Jimmy Johns Franchise Cost: Startup & Ongoing Costs

A traditional Jimmy John's is a leased storefront, so its startup cost sits well below the free-standing restaurant chains that need land and a purpose-built building. The cost table still has room to move, and the biggest swing comes from the lease and the interior work it triggers.

The data comes from Item 7 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the section where a franchisor estimates what a new owner will spend before opening. Item 5 sets the initial fee and Item 6 lists ongoing fees. The figures describe a traditional location, and they were last checked on Oct 13, 2026.

The 2026 estimate is $366,200 – $733,500, and the document says it excludes real estate purchase costs. That detail matters if you plan to own the property. The table assumes you rent, so a purchase would be additional.

Two lines drive most of the range. Leasehold improvements run $115,000 – $310,000, and furniture, fixtures, signage, and equipment (including the computer and point-of-sale system) run $120,000 – $215,000. If the space already has the right layout, you may spend less on improvements. A shell that needs plumbing and electrical work costs more.

Rent, deposits, and design

The pre-opening rent items are small compared with build-out. One month of rent is $2,500 – $8,000, and the security deposit is $2,500 – $8,000. Architect and design services are $9,500 – $22,000. Insurance is listed at $11,500 – $20,000, so ask an agent for a quote before you assume the low end.

Training, inventory, and the opening reserve

Training expenses for up to three people are $6,000 – $15,000. Opening inventory and supplies are a single figure of $6,000. The grand opening event is $3,000 – $5,000. The last line is working capital for three months, at $50,000 – $75,000.

Training travel is easy to overlook. Check where training takes place and who must attend, because airfare, lodging, and lost shifts at home can exceed the figure if you bring more than the planned number of people.

The initial franchise fee is $35,000. Entrepreneur lists a minimum net worth of $1,000,000 and a cash requirement of $200,000. Treat those as screening thresholds and ask the franchisor for the current requirements in writing.

Jimmy John's charges its ongoing fees on weekly gross sales. The royalty is 6%. The advertising and development fund is listed as up to 4.5%, and the document says the full amount is currently charged. The agreement also allows cooperative advertising programs, which can add to the total, so ask what your local group spends.

Because the fees are calculated on weekly sales, they move with your revenue rather than staying fixed, and they come out before rent and payroll are covered. Build a weekly cash buffer into your budget so a slow week does not leave you short.

Drive-thru and non-traditional locations

The same disclosure document describes other formats. A drive-thru location, a campus or airport unit, and a standard storefront each have different costs and sometimes different fee rates. The document notes a lower advertising rate for non-traditional locations, which shows that the fee schedule can change with format. If your plan involves anything other than a traditional storefront, ask for that format's Item 7 table and fee schedule, and do not reuse the numbers on this page.

Three sources are compared below, and they differ slightly at the top of the range. Franchise Chatter and Entrepreneur report the same figure. VetMyFranchise reports a slightly lower maximum. Small gaps like that typically come from rounding, a copying error in an extracted table, or a source reading a different version of the document. When you see two close numbers, go to the FDD and read the actual line.

Larger gaps usually mean a different format. Drive-thru locations, non-traditional locations, and traditional storefronts each have their own tables, and the totals are not interchangeable. The figures on this page are for the traditional format only.

• What format is available in the trade area you want, and how does its table differ?
• How does the franchisor review a site, and who pays for the design work?
• What cooperative advertising obligations apply locally?
• What happens at renewal, and does the fee structure change?
• Does the FDD include financial performance information in Item 19, and which locations does it include?

Take the full document to a franchise attorney and an accountant before you sign a lease or pay a deposit. A lease signed before the franchise agreement is final can leave you exposed.