Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops vs Jet's Pizza Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops vs Jet's Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$313,600 - $556,100 | $437,500 - $631,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$35,000 | $25,000 |
Royalty Fee |
6% | 8%-10% |
Advertising Fee |
4.5% | Up to 1% |
Year Founded |
1983 | 1978 |
Year Franchised |
1993 | 1990 |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement |
10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee |
$2.5K | $2K |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
General business experience | General business experience Customer service & management skills |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Start-up Costs |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Equipment |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Inventory |
No/Yes | No/Yes |
Receivables |
No/No | No/Yes |
Payroll |
No/No | No/Yes |
Training & Support |
Training |
- |
On-The-Job Training: 270 hours
Classroom Training: 30 hours
|
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations | Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Grand Opening
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising | Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
Regional Advertising
Social media
SEO
Website development
Email marketing |
Operations |
- |
International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (99% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
- | Yes |
Canada Expansion |
No | No |
International Expansion |
No | No |
Company Overviews
About Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops
James J. Liautaud established Jimmy John's in Charleston, Illinois, in 1983 when he was 19 years of age. With utilized hardware, a cooler, one meat slicer, a cooler and a stove, Jimmy John Liautaud began his business without even a posted menu or an open air sign. At the time, he offered four sandwich assortments and 25-penny sodas. In the wake of going out sandwich tests all through the school town, Liautuad included conveyance benefit, tables, open air signs, menu sheets and an extended menu. He opened a few more stores and built up a model before diversifying started in 1993. Jimmy John's franchisees prepare bread at every store each day, and each sandwich is made new to arrange in 30 seconds.
Watching your calories? Try our 'Unwich' A sandwich with lettuce for a wrapping, not bread !!
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Jimmy John's
Restaurant is $313,600 to $556,100 (including initial real estate lease
costs).
This includes $30,000 to $37,000 that must be paid to the
franchisor or affiliate.
If you want development rights (for a minimum
of 3 Restaurants), you must pay the franchisor a development fee equal
to $35,000 (the initial franchise fee for the first Restaurant), plus
the $30,000 initial franchise fee due under each additional Franchise
Agreement you sign when you sign the Development Rights Rider, plus a
deposit of $10,000 for each additional Restaurant you agree to develop
but for which you do not sign a Franchise Agreement when you sign the
Development Rights Rider.
#23 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#72 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About Jet's Pizza
Based in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Jet's Pizza was founded in 1978 and began franchising in 1990.
Jet’s Pizza® regularly receives “Best of the Best” and “Reader’s Choice” awards. Pizza Today magazine named Jet’s Pizza® as the eighteenth largest pizza chain in the nation in its “Top 100 Company” report (Pizza Today, 2010). Entrepreneur Magazine has consistently ranked Jet’s Pizza® as a “Top 500 Franchise,” opportunity (Entrepreneur, 2010). Jet’s Pizza® has rapidly risen through the ranks to become the twelfth largest pizza chain in the nation, by sales (PMQ, 2016), with over 400 locations and plans for rapid future growth. While the quality and taste of the food is number one for Jet’s Pizza®, there is also a simple belief throughout the company; “Pizza should be fun,” says John Jetts. “You’ll always have a smile on your face when you’re eating a Jet’s pizza®.” That fun attitude can be summed up in the company’s simple slogan says Jetts, “Life is short. Eat better pizza®. Let’s Get Jet’s®!”
That is something that Jet’s Pizza® is betting that people across the nation will agree with. They’ve found that it’s working so far.
Franchise Ranking History
Franchise 500: #132 (2014), #146 (2013), #136 (2012), #145 (2011), #207 (2010),
Fastest-Growing: #67 (2014), #82 (2012), #94 (2011)
Veteran Incentives 50% off franchise fee or area development fee

#220 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#340 in Franchise 500 for 2021.