Firehouse Subs vs Golden Corral
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Firehouse Subs and Golden Corral are full-service restaurants franchises. Firehouse Subs requires an investment of $405K – $1.6M while Golden Corral requires $4.9M – $8.5M. In terms of revenue, Golden Corral reports higher average unit revenue at $4.9M. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. On SBA loan performance, Firehouse Subs has a lower charge-off rate (11.1%) compared to Golden Corral (12.8%). FranchiseVerdict rates Firehouse Subs A (Strongest tier) and Golden Corral A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Firehouse Subs | Golden Corral |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $405K – $1.6M | $4.9M – $8.5M |
| Franchise Fee | $20K | $50K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $974KOutlet subset | $4.9MOutlet subset |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 11.1% (638 loans) | 12.8% (225 loans) |
| Total Units | 1,291 | 348 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 2004 | 1986 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Investment Range
$405K – $1.6M
$4.9M – $8.5M
Franchise Fee
$20K
$50K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
4.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$974KOutlet subset
$4.9MOutlet subset
SBA Charge-Off Rate
11.1% (638 loans)
12.8% (225 loans)
Total Units
1,291
348
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
2004
1986
FDD Year
2026
2026