Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Potbelly Sandwich Shop vs Jimmy John's
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #98
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Toasted Subs & Hand-Spun Shakes
Good Vibes & Great Sandwiches
Parent Holding:Potbelly Sandwich Shop Corporation
Contender 2Rank #35
Jimmy John's
Gourmet Subs & Delivery
Freaky Fast, Freaky Fresh
Parent Holding:Inspire Brands (Roark Capital)
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Potbelly Sandwich Shop | Jimmy John's | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.47M | $4.80M | Jimmy John's (+7%) |
| Active Store Locations | 466 | 2,777 | Jimmy John's (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $2.20M – $4.80M | $2.20M – $4.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $750k | $750k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 4.5% | 4.5% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.0% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $2.10B | $13.30B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Potbelly Sandwich Shop:Toast Restaurant POS
Jimmy John's:Toast Restaurant POS
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Potbelly Sandwich Shop:Toast KDS
Jimmy John's:Toast Kitchen Display
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Potbelly Sandwich Shop:0% (0 stores)
Jimmy John's:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Potbelly Sandwich Shop:0% (0 stores)
Jimmy John's:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.