Are you looking for the best pizza franchise opportunities in the United States in 2023? If so, we have got you covered!
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the best pizza franchise opportunities in the US that are open for new franchisees who are willing to train and support their partners on their way to success.
Pizza is one of the most popular foods around the globe, but Americans have a special place in their heart for pizza.
Almost 40% of Americans eat pizza at least once a week. According to scientists, pizza contains flavor compounds that taste even better when eaten together.
Pizza is one of the most affordable fast foods, perfect for dine-in, delivery, and takeaway.
The American pizza industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of fast-casual restaurants, with an estimated worth of $65 billion in 2023.
From national chains to local mom-and-pop shops, there are plenty of franchise options to consider in the United States.
This blog post will provide an overview of the top pizza franchise opportunities in the US to help you make an informed decision. Let’s get started!
10 Best Pizza Franchise Opportunities
1. Blaze Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 2011 |
| Franchising Since | 2012 |
| Estimated Outlets | 342 |
| Initial Investment | $565k-$1.1M |
| Franchise Fees | $30,000 |
| Liquidity | $300,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
Blaze Pizza is a fast-casual dining restaurant chain based in the United States that serves artisanal pizzas, salads, drinks, and desserts that are both fast and affordable.
Found in 2011, the restaurant features an interactive open kitchen format inspired by the Chipotle concept as a made-to-order approach.
Customers can choose from the wide selection of fresh ingredients and get custom-built pizzas at a lightning-fast speed.
Blaze Pizza competes with the big players in the pizza market, such as Pizza Hut and Domino.
The chain has grown to 800 locations in 2022, operating in America, Canada, and the Middle East and actively looking for ambitious entrepreneurs to expand more.
Talking about the Blaze Pizza franchise, they do not sell single franchises and prefer franchisees interested in buying at least three units for 2-3 years.
As a franchisee, you can look forward to an extensive franchise training program and ongoing corporate support to operate and expand your business.
2. Jet’s Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 1978 |
| Franchising Since | 1990 |
| Estimated Outlets | 400+ |
| Initial Investment | $457,500-$651,000 |
| Franchise Fees | $25,000 |
| Liquidity | $250k-$350k |
| Royalty Fees | 8-10% |
Jet’s Pizza is the 7th largest pizza chain in the United States, known for its unique menu, which makes it stand apart from other pizzerias.
Founded in 1978, the chain is primarily famous for its signature deep dish square pizza but also offers a wide selection of scrumptious sandwiches, salads, wings, cheesy bread plates, and more.
Jet Pizza is seeking franchisees with friendly personalities and excellence in service to join them and expand their services.
The chain offers a robust business model and guidelines to assure the success of potential franchisees.
All new Jet Pizza franchisees receive pre-opening training and are provided with tools and ongoing support to help them make the most of our thriving industry.
Jet Pizza has a relationship with third-party sources which offer financing to cover startup costs, franchise fees, inventory, equipment, and payroll.
Read our complete guide on the Jet’s Pizza franchise to know more about the franchise.
3. CICIS Franchise
| Founded | 1985 |
| Franchising Since | 1987 |
| Estimated Outlets | 378 |
| Initial Investment | $222,462-$1,080,103 |
| Franchise Fees | $30,000 |
| Liquidity | $250,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 4-6% |
CICIS is a modern pizza franchise that has taken the regular family dining experience to the next level.
Established in 1985, CICIS offers an unlimited pizza buffet and a wide variety of soups, salads, pasta, and desserts at very economical prices.
CICIS has built a stout reputation in the industry and grants excellent franchising opportunities for entrepreneurs.
As a franchisee, you’ll get all the valuable tools, resources, and expert insights you need to succeed.
CICIS offers an extensive training program, assistance in location selection and construction, and ongoing business counseling to ensure your franchise fulfills according to brand standards.
In addition, franchisees will also get ongoing support in running local marketing campaigns and growing their business fast.
Read our complete guide on CICIS Pizza franchise to get detailed information about the franchise.
4. Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs franchise
| Founded | 1973 |
| Franchising Since | 1982 |
| Estimated Outlets | 535+ |
| Initial Investment | $290,600-$538,400 |
| Franchise Fees | $25,000 |
| Liquidity | $200,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
With more than 535 stores in 21 states, Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs is one of the fastest-growing pizza chains in the United States.
Founded in 1973, the chain aims to bring customers an outstanding and personalized pizza experience that will make them keep coming back.
For those looking for a slice of the best pizza franchise opportunity, Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs might be your chance.
Comprehensive training and support will be provided to the franchisees to help them train their employees.
Their team of marketing experts will be helping franchisees to plan and execute a turnkey strategic marketing campaign to bond with the customers and build a reputation in the local area.
