My Take on Chick‑fil‑A vs. Subway and What It Teaches Us About Growing a Franchise Business
- Yen Roxas
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
I came across a compelling post by Raghav Poddar highlighting a striking stat:Chick‑fil‑A earns $8.5M per store—while Subway earns only around $500K.And yet, Chick‑fil‑A has only ~2,500 U.S. locations versus Subway’s ~20,000+.
This isn’t just about food, it’s a masterclass in franchising discipline.
The Real Difference Isn’t Just the Menu. It’s the Model.
Owner-Operator Commitment
Chick‑fil‑A franchisees run their stores full-time. That daily hands-on leadership is a massive driver of quality, culture, and customer service. Subway allows absentee ownership, convenient, but risky in customer-facing businesses.
Centralized Control Over Real Estate and Operations
Chick‑fil‑A manages site selection, construction, and equipment ensuring uniform standards. Subway leaves this to franchisees, resulting in inconsistencies.
Selective, Sustainable Growth
Chick‑fil‑A expands slowly and strategically. Subway grew rapidly, and paid the price with market cannibalization and shrinking unit revenues.
Strong Brand Discipline
Fewer stores, stronger performance per store. Less is more when quality is the goal.
Lessons for Growing a Franchise Business
Prioritize Operator Quality Over Location Quantity - A well-trained, values-aligned franchisee can outperform multiple passive owners.
Centralize What Matters - Control store design, layout, and brand presentation. Consistency builds trust.
Grow with Intention, Not Just Ambition - Saturation without strategy kills long-term value. Be patient, be precise.
Embed Culture at Every Level - A franchisee should feel like a founder. When your people believe in the mission, performance follows.
Protect the Brand Relentlessly - One bad experience can hurt all locations. Your brand is only as strong as its weakest store.
As someone working closely with businesses scaling across the Philippines and Southeast Asia, this model reinforces what we always advocate: grow smart, lead from the front, and never compromise on experience.
Let’s discuss: What other franchise brands follow a disciplined, owner-operator model and are winning because of it?
