How many Potbelly Sandwich Works outlets were sold to franchisees in Washington during 2023?
Potbelly_Sandwich_Works Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
tus of Company-Owned Outlets For years 2022 to 2024
| Col. 1 State | Col. 2 Year | Col. 3 Outlets at Start of the Year | Col. 4 Outlets Opened | Col. 5 Outlets Reacquired From Franchisee | Col. 6 Outlets Closed | Col. 7 Outlets Sold to Franchisee | Col. 8 Outlets at End of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2022 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Item 20 — OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION (FDD pages 70–78)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Potbelly Sandwich Works's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, there were 9 outlets sold to franchisees in Washington during 2023. The table provided in Item 20 of the FDD details the status of franchised outlets from 2022 to 2024, showing the changes in the number of outlets due to openings, closures, re acquisitions and sales.
Specifically, for Washington State in 2023, the table indicates that there were 10 outlets at the start of the year, 1 outlet closed, and 9 outlets were sold to franchisees, resulting in 0 outlets at the end of the year. This suggests a significant shift in the operational structure of Potbelly Sandwich Works in Washington during that year, with a move away from company-owned stores towards franchise ownership.
For a prospective franchisee, this information is valuable as it provides insight into the brand's strategy in specific regions. The decision to sell existing company-owned stores to franchisees could indicate a strategic move to expand the franchise network, or it could reflect challenges in managing company-owned stores in that particular market. It would be prudent for a potential franchisee to further investigate the reasons behind this shift and understand the performance of the stores that were sold.
It's also important to note that while 9 outlets were sold to franchisees, the total number of outlets in Washington decreased to zero by the end of 2023. This could be due to the closure of company-owned stores without immediate re-franchising, or other market-specific factors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing the potential risks and opportunities associated with investing in a Potbelly Sandwich Works franchise in Washington or similar markets.