5. Your Pie Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 2008 |
| Franchising Since | 2008 |
| Estimated Outlets | 75+ |
| Initial Investment | $364,7500-$610,000 |
| Franchise Fees | $35,000 |
| Liquidity | $150,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
Your Pie is an award-winning pizza franchise that offers authentic, Italian-inspired brick oven pizzas and craft beer in a family-friendly environment.
Founded in 2008, the fast-casual pizza restaurant has more than 75 locations nationwide and offers amazing franchise opportunities all across the country.
Your Pie is looking for franchisees who share the same core values and passion for succeeding, the major drivers of the company’s ongoing success.
The franchisees are offered initial training, access to the proven business model to meet the community’s standards, and robust support in customizing their business plan to fit their local market.
6. The Pizza Press Franchise
| Founded | 2012 |
| Franchising Since | 2014 |
| Estimated Outlets | 36 |
| Initial Investment | $455,350-$791,500 |
| Franchise Fees | $35,000 |
| Liquidity | $300,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 2-5% |
Pizza Press is a top pizza franchise that is revolutionizing America’s favorite food.
Found in 2012, Pizza Press is built on the classic concept of “create your own pizza” and offers a customized variety of pizzas prepared right in front of you.
Customers can enjoy their meals in a fun ambiance inspired by the roaring 1920s décor.
Pizza Press is welcoming single and multiunit partners to bring their taste to the rest of the world.
Their franchise program encourages small business owners to build their businesses on a respected brand.
The franchisees will gain access to Pizza Press’s unique recipes, procedures, and operating policies. In-depth training and top-notch marketing support are offered to the franchisees.
The process of finding and constructing a location will also be discussed during the evaluation process.
7. RedBrick Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 1999 |
| Franchising Since | 1999 |
| Estimated Outlets | N/A |
| Initial Investment | $175,000-$500-000 |
| Franchise Fees | $30,000 |
| Liquidity | $75,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
RedBrick Pizza is a quick casual pizza franchise in America that is hugely popular for its fire-roasted pizzas with premium toppings, a variety of salads, and other Italian specialties.
Found in 1999 in Southern California, the restaurant combines the Old-World Italian tradition of baking pizza in a brick oven with new technology and serves people affordable yet delicious gourmet pizzas in upscale casual settings.
RedBrick Pizza offers the most affordable franchise opportunities in the industry, allowing franchisees to bring the upscale RedBrick Café to their local neighborhoods, either as a single or multi-unit franchise.
The franchises will be provided with initial franchise training, field support, and advertising and marketing co-op programs to build brand awareness and customer base.
8. Rosati’s Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 1964 |
| Franchising Since | 2006 |
| Estimated Outlets | 130 |
| Initial Investment | $136,200-$1,241,000 |
| Franchise Fees | $35,000 |
| Liquidity | $100,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
Rosati’s Pizza is the second-largest local chain of restaurants owned and managed by the Rosati family.
Founded in 1964, the chain has decades of experience serving authentic Italian pizzas made from high-quality organic ingredients. Their signature pizzas include Chicago deep dish, double dough pizza, and thin crust.
Rosati offers franchising opportunities for entrepreneurs helping them become independent business owners by associating with one of the most prominent names in the pizza industry.
The franchisor has a well-designed comprehensive training program for the franchisees and assists in all aspects of the business, including site selection, demographic analysis of the location, third-party financing, and continued marketing and operational support you need to build your franchise.
9. Donatos Pizza Franchise
| Founded | 1963 |
| Franchising Since | 1991 |
| Estimated Outlets | 200 |
| Initial Investment | $375,500-$699,900 |
| Franchise Fees | $30,000 |
| Liquidity | $200,000 |
| Royalty Fees | 5% |
Donatos Pizza is a family-owned casual pizza chain that offers a wide range of pizzas, subs, and desserts.
Established in 1991 by the Grote family, Donato’s pizza dough is made from a secret family recipe and then proofread in a specially designed cabinet to control temperature.
They also use naturally aged provolone cheese instead of mozzarella for a more distinct flavor.
With more than 200 units in operation in the nine different states of the U.S., Donatos Pizza has built a strong base of loyal customers which makes it one of the best pizza franchise opportunities to grab in 2023.
Included in the franchise support is the initial training, access to the Donatos systems, building plans, and operational support to guide you in your business decisions.
10. Mellow Mushroom Franchise
| Founded | 1974 |
| Franchising Since | 1991 |
| Estimated Outlets | 150+ |
| Initial Investment | $1,624,000-$4,498,000 |
| Franchise Fees | $50,000 |
| Liquidity | $300,000 |
| Royalty Fees | N/A |
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is a well-known restaurant chain that offers a mind-blowing variety of pizzas, calzones, salads, and deli hoagies, along with a massive collection of over 600 kinds of craft beers.
