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Financing a Firehouse Subs with an SBA loan

Since FY2020, 46 Firehouse Subs locations changed hands on an SBA 7(a) loan. Here is what those deals looked like, what the brand costs to open, which lenders wrote the loans, and where the brand stands with the SBA.

Firehouse Subs franchising: franchising.firehousesubs.com

Acquisition loans
46
since FY2020
Median loan size
$300,000
FY2025 to FY2026 Q3
Median rate
10.24%
at approval
Total approved
$7M
FY2025 to FY2026 Q3

What a Firehouse Subs deal looks like

Firehouse Subs is an established brand in the SBA loan file: 46 acquisitions cleared underwriting in the last five years. The median loan was $300,000 at 10.24 percent. Amortized over 10 years, that is about $4,004 a month, or $48,054 a year in debt service. SBA's 10 percent minimum equity injection on a deal that size is roughly $33,333 of buyer cash, some of which a seller note on standby can sometimes cover.

Illustrative only: the median loan is not a purchase price, and every deal differs. Model your own in the deal analyzer or the DSCR calculator.

7(a) or 504 for a Firehouse Subs?

Firehouse Subs is typically a leasehold business: the value is goodwill, equipment, and the brand, not real estate. That points to an SBA 7(a) loan, usually amortized over 10 years. The 504 program, which finances owner-occupied real estate, is rarely the fit here unless the deal happens to include a building. Model the payment in the 7(a) calculator and check coverage in the DSCR calculator.

What it costs to open a Firehouse Subs

These are Firehouse Subs's own franchise terms, set by the franchisor and separate from the SBA loan. They matter to a buyer because the franchise fee and the build-out are part of the project the loan has to cover, and lenders weigh the net-worth and liquidity minimums when they size a deal.

Total initial investment
$405,350 to $875,950
Initial franchise fee
$20,000
Ongoing royalty
6% of gross sales
Net worth required
$300,000
Liquid capital required
$150,000

Quick-service restaurant (sub sandwiches), figures from the 2026 FDD. Sources: Franchise Chatter — Firehouse Subs 2026 FDD review (Item 7 investment, fee, royalty), Franchise Chatter — Firehouse Subs 2025 FDD review (prior-year figures), Firehouse Subs official franchising site — FAQs (net worth $300k, liquid capital $150k, fee $20k), Firehouse Subs official franchising site — Investment (format ranges, royalty 6%, ad 5%). Franchise economics are drawn from each brand's public Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD Items 5 and 7) and reputable third-party franchise databases, compiled for independent editorial reference. The Closing Binder is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any franchisor listed. Franchise fee, investment, royalty, and net-worth figures are set by the franchisor and change with each FDD; confirm current terms in the brand's latest FDD before relying on them.

Lenders that actually write these

The banks below approved the most Firehouse Subs acquisitions in the file. A lender that has funded this brand before is the fastest path through underwriting.

SBA conditions on this brand

Firehouse Subs is listed in the SBA Franchise Directory with no brand-specific lender conditions on file. A lender still runs the standard franchise review, but there is no special addendum or lease restriction attached to this brand.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to buy a Firehouse Subs franchise?

Opening a Firehouse Subs takes a total initial investment of about $405,350 to $875,950, including a $20,000 initial franchise fee, per the brand's FDD. Buying an existing location is priced differently: the median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan for Firehouse Subs was $300,000 in the federal loan file.

Can you buy a Firehouse Subs with an SBA loan?

Yes. 46 Firehouse Subs locations were acquired with SBA 7(a) financing since FY2020, and the brand is listed in the SBA Franchise Directory. A lender runs the standard SBA franchise review as part of underwriting.

How much do you need for a down payment on a Firehouse Subs?

SBA requires a minimum 10 percent equity injection. On the median Firehouse Subs loan of $300,000, that is roughly $33,333 of buyer cash, though a seller note kept on full standby can cover part of it. The rest is financed over about 10 years, around $4,004 a month at the median rate.

Which lenders finance Firehouse Subs acquisitions?

Live Oak Banking Company, SouthWest Bank and Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company wrote the most Firehouse Subs acquisition loans in the federal file. A lender that has funded the brand before knows its franchise agreement and tends to move faster. See the full lender detail above.

Other restaurant brands buyers finance

Loan counts, median size, median rate, and lender ranking are computed from the SBA 7(a) FOIA file, change of ownership approvals, FY2025 to FY2026 Q3, as of June 30, 2026. Eligibility, the identifier code, and any conditions are from the SBA Franchise Directory, effective August 11, 2026. Franchise cost figures are from Firehouse Subs's public FDD and third-party franchise databases. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Firehouse Subs or its franchisor, and directory listing is not an endorsement of any individual deal. Methodology.