Lee's Sandwiches®
What Is Lee's Sandwiches?
Lee's Sandwiches is a sandwich franchise offering the full line of Lee's Sandwiches products and, for certain unit types, on-site dough production for baguettes. The franchisor offers three unit formats: Baguette Factory Production Units (generally 4,000–8,000 sq ft) and Production Units (generally 2,500–4,000 sq ft) that produce dough and supply other Lee's Sandwiches businesses, and Non-Production Units (approximately 500–3,000 sq ft) that offer the full product line without dough production. Typical locations are near residential areas close to shopping, schools and employers, and include strip malls, smaller freestanding sites, and mall food-court spaces with common seating.
Lee's Sandwiches Franchise: Pros and Cons
The franchisor provides unusually thorough onboarding — a top‑quarter support score of 100 and 328 hours of initial training — but the business requires a very high upfront cash commitment, with an estimated minimum initial investment of $988,000 plus $268k–$536k in equipment, Item 7 fees (~$75,000) and $80k–$120k reserves.
Pros
Cons
Lawsuits & Legal Risk
The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.
Territory Protection
Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to sell via e-commerce and alternative distribution channels, operate in alternative venues/retail, use different trademarks, and acquire/convert units, while the franchisee retains site-specific relocation rights, framed by market-density parameters without performance contingencies.
Training & Support
The brand provides an extensive 328-hour training curriculum designed to deliver a deep dive into operations and to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support focused on operational readiness; travel and lodging expenses, and any on-site support fees, are the responsibility of the franchisee.
Unit Growth Analysis
Unit count rose from 48 (2022) to 51 (2023) (+6.25%), then to 52 (2024) (+1.96%) before falling to 50 in 2025 (−3.8%), showing decelerating expansion that has flipped into a mild contraction. For investors this signals weakening franchise momentum—what looked like continued growth has slowed and reversed, so investigate whether closures, saturation, or franchisee issues are driving the shift from +6.25% to +1.96% to −3.8% year-over-year.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Lee's Sandwiches Franchise?
Opening a Lee's Sandwiches franchise requires a total initial investment of $988,000 to $1,679,500, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.
Minimum Investment
Maximum Investment
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Maximum Investment Breakdown
Investment Analysis
This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.
The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.
Lee's Sandwiches Franchise Earnings: Not Disclosed
Lee's Sandwiches did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information, which can make it harder for prospective owners to evaluate expected revenue before investing.
This franchise company did not publish these results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Lee's Sandwiches franchise?
The total initial investment for a Lee's Sandwiches franchise ranges from $988,000 to $1,679,500, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.
What is the Lee's Sandwiches initial franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee for Lee's Sandwiches is $50,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.
Does Lee's Sandwiches disclose franchise revenue data?
Lee's Sandwiches did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.
Does Lee's Sandwiches have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?
Lee's Sandwiches received a legal risk score of 67 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.
Does Lee's Sandwiches offer exclusive franchise territories?
Lee's Sandwiches received a territory protection score of 56 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.
What training does Lee's Sandwiches provide to new franchisees?
Lee's Sandwiches received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides an extensive 328-hour training curriculum designed to deliver a deep dive into operations and to prepare three managerial staff members for launch.
How many Lee's Sandwiches franchise locations are there?
Lee's Sandwiches had 50 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.
What type of business is Lee's Sandwiches?
Lee's Sandwiches is a sandwich franchise offering the full line of Lee's Sandwiches products and, for certain unit types, on-site dough production for baguettes.
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