How to Make Subway Look Like a Good Opportunity

Entrepreneur.com’s Janean Chun posted an article entitled,  Can You Buy a Big Franchise?  The topic seemed interesting so I read it.  The article essentially says you too can own popular franchise brands, if you meet the net worth requirements.  She supports her proposition by interviewing a Subway agent in California as a credible source, where he implies that Subway is a strict selector of franchisees who only work with entrepreurs, not investors.  What a hoot.  Disgruntled franchisees would disagree.

Similar Posts:

Article by Ryan Knoll

Ryan is an attorney and valuation specialist residing in Chicago. He chronicles his thoughts and research on FranchisePundit.com. You may reach him by email ryanknoll@gmail.com or mobile telephone 312-715-8115. Read 448 articles by
10 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Anonymous says:

    Being as big as they are, Subway has become the poster child for deceptive sales and expensive required purchase . I have yet to read on the Internet where someone recommends becoming a Subway franchisee.

  2. I have 22 years with Subway and have seen and heard almost everything. Many franchisees have made very good money over 10-15 years, others have not and cannot stand the franchise. I see both sides.
    Subway has matured in many ways including Sales, and it has changed it’s entry requirements for new franchisees. The Business plan and interview are more tricky. The cash flow is up about 50-80% per store compared to pre year 2000.
    And Michael Phelps will take it to the next level in 2009.

    I recommend it to some , not others. Want to read more? I invite you to http://www.mrfranchiseman.com

  3. Subway can be a great opportunity if you buy it at the right price and structure the deal correctly. It is impossible to go into every detail here, but there are many Subway franchisees who are very successful-and most banks familiar with the brand are still lending, thereby fueling acquisitions by existing franchisees who obviously believe in their brand.
    They are becoming harder to find though

    mrfranchiseman.com

  4. walter a. connolly says:

    why does subway have to sign the lease
    and the person who owes the subway does not sign the lease. a landlord would be dealing with a third party. this does not make sense…

  5. walter a. connolly says:

    peace

  6. walter a. connolly says:

    walter a. connolly wrote on January 15, 2009 @ 12:12 pm:

    peace

  7. Walter,

    Subway has a dummy corporation that signs their leases, then they sublease to the franchisee. That gives them more control over the franchisee and his location. If the Zee goes against the system and they want him out, or he fails financially for various resons, it is easier to deal with him on a landlord-tenant basis and kick him out nd takeover the location, than to terminate his franchise agreement as the first tactic. It is about control. If you default on your lease. that is automatically a default of the Franchise Agreement, so you can be terminated as a Zee. Don’t misunderstand me here: Subway is not in the business of taking over stores and they do so reluctantly, but it is a very powerful weapon, and 21,000 US sublessees signed on and agreed to this arrangement.

    mrfranchiseman.com

  8. Walter,

    On another angle: when there are store transfers, as long as the new incoming Zee is a bona fide franchisee, he gets the sublease automatically ususally without significant interference from the landlord. Makes the whole process easier for the two parties dealing with a buy-sell situation , or even an inheritance one.

    mrfranchiseman.com for Subway advice

  9. jackie says:

    In 2004 we wanted to buy a subway, we did and signed with them and put up a guarenty with a large mall, needless to say we never opened the site, subway got another tenant and they paid us the franchisee fee which we had originally paid subway. Subway then with the new owner went and opened the site 4 months later in this mall. Needless to say the subway closed its doors in 2009 and we received a summons/suit from the mall sueing us from our guarenty we signed. The subway I heard had two owners since then. Are we in trouble does’nt the lease default to subway. Subway sent us a memorandum of the lease with the new owners on it and registered it at the county office. We are practically dying here, its a big mall they want 104,000 in back rent and 600,000 full committment monies, both subway and us were on the summons.
    Does’nt the lease default to subway or are we on the hook almost 5 years later. This summons came out of the Blue. Anyone out there ever in this situation? Please help

    • If you did not get off the lease and guarantee entirely when you sold it, you have a contingent liability theoretically. But they will go after everyone in the chain of owners and perhaps the deep pockets pay at the end………….your broker should have told you about this
      I suggest you wait and see what Subway and the DA do in this case……then pray

      mrfrannchiseman

Leave a Reply




RSS Discussion Forum

  • Re: De-Identify February 7, 2012
    There are several issues here.1)   Ethics – though your franchisor may not have lived up to your expectations if they are meeting the letter of the law then I am not sure you have the moral upperhand.  If you signed on to pay and advertising fee without... […]
  • Re: De-Identify February 5, 2012
    it would be leaving early..Its a Franchise that has lost over 30 units in the past few years. and is not living up to what we bought into.. advertising fee's are not being used on anything for the franchisee. and there is no support from the franchise... […]
  • Re: De-Identify February 4, 2012
    Quote from: jerichox on February 01, 2012, 08:27:34 AMJust wondering if you guys think its a smart idea for a franchisee to de-identify his store? Also.. Franchises normally have a list of items that need to be changed to the color of ... […]
  • De-Identify February 1, 2012
    Just wondering if you guys think its a smart idea for a franchisee to de-identify his store? Also.. Franchises normally have a list of items that need to be changed to the color of the walls to the lights that hang.. How would you go about doing this.... […]
  • Re: franchise directory January 8, 2012
    Remember if  you approach a franchisor and that franchisor uses brokers you should be able to reduce your franchise fee by the price of the commision they would pay to a broker.    You have bargaining power before you sign the FA not after!!!!Moreover... […]

Blog Categories

Old Posts