startup costs according to subway com required start up costs for a subway franchise range between $ 99000 and $ 243000 depending on the location and whether you intend to purchase a used building lease a facility or build a new restaurant from the ground upnce a subway franchise is up and running franchisees are responsible for the same range of costs as other restaurants including food and labor costs food costs include direct costs for ingredients such as meat produce and soda fountain syrup and shrinkage costs from inventory that is expired stolen or damaged