditional unit in a listed market with a signature before March 31, 2027 carries the largest credits, while buying an existing restaurant skips most of Item 7 but carries a transfer fee and upgrade costs. Each row below names the Jimmy John’s clause and dollar figure to confirm for that buyer.
| If your situation is | Then the 2026 FDD route is | Figure to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Site in a Strategic Market, signing by March 31, 2027 | New traditional unit under the Strategic program | $175,000 royalty credit; 1% fund in year 1 |
| Site in a Standard Market, signing by March 31, 2027 | New traditional unit under the Standard program | $125,000 credit; 2% fund in year 1 |
| Market on neither list | Standard terms unless a case-by-case incentive is offered | 6% royalty and 4.5% fund from day 1 |
| Under $366,200 to spend and access to a campus, airport or hospital | Non-Traditional unit | $206,200 low; $17,500 fee; 2.25% fund |
| You already run a Dunkin’ | Retrofit Multi-Brand | $42,500 credit; must open by December 31, 2027 |
| Reopening a restaurant closed within the last year | Reduced fee | $12,500, or $5,000 for an existing franchisee |
| Buying an open restaurant from a franchisee | Transfer with upgrades to current standards | $12,500 transfer fee; remodel cost varies by condition |
| Liquid assets under $200,000 | Short of Inspire Brands’ published minimum | $200,000 liquid and $1,000,000 net worth |
For sandwich-brand comparisons with different skeletons, our Jersey Mike’s cost breakdown centres on a required development agreement and our Subway cost breakdown on a lower Item 7 floor. Read all 23 Items of the franchise disclosure document before signing. This page is general information, not legal, financial or investment advice.
How we compiled this
We read the Jimmy John’s FDD issued March 26, 2026 and the FDD issued March 27, 2025, both downloaded from the Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS database, and checked that every Item 7 column sums to its printed total. Liquidity minimums come from Inspire Brands’ franchising page, opened November 8, 2026. We excluded all Item 19 sales figures by site policy and named no franchisees from the Item 20 lists.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Jimmy John's franchise cost?
The Jimmy John’s FDD issued March 26, 2026 puts a traditional restaurant at $366,200 to $733,500 and a Non-Traditional restaurant at $206,200 to $686,000 (Item 7). Both include one month of rent and a deposit but no land purchase. Leasehold improvements and equipment make up $235,000 of the traditional low estimate.
How much is the Jimmy John's franchise fee?
Item 5 of the 2026 FDD sets the initial franchise fee at $35,000 for a standard traditional restaurant and $17,500 for a Non-Traditional Location. Reopening a restaurant closed within the last year costs $12,500, or $5,000 for an existing franchisee in good standing. Development deals add a $10,000 fee per restaurant, with the balance of each franchise fee due later.
How much does a Jimmy John's franchise owner make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Owner income depends on the 6% royalty and 4.5% fund contribution (Item 6), rent, wages, debt on a $366,200 to $733,500 investment (Item 7) and any royalty credit you qualify for. Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports Annual Unit Volumes for 2,581 franchised restaurants; it shows no profit figures.
What are the requirements to own a Jimmy John's?
Inspire Brands’ franchising page asks for $200,000 in liquid assets and $1,000,000 in net worth. The 2026 FDD adds operating rules: an Operations Partner working 5 half shifts a week, certified managers covering 14 full shifts weekly in year 1 of a first restaurant, a four-week training program, mandatory delivery, and an accepted site within 12 months.
Who owns Jimmy John's?
Inspire Brands, Inc. acquired Jimmy John’s LLC on October 18, 2019 and is an indirect parent of the franchisor, Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV, LLC (Item 1 of the 2026 FDD). Inspire also owns Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, and Item 1 links the group to funds managed by Roark Capital Management, LLC.
Can you open just one Jimmy John's restaurant?
Yes. Item 1 of the 2026 FDD offers single Franchise Agreements, with development rights as an option for at least 3 restaurants at $10,000 per restaurant. Royalty credits of $125,000 or $175,000 apply to single new traditional units too, if the market is on the Standard or Strategic list and you sign by March 31, 2027.
Sources
- Jimmy John’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV, LLC, Minnesota CARDS document 35680-202603-02, Items 1, 5 to 12, 17, 19, 20. Accessed November 8, 2026.
- Jimmy John’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2025, Minnesota CARDS document 33190-202503-07, Items 5 to 7, 20. Accessed November 8, 2026.
- Jimmy John’s franchising page, Inspire Brands. Accessed November 8, 2026.
- 16 CFR 436.5, Disclosure items, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Accessed November 8, 2026.