Jersey Mike's Subs vs Taco Bell: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Food & Restaurant Real Data Not Investment Advice
JM

Jersey Mike's Subs

Food & Restaurant
$182K – $1.4M
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VS
TB

Taco Bell

Food & Restaurant
$576K – $3.4M
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Jersey Mike's Subs wins on investment range ($2.0M less) vs Taco Bell.
Fee Burden
Taco Bell wins on royalty rate (1.0% lower) vs Jersey Mike's Subs.
Unit Count
Taco Bell wins on total units (5,244 more) vs Jersey Mike's Subs.
Satisfaction
Jersey Mike's Subs wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Taco Bell.

Investment & Fees

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Min Investment $182K $576K
Max Investment $1.4M $3.4M
Franchise Fee $19K $45K
Royalty Rate 6.5% 5.5%
Ad Fund Rate N/A 4.3%

Unit Economics

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Avg Unit Revenue $1.3M $2.1M
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Total Units 3,256 8,500
Annual Growth N/A 3.5%
Failure Rate N/A 2.0%

Franchisee Performance

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Franchisee Satisfaction 74/100 73/100

Track Record

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Years in Business N/A 62
Years Franchising N/A 58

Financial Requirements

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Min Net Worth Required N/A $1.5M
Liquid Capital Required N/A $750K

Operations

Metric Jersey Mike's Subs Taco Bell
Avg Employees N/A 35
Training Weeks N/A 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jersey Mike's Subs or Taco Bell a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Jersey Mike's Subs has 3,256 total units and a 74/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Taco Bell has 8,500 total units and a 73/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Jersey Mike's Subs franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Jersey Mike's Subs franchise requires an initial investment of $182K – $1.4M. The franchise fee is $19K, with ongoing royalties of 6.5%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Taco Bell franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Taco Bell franchise requires an initial investment of $576K – $3.4M. The franchise fee is $45K, with ongoing royalties of 5.5%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Jersey Mike's Subs vs Taco Bell?

Jersey Mike's Subs's royalty rate is 6.5%. Taco Bell's royalty rate is 5.5%. That means Taco Bell has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Jersey Mike's Subs or Taco Bell?

Jersey Mike's Subs has 3,256 total units. Taco Bell has 8,500 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Jersey Mike's Subs or Taco Bell semi-absentee friendly?

Jersey Mike's Subs is typically run as a owner-operator model. Taco Bell is typically run as a semi-absentee model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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