Church's Chicken vs Firehouse Subs
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Church's Chicken and Firehouse Subs are full-service restaurants franchises. Church's Chicken requires an investment of $1.2M – $1.9M while Firehouse Subs requires $405K – $1.6M. In terms of revenue, Church's Chicken reports higher average unit revenue at $1.3M. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. On SBA loan performance, Church's Chicken has a lower charge-off rate (5.6%) compared to Firehouse Subs (11.1%). FranchiseVerdict rates Church's Chicken A (Strongest tier) and Firehouse Subs A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Church's Chicken | Firehouse Subs |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $1.2M – $1.9M | $405K – $1.6M |
| Franchise Fee | $20K | $20K |
| Royalty Rate | 5.0% | 6.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $1.3MOutlet subset | $974KOutlet subset |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 5.6% (31 loans) | 11.1% (638 loans) |
| Total Units | 885 | 1,291 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1964 | 2004 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Investment Range
$1.2M – $1.9M
$405K – $1.6M
Franchise Fee
$20K
$20K
Royalty Rate
5.0%
6.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$1.3MOutlet subset
$974KOutlet subset
SBA Charge-Off Rate
5.6% (31 loans)
11.1% (638 loans)
Total Units
885
1,291
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1964
2004
FDD Year
2026
2026