FranDB
DONATOS PIZZA

DONATOS PIZZA

Donatos Pizza franchises operate brick-and-mortar restaurants featuring fresh, high-quality pizzas, sandwiches, and other foods in a distinctive setting, offering dine-in, carry-out, pick-up window, curbside delivery, and delivery services. The business model grants franchises to develop and operate these restaurants under strict operating standards, targeting the general public in competitive pizza markets with a focus on multi-unit development territories. They serve customers year-round, competing with other pizza chains and restaurants.

Since 2005Food & BeverageColumbus, OHDestiny Investment Holdings, LLCwww.donatos.com
Item 19 AvailableSBA Loan Data

Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.

Overview

Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$30,000
Locations
125

Financial Requirements

Franchise Fee$30,000
Initial Investment RangeN/A
Royalty Rate4.00%
Brand Fund1.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees$185 - $185

4% royalty + 1% (up to 4%) national marketing fund + $185/mo proprietary computer software maintenance and support

Franchise Stats

Franchise Locations125
Corporate Locations51
States Operating14
Franchising Since2005
FDD Year2025

Financial Performance

Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$1,044,273
Median Gross Revenue
$957,664
EBITDA Margin
8.47%
Top Quartile Revenue
$2,476,922
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$498,346
Average Gross Profit
$714,630.82
Average EBITDA
$88,424.52

Data Based On: 110 Franchisee-Owned Covered Restaurants operating during the 2024 fiscal year were used for Net Sales data (Table 3, Page 4). A sample of 111 Franchisee-Owned Covered Restaurants from different sales tiers was used for EBITDA and cost percentages (Section II, Page 5).

* Average gross revenue, median gross revenue, revenue top quartile (High), and revenue bottom quartile (Low) are directly from 'Table 3: Net Sales of Franchisee Covered Restaurants' for 2024 Net Sales (Page 4). EBITDA percentages, Cost of Goods Sold percentages, Labor Costs percentages, and Controllable Costs percentages for different sales tiers were extracted from the 'Sales Ranges' table and its accompanying notes (Page 5). The unit counts for the EBITDA calculation tiers are: 29 units ($10,001 - $15,000), 40 units ($15,001 - $20,000), 24 units ($20,001 - $25,000), and 18 units ($25,000+), totaling 111 units. The average EBITDA margin percentage (0.08467567567567567) was calculated as a weighted average of the EBITDA percentages for each tier (-0.5%, 7.9%, 14.3%, 16.4%) based on their respective unit counts. Average EBITDA ($88,424.52) was calculated by multiplying the average gross revenue ($1,044,273) by the weighted average EBITDA margin percentage. The average Cost of Goods Sold percentage (0.3156666666666667) was calculated as a weighted average of the COGS percentages for each tier (32.5%, 31.5%, 30.9%, 31.1%) based on their respective unit counts. Average gross profit ($714,630.82) was calculated as average gross revenue ($1,044,273) * (1 - average_cogs_pct). Best guess profit low ($-5,221.365) and high ($171,260.772) were estimated by multiplying the average gross revenue ($1,044,273) by the lowest tier EBITDA percentage (-0.5%) and the highest tier EBITDA percentage (16.4%), respectively, to represent a range of potential EBITDA outcomes.

Extracted Item 19 Section

How DONATOS PIZZA Compares to Other Fast Casual Franchises

FranchiseInvestment RangeFranchise FeeRoyaltyLocations
DONATOS PIZZA
Current
N/A$30K4.0%125
Tropical Smoothie Cafe$300K - $721K$35K6.0%1,371
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ$300K - $721K$35K6.0%1,371
FIREHOUSE SUBS RESTAURANTS (UNIT)$379K - $1.4M$20K6.0%1,248
Zaxby's$1.4M - $3.8M$35K6.0%826
Qdoba$548K - $1.3M$40K5.0%652
Fast Casual Average
107 franchises
$532K - $1.2M$39K5.6%-

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 107 Fast Casual franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth

Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2024)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States by Outlet Count
1OH
62
2IN
21
3KY
17
4SC
4
5GA
4
6TN
3
7AL
3
8FL
3
9TX
2
10PA
2
11VA
2
12OK
1
13WV
0

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for DONATOS PIZZA franchisees (2013 - 2023)

Total Loans
23
Average Loan Amount
$441,548
Total Loan Volume
$10,155,600
Default Rate
0.0%

Loans by Year

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

Franchisee Contacts

Unlock Franchisee Contact Database

132 franchisee contacts on file. Upgrade to see names, locations, phone numbers, and matched SBA loan data.

Upgrade to Pro

$199/year · Cancel anytime

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Litigation Cases0

No litigation involving franchisees reported in the FDD.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported in the FDD.

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
0
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired by Franchisor
0
Ceased Operations (Other)
6
System Transfers
0
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New Franchises
10

Frequently Asked Questions

How much revenue does a DONATOS PIZZA franchise make?

According to the 2025 FDD, the average gross revenue for a DONATOS PIZZA franchise is $1,044,273. The median revenue is $957,664.

How much profit can you make with a DONATOS PIZZA franchise?

Based on the financial performance data in the FDD, estimated profit for a DONATOS PIZZA franchise ranges from $-5,221.37 to $171,260.77 per year. Actual results vary based on location, management, and market conditions.

How many DONATOS PIZZA franchise locations are there?

As of the 2025 FDD, DONATOS PIZZA has 125 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 2005.

Can you get an SBA loan for a DONATOS PIZZA franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for DONATOS PIZZA franchises. Historical data shows 23 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for DONATOS PIZZA franchisees, with an average loan amount of $441,548. The historical default rate is 0.0%.

Is DONATOS PIZZA a good franchise to buy?

DONATOS PIZZA shows several positive indicators: established brand with 125+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

Interested in DONATOS PIZZA?

Talk to a franchise advisor to get personalized guidance and learn if DONATOS PIZZA is the right fit for you.

Talk to an Advisor