How to Start a Subway Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

Subway’s current public FAQ separately estimates about 4–12 months to open, depending on existing-space versus ground-up construction and site, permit, and construction issues. For FDD-governed process claims, this article uses the newer 2026 FDD’s 2–12 month typical range and preserves the FDD’s contractual deadlines separately.

Subway’s current U.S. franchise site publishes financial minimums and an experience preference, while the Franchise Agreement makes truthful, complete application and ownership information a contractual premise. The public minimums are $150,000 net worth and $100,000 liquid assets per location; Subway says higher thresholds may apply by territory. It prefers that the candidate, or an equity partner, have restaurant, business, or franchising experience. These are qualification screens, not a promise of approval.

The sequence is inquiry and qualification, disclosure and due diligence, candidacy approval or award, then execution of the agreement set that matches the location and development path. Subway’s official ownership path begins with a questionnaire, says qualified prospects receive FDD access, and places formal application after a discovery and due-diligence process.

Under the FTC Franchise Rule, the prospective franchisee must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before signing a binding franchise-related agreement or paying money to the franchisor or an affiliate. The FTC Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Franchise also explains that a prospect may request the FDD once the franchisor has received the application and agreed to consider it. State law or a state-specific addendum can add requirements, so the exact documents for the buyer’s state must be checked before signing.

For a standard unit, the core contract is the Franchise Agreement. A multi-unit developer may sign a Development Agreement plus one or more Franchise Agreements or a Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement. Non-traditional, military, satellite, school, dual-location, co-branded, or other approved programs may add a Franchise Agreement Rider, location-specific rider, concession/subconcession document, Sublease or Sublicense, or third-party agreement. The initial franchise fee, when applicable, is triggered at Franchise Agreement signing; this opening-process article does not reproduce the full fee schedule.

The standard new-unit path has eight decision-relevant stages. The order below follows the 2026 FDD, Franchise Agreement, and Subway’s current U.S. ownership materials; special formats can change the agreement set, real-estate route, and deadlines.

A Subway site can be approved without giving the franchisee an exclusive or protected territory, and site approval does not itself approve a lease. Item 12 states that the standard franchise receives no exclusive territory, radius restriction, or right to block another Subway location. The Franchise Agreement separately requires a specific Approved Location and a distinct lease or sublease process.

For initial screening, Subway’s official real-estate page currently identifies preferred formats such as shared pads, outparcels, freestanding sites and endcaps, generally cites 1,200–1,800 square feet as an ideal building size, and lists a 15,000+ average daily traffic preference. Those are supplemental screening criteria; the Franchise Agreement’s written approval procedure controls the contractual site process.

Before opening, the franchisee or Designated Manager, plus any other people required by the Operations Manual, must successfully complete the New Franchisee Onboard Training Program to Subway’s satisfaction. The 2026 FDD discloses 144 hours across web-based, facilitated, and on-the-job components. Successful completion requires 100% participation, an 80% final grade on prerequisite web-based and in-restaurant components, and an 80% average on assessments.

The facilitated portion may occur at Subway facilities in Miami, Florida, Shelton, Connecticut, or an approved regional training facility. The FDD says on-the-job training is scheduled in an approved Subway restaurant. Up to two people may attend the initial program without tuition, one of whom must be the franchisee or a Designated Manager; travel, lodging, meals, wages, and other personal expenses remain the franchisee’s responsibility.

The franchisee carries the primary duty to make the premises legally and operationally ready. The standard Franchise Agreement requires the necessary licenses, permits and approvals, completed leasehold improvements, trained personnel, and initial inventory before opening. It also requires approved equipment and systems and ongoing compliance with the Operations Manual.

Subway’s public FAQ identifies Independent Purchasing Co-op as the supply-chain manager and exclusive purchasing agent for Subway restaurants. The FDD and Franchise Agreement still control which products, equipment, vendors, technology, and exceptions are mandatory for the specific restaurant.

Do not assume one Subway agreement or one opening deadline covers every format. The 2026 FDD distinguishes standard units from Development Agreement and Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement paths, and it includes riders for general non-traditional, school, military, satellite, dual-location, co-brand, and other programs. Subway’s official growth-opportunities page also markets traditional, buy-and-build, and flexible non-traditional formats.

Three timing points deserve separate treatment: federal disclosure timing, site approval timing, and the contractual opening deadline. None is the same as the FDD’s typical 2–12 month opening range, and none should be converted into a buyer-specific calendar date without the actual trigger date.

Item 5 says a standard franchisee may request an extension in writing. If Doctor’s Associates LLC grants it in writing, the franchisee pays the disclosed $1,000 non-refundable extension fee, signs the then-current form of Franchise Agreement, receives one additional year to open, and has no right to another extension under that procedure. That is a discretionary process, not an automatic right.

The most useful verification work is document-specific and location-specific. Before a binding commitment, reconcile the FDD summary with the actual Franchise Agreement, Development Agreement, riders, state addenda, lease documents, and current Operations Manual requirements that apply to the proposed restaurant.

For the federal disclosure framework, review the FTC Franchise Rule and the FTC’s consumer guide. For current Subway-specific marketing steps and criteria, use the official U.S. franchise site; FDD-governed contractual obligations remain controlled by the 2026 FDD and the agreements the buyer actually signs.