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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Cousins Subs Franchise

Cousins Subs is a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise founded in 1972 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with nearly 100 locations concentrated in Wisconsin and Indiana. The brand is built around fresh-baked bread and locally sourced ingredients, captured in its “Better Bread, Better Subs” positioning. All locations follow the unified “Milwaukee Sub Shop” design, and the menu spans cold and grilled subs, salads, sides, and catering.

The brand is family-owned and privately held, with CEO Christine Specht-Palmert, daughter of co-founder Bill Specht, continuing founding-family leadership since 2015. Cousins Subs operates a branded mobile loyalty program (Cousins Club) and holds regional sports sponsorships with the Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers, and other Midwest teams. The Make It Better Foundation, established in 2013, supports hunger relief, youth education, and health and wellness in the communities it serves.

Franchise development centers on the Midwest, with multi-unit expansion core to the model; around 40% of current franchisees operate more than one location. Exclusive territories are offered, and the brand has pursued joint venture partnerships as part of its ongoing growth strategy.

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Why buy a Cousins Subs Franchise?

Cousins Subs offers access to a 50-year-old regional brand with a loyal Midwest customer base and clear product differentiation around fresh-baked bread and locally sourced ingredients. In a sandwich segment dominated by national chains, the brand’s community roots give it a local identity that resonates with repeat customers. Catering and the Cousins Club loyalty program provide additional revenue and repeat-visit drivers.

The ownership model is built for growth, with exclusive territories and multi-unit development central to how the franchisor recruits franchisees. Cousins Subs provides integrated marketing, regional advertising, and ongoing operations support. Buying a Cousins Subs franchise in an established market means inheriting brand familiarity built over decades of local presence.

Cousins Subs Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1972

    • Franchising Since

      1985

    • New Startup Cost

      $464,700 – $1,164,500

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      20%

      of Initial Franchise Fee or $5,000, whichever is greater

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Receipts

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      94

    • New Units Opened *

      7

    • Units Transferred *

      4

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $849,415

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Cousins Subs – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Cousins Subs provides 61 hours of classroom training and 185 hours of on-the-job training for incoming franchisees. Ongoing support covers integrated marketing, field operations, and proprietary software tools. Franchisees also benefit from regional and national advertising programs, the Cousins Club loyalty platform, corporate conventions, and a toll-free support line. Resale buyers should confirm with Cousins Subs what onboarding and software access transfers when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Cousins Subs suits hands-on operators comfortable managing restaurant staff and maintaining service standards in a physical location. Prior restaurant or foodservice experience is valued but not required given the training program. The model fits engaged owner-operators or franchisees with a capable general manager in place; the franchisor specifically invites candidates with an interest in multi-unit expansion. Community orientation matters alongside operational drive, as local presence and repeat-customer relationships are core to unit performance.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Cousins Subs has appeared in Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Food Franchises, ranking No. 21 in the Sandwich category in 2019. The brand maintains regional sports sponsorships with the Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, supporting brand visibility in its core markets. The Make It Better Foundation adds community credibility through philanthropy. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific unit's local reputation, customer reviews, and visibility in its territory.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US fast-casual restaurant segment is growing, with Technavio estimating US market expansion of approximately $84.5 billion from 2025 to 2029, driven by demand for fresh, higher-quality meals at accessible price points. Sandwiches are among the most frequently consumed food categories in the US; industry figures suggest more than 60% of consumers eat them at least once weekly. For resale buyers evaluating a Cousins Subs unit, local demand in its core Midwest markets and competition from national sandwich chains are the key territory-level factors to assess.

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