Port of Subs

What Port of Subs does

Port of Subs is a US-based submarine sandwich quick-service restaurant franchise founded in 1972 and operated through POS IP, LLC, a Nevada LLC that holds the brand trademark. Each location is independently owned and operated, so the franchisor's function is brand stewardship, marketing, franchise recruitment, and digital infrastructure rather than direct restaurant operations. The company's customer base is primarily individual consumers seeking made-to-order sandwiches for individual meals, with a secondary catering segment serving corporate events and group orders.

The core product set centers on a standardized QSR menu: Classic Subs, Hot Subs, Wraps and Salads, and Desserts, supplemented by gift cards and a dedicated catering menu. The underlying technology stack is modest and consumer-facing rather than proprietary: a mobile ordering app, the Port Perks Rewards loyalty program, a corporate website for online ordering and a locations finder, a dedicated catering portal at catering.portofsubs.com, and third-party integrations including Nutritionix for nutritional transparency and Lightspeed VT (mySLICE VT Center) for franchisee training. No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or developer ecosystem are disclosed.

The revenue model is classic franchise economics: royalties and brand fees from independently owned locations, plus direct-to-consumer revenue from retail food sales (dine-in, takeout, online ordering) and catering. Distribution is purely domestic, executed through franchise storefronts and digital channels (website + mobile app). Public-facing marketing is concentrated on Facebook, X, and Instagram, with the mobile app and Port Perks Rewards serving as the primary retention mechanism. There is no disclosed enterprise customer base, no funding history, and no headcount data, reflecting the private, franchise-decentralized nature of the business.

Name

Port of Subs

Legal name

POS IP, LLC.

Website

https://portofsubs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Port of Subs is a US submarine sandwich franchise founded in 1972, selling made-to-order subs, wraps, salads, and catering via independently owned storefronts, a mobile app, and online ordering. Its primary customers are individual consumers, with corporate catering as a secondary segment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Sales: Revenue from selling made-to-order sandwiches and food items directly to consumers at franchise locations. Also includes catering orders for events and groups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Port of Subs is a submarine sandwich restaurant chain founded in 1972 that operates through a franchise model with independently owned and operated locations. The company sells made-to-order Classic Subs, Hot Subs, Wraps, Salads, and Desserts directly to consumers at franchise locations, supplemented by catering services for events and group orders, and a Port Perks Rewards loyalty program integrated with a mobile ordering app.

Product overview

Port of Subs operates as a submarine sandwich restaurant chain founded in 1972, offering a unified quick-service restaurant experience. The core offering consists of Classic Subs, Hot Subs, Wraps and Salads, and Desserts, available for dine-in, takeout, and catering. The company extends its service through digital add-ons including the Port Perks Rewards Program and a Mobile Ordering App, which work together to enable customers to order ahead, earn rewards, and manage their preferences across locations. The portfolio is supported by a video-based training platform (mySLICE VT Center) for employee development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Subs Traditional cold submarine sandwiches featuring various meat, cheese, and vegetable combinations, sliced fresh to order.
• Hot Subs Warm submarine sandwiches with heated ingredients such as grilled chicken, steak, or meatball preparations.
• Wraps and Salads Fresh wrap sandwiches and salad options as alternative menu items to traditional subs.
• Desserts Dessert menu items offered alongside sandwiches and salads at Port of Subs locations.
• Catering Menu Catering services offering bulk sandwich orders for events, meetings, parties, and large group gatherings, available through a dedicated catering ordering portal.
• Gift Cards Gift card products available for purchase for use at Port of Subs franchise locations.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Penn Station East Coast Subs: Penn Station East Coast Subs is a sub sandwich franchise chain with dine-in focus on grilled sub sandwiches. Comparable to Port of Subs in product category, franchise model, and target customer (lunchtime QSR consumer).
• Jimmy John's: Jimmy John's is a national sub sandwich franchise chain focused on delivery and quick-service lunches. It competes directly with Port of Subs for the same consumer occasions and use cases, with a comparable franchise operating model.
• Cousins Subs: Cousins Subs is a regional sub sandwich franchise chain founded in 1972 with strong Midwest presence. Comparable to Port of Subs on product (made-to-order subs/grinders), founder era, franchise model, and similar regional scale.
• Firehouse Subs: Firehouse Subs is a sub sandwich franchise chain with a strong themed brand identity, comparable to Port of Subs in core product (made-to-order hot and cold subs), franchise model, and lunch-focused customer base. Acquired by Restaurant Brands International, it represents a scaled private-market peer.
• Subway: Subway is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise chain, directly comparable to Port of Subs in product category (made-to-order subs), target customer (lunchtime QSR), and franchise-based operating model. It represents the dominant direct competitor in the sub sandwich segment.
• Jersey Mike's Subs: Jersey Mike's is a fast-growing sub sandwich franchise chain emphasizing fresh-sliced, made-to-order sandwiches. Highly comparable to Port of Subs on product positioning (fresh, cold cut subs), customer base, and franchise-driven growth model.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Potbelly is a sandwich franchise chain offering toasted sandwiches, salads, and shakes. Comparable to Port of Subs in core product category (made-to-order sandwiches), franchise model, and lunch-focused customer base.
• Capriotti's Sandwich Shop: Capriotti's is a growing sub sandwich franchise known for its roast turkey sub and made-to-order offerings. Comparable to Port of Subs on product (premium made-to-order subs), franchise model, and customer occasion.
• Quiznos: Quiznos is a sub sandwich franchise chain offering toasted and cold subs. It competes directly with Port of Subs in the same product category and QSR sub segment, with a comparable franchise operating model.

Others

• Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches: Restaurant Brands International (RBI) is a multi-brand QSR holding company that owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. It is a relevant comparable for understanding how a multi-brand QSR platform values and integrates a sub sandwich concept like Port of Subs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portofsubs
• Facebookfacebook.com/portofsubs
• Instagraminstagram.com/portofsubs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-of-subs-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port of Subs