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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Port of Subs Franchise

Port of Subs is a quick-service sandwich franchise built around made-fresh-to-order subs, wraps, salads, breakfast items and catering, with meats and cheeses sliced in front of the customer. The brand began in 1972 as a single submarine shop in Sparks, Nevada, was bought by the Larsen family in 1975, and started franchising in 1985, building a loyal following across seven Western U.S. states.

The model is a quick-service restaurant operating all day across breakfast, lunch and dinner, in both traditional and non-traditional formats. Revenue comes from several streams: in-store dining, catering and party trays, drive-thru where available, and online and mobile-app ordering. Franchisees operate within defined market areas protected from competing Port of Subs locations.

In 2023 the brand was acquired by Area 15 Ventures, the investment firm led by Dave Liniger, co-founder of RE/MAX, which is funding a nationwide expansion beyond its West Coast base through single-unit and regional-developer models.

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Why buy a Port of Subs Franchise?

Buying a Port of Subs franchise gives an owner an established sandwich brand with more than 50 years of operating history and a recognisable name across the Western U.S. The all-day, multi-revenue model spanning in-store dining, catering, drive-thru and digital ordering gives a single location several ways to build sales, and catering has become a strong community and B2B channel for many operators.

The brand sits in a resilient quick-service category and is backed since 2023 by Area 15 Ventures and RE/MAX co-founder Dave Liniger, bringing fresh capital, new store designs, national marketing and a rewards programme. Owners benefit from defined market areas, brand-wide promotions and seasonal limited-time offers that drive traffic.

Port of Subs Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1972

    • Franchising Since

      1985

    • New Startup Cost

      $419,895 – $856,875

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      126

    • New Units Opened *

      8

    • Units Transferred *

      9

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $551,542

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Port of Subs – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners complete a four-week certification programme run at corporate training facilities in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, and in an operating restaurant, with roughly 200 hours of on-the-job training, 25–40 hours of classroom instruction and 30–50 hours of self-study. Ongoing support covers operations, co-op and national advertising, social media, SEO and proprietary software tools. Resale buyers should confirm what certification transfers with existing staff and what onboarding the franchisor provides to incoming ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Port of Subs suits a hands-on, operations-led owner comfortable running a daily quick-service restaurant, managing and scheduling a team of roughly six to ten employees and maintaining food-quality and service standards. Strong local and community engagement helps, since catering, school partnerships and neighbourhood relationships drive much of the business. Restaurant experience is useful but not required given the structured training. The model fits owner-operators as well as those looking to scale into multi-unit or regional development.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Port of Subs ranked #228 in Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500, was named a Top 10 sandwich brand and featured among fastest-growing chains, and appears on Franchise Times' Top 400. It has been recognised in the Franchise 500 across multiple earlier years (2010–2013 among them) and in Restaurants & Institutions' Top 400. The brand is an IFA member, participates in the VetFran programme and holds SBA Franchise Registry approval. Resale buyers should weigh brand recognition alongside the specific territory's local reviews and reputation.

  4. Industry / Market

    Port of Subs competes in the U.S. sandwich and sub restaurant segment, which generates roughly $46 billion in annual revenue (IBISWorld), within a broader U.S. quick-service restaurant market valued at about $254 billion. Demand is supported by consumers seeking fresh, customisable, convenient meals and by growth in digital, mobile and catering ordering. Quick-service food has historically proved resilient across economic cycles. For resale buyers, local factors such as daytime traffic, nearby workplaces and catering relationships shape a specific unit's performance.

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