2026 Guide•11 franchises analyzed
Pizza franchise investments range from under $100K for non-traditional locations to over $2M for dine-in concepts. Top performers like Blaze Pizza and Rosati's report $1.2-1.3M in average unit revenue.
Best Pizza Franchises to Own in 2026
Pizza franchise investments range from under $100K for non-traditional locations to over $2M for dine-in concepts. Top performers like Blaze Pizza and Rosati's report $1.2-1.3M in average unit revenue.
Pizza franchise investment requirements range from under $200K for delivery-only concepts to over $700K for established brands with dine-in. The economics depend heavily on format: delivery/carryout models require less space and staff, while dine-in adds complexity and overhead.
This analysis compares 11 pizza franchises using data from their Franchise Disclosure Documents—including total investment ranges, disclosed revenues, royalty structures, and franchisee turnover rates. Not all brands disclose financial performance; those that do are noted below.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 11 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
11
pizza franchises analyzed
$409K - $940K
avg. investment
$27K
avg. franchise fee
$1.1M
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Pizza franchises
This page ranks pizza franchises by total locations, reported revenue from Item 19, projected growth, and minimum investment. The pizza industry is split between national chains with delivery infrastructure and regional brands focused on quality. Investment varies by format—delivery/carryout runs leaner than dine-in.
Top Pizza franchises at a Glance
Ranked by Number of Locations
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOMINO'S PIZZA | N/A | $10K | 6,751 | $26K |
| PIZZA HUT (NON-TRADITIONAL) | $51K - $304K | $10K | 1,332 | - |
| PAPA MURPHY'S | $367K - $733K | $25K | 1,001 | - |
| BLAZE PIZZA | $597K - $1.1M | $30K | 283 | $1.3M |
| BLAZE PIZZA | $667K - $1.1M | $30K | 254 | $1.3M |
| Rosati's Pizza Enterprises, Inc. | $147K - $501K | $35K | 131 | $1.2M |
| TOPPERS PIZZA | $510K - $690K | $30K | 55 | $1.0M |
| Happy's Pizza | $264K - $619K | $25K | 54 | $1.1M |
| Carbone's Pizzeria and Carbone's Pizza | $329K - $908K | $25K | 32 | $1.1M |
| Giordano's Restaurants | $609K - $2.1M | $40K | 32 | $1.8M |
10 Best Pizza franchises Ranked
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
6,751
Avg. Revenue
$26K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$51K - $304K
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
1,332
Royalty
10.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$367K - $733K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
1,001
Royalty
5.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$597K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
283
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Investment
$667K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
254
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$147K - $501K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
131
Avg. Revenue
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$510K - $690K
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
55
Avg. Revenue
$1.0M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$264K - $619K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
54
Avg. Revenue
$1.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$329K - $908K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
32
Avg. Revenue
$1.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Bankruptcy
Investment
$609K - $2.1M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
32
Avg. Revenue
$1.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Profit Pizza franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
6,751
EBITDA
$3K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Revenue Pizza franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Bankruptcy
Investment
$609K - $2.1M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
32
Avg. Revenue
$1.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$597K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
283
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Investment
$667K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
254
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$147K - $501K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
131
Avg. Revenue
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$329K - $908K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
32
Avg. Revenue
$1.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Pizza franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$51K - $304K
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
1,332
Royalty
10.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
6,751
Avg. Revenue
$26K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$147K - $501K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
131
Avg. Revenue
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$597K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
283
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
LitigationBankruptcy
Investment
$367K - $733K
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
1,001
Royalty
5.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable Pizza franchises
Ranked by minimum initial investment from Item 7 of their FDD filings.
Sorted by Minimum Investment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIZZA HUT (NON-TRADITIONAL) | $51K - $304K | $10K | 1,332 | - |
| Rosati's Pizza Enterprises, Inc. | $147K - $501K | $35K | 131 | $1.2M |
| Happy's Pizza | $264K - $619K | $25K | 54 | $1.1M |
| Carbone's Pizzeria and Carbone's Pizza | $329K - $908K | $25K | 32 | $1.1M |
| PAPA MURPHY'S | $367K - $733K | $25K | 1,001 | - |
Who Should Consider Pizza franchises?
Pizza franchises work for buyers comfortable with food service operations, late hours, and managing delivery logistics. Most concepts require $200K-700K and hands-on involvement. The best-performing operators often have restaurant experience or run multiple units to spread fixed costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pizza franchises
How much does it cost to open a pizza franchise?
The average initial investment for pizza franchises ranges from $409K to $940K, based on our analysis of 11 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $27K. The most affordable option is PIZZA HUT (NON-TRADITIONAL), starting at just $51K.
What is the most profitable pizza franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, Giordano's Restaurants reports the highest average unit revenue at $1.8M. Other high-performing pizza franchises include BLAZE PIZZA ($1.3M), BLAZE PIZZA ($1.3M), Rosati's Pizza Enterprises, Inc. ($1.2M). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest pizza franchise by number of locations?
DOMINO'S PIZZA is the largest with 6,751 locations nationwide. Other major pizza franchises include PIZZA HUT (NON-TRADITIONAL) (1,332 locations), PAPA MURPHY'S (1,001 locations), BLAZE PIZZA (283 locations), BLAZE PIZZA (254 locations). Combined, the top 5 pizza franchises operate over 9,621 locations.
What is the cheapest pizza franchise to open?
The most affordable pizza franchises by initial investment are: PIZZA HUT (NON-TRADITIONAL) ($51K - $304K), Rosati's Pizza Enterprises, Inc. ($147K - $501K), Happy's Pizza ($264K - $619K), Carbone's Pizzeria and Carbone's Pizza ($329K - $908K), PAPA MURPHY'S ($367K - $733K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a pizza franchise opportunity?
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Key sections include: Item 5 (fees), Item 7 (initial investment), Item 19 (financial performance, if disclosed), and Item 20 (outlet information including terminations and closures). Our database extracts this data from official FDDs to help you compare pizza franchises objectively.
Want to explore more pizza franchises?
Browse all pizza franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
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