Firehouse Subs vs Penn Station, Inc.
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Firehouse Subs and Penn Station, Inc. are full-service restaurants franchises. Firehouse Subs requires an investment of $405K – $1.6M while Penn Station, Inc. requires $441K – $820K. In terms of revenue, Firehouse Subs reports higher average unit revenue at $974K. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. On SBA loan performance, Penn Station, Inc. has a lower charge-off rate (2.0%) compared to Firehouse Subs (11.1%). FranchiseVerdict rates Firehouse Subs A (Strongest tier) and Penn Station, Inc. A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Firehouse Subs | Penn Station, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $405K – $1.6M | $441K – $820K |
| Franchise Fee | $20K | $25K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | Tiered monthly royalty on net sales: 0-2% on net sales <$30,000 (0% during 5-yr abatement window, else 2%); 3% on $30,000-$35,000; 4% on $35,000-$40,000; 5% on $40,000-$45,000; 6% on $45,000-$50,000; 7% on $50,000-$55,000; 8% on net sales >$55,000 (monthly tiers, "Current Royalty Rates") |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $974KOutlet subset | $820K |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 11.1% (638 loans) | 2.0% (50 loans) |
| Total Units | 1,291 | 322 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 2004 | 1987 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Investment Range
$405K – $1.6M
$441K – $820K
Franchise Fee
$20K
$25K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
Tiered monthly royalty on net sales: 0-2% on net sales <$30,000 (0% during 5-yr abatement window, else 2%); 3% on $30,000-$35,000; 4% on $35,000-$40,000; 5% on $40,000-$45,000; 6% on $45,000-$50,000; 7% on $50,000-$55,000; 8% on net sales >$55,000 (monthly tiers, "Current Royalty Rates")
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$974KOutlet subset
$820K
SBA Charge-Off Rate
11.1% (638 loans)
2.0% (50 loans)
Total Units
1,291
322
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
2004
1987
FDD Year
2026
N/A