Founded in 1974, the chain has stood the test of time and strives to make consistently delicious pizzas for customers.
Mellow Mushroom offers exciting franchise support for like-minded individuals with a passion for starting their own pizza business and the ability to come up with new dishes to make a customer keep coming back for more.
The franchisees will get all the training, tools, and necessary support they need to run a profitable Mello Mushroom franchise.
Their team will help you evaluate potential locations, offer assistance in marketing campaigns, and provide ongoing support even after opening.
Things You Need To Know Before Choosing A Pizza Franchise
You got the idea, and now you are ready to invest in a pizza franchise. Well, that’s how it works there are a lot of things that you need to look for before even choosing a pizza franchise.
Here are a few things that you should consider:
1. Cost
The very first and significant thing to consider is the cost of the franchise.
So, start by understanding the cost associated with each and every cost, like franchise fees, royalty fees, initial investment, or any other cost.
Some franchises also have certain criteria for net worth. For example- Pizza hut requires franchisee to have a net worth of $700,000.
2. Training
Another important aspect is to look for training programs. Will the franchise you chose provide training to the employees? What methods does it use?
These are the questions that you need to look for before making up your mind on any franchise.
3. Location
Location is very important. You need to choose an excellent geographical location along with choosing a physical location.
For example- Pizzahut has locations in malls, college campuses, airports, casinos, and more.
You need to decide on a location that has a loyal customer base and high market demand to run the business successfully.
4. Support
This includes what type of support you’ll be getting with your investment. Typically, a franchisor provides marketing support and business support.
The company will also help you with advertising your franchise. So, get a clear-cut idea of what you’ll be getting with the amount you are paying.
When Should You Choose A Pizza Franchise?
Not every person can make any franchise successful, it takes the right mindset and right skills to make it profitable.
These are a few things that will help you decide when to choose a pizza franchise based on your mindset.
When You Are Ready To Work Under Franchisor
Owning a franchise comes with less risk, but it also reduces the freedom of a franchisee. When you buy a franchise, then you need to follow the guidelines and ideas of the franchise owner.
So, buy a franchise only if you are ready to follow the instructions.
When You Know The Market Demand
Another prerequisite of deciding when to choose a pizza franchise is research. Research can be a very lengthy process but a significant one.
Is there an extensive customer base at the location for a new franchise? Does the area have a lot of competition? Can your new franchise grow in the area?
These are a few questions that you have to research.
When you are Ready To Embrace The Technology
The way pizzas are made hasn’t changed however, the way it is delivered and ordered is often changing due to technology.
Many franchise owners, in addition to marketing and advertising, also focus on online and mobile ordering sites. So, you need to ask yourself- are you ready to adapt according to the changing technology? Do you have the budget?
When You Know About The Franchise Reputation
Franchise Reputation is another crucial aspect. Do you want to work with a big brand or a brand with a smaller but loyal customer base? Do you want to be a part of a standalone restaurant? What is the opinion of current franchisees about the franchise? Does the franchise have any legal disputes or negative news?
The right time to choose a pizza franchise is when you have considered all these aspects and are ready to embrace any difficulty and opprotunity.
Comparison of Top 5 Pizza Franchise Opportunities
| Company | Blaze Pizza | Jet’s Pizza | CICIS | Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs | Your Pie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 1978 | 1985 | 1973 | 2008 |
| Outlets | 342 | 400+ | 378 | 535+ | 75+ |
| Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Initial Investment | $565k-$1.1M | $457,500-$651,000 | $222,462-$1,080,103 | $290,600-$538,400 | $364,7500-$610,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 5% | 8-10% | 4-6% | 5% | 5% |
Conclusion
The pizza industry is the fastest-growing segment of fast-casual restaurants in America. With thousands of pizza restaurants operating across the country, franchising is the best option to enter the industry than taking an independent route.
Franchises have a high success rate and allow you to make an agreed-upon initial investment and open the doors with the backing and recognition of an established brand. From a purely financial point of view, franchises carry much less risk.
However, with so many options available, it can be hard to determine which ones are the best.
There are several factors that you must consider before making a purchasing decision, such as brand reputation, location, market size, franchise fee, and profit margins.
If you are also skeptical of which one to choose, pick any of the above-listed pizza franchise opportunities.
All of these franchises offer franchising with attractive returns and incredible brand power for the owner to capitalize on.
FAQ
How Much Does A Pizza Franchise Owner Earns?
The exact amount a pizza franchise owner makes depends on the type of pizza business you operate, market size, location, and expenses.
According to Glassdoor, big franchises like Domino can earn between $107,000 to $116,000 per year, while Papa John’s franchise might make about $142,000 per year as per franchise.com.
Is Pizza Franchise Profitable In The United States?
Pizza franchises are certainly one of the most lucrative business opportunities for prospective business owners.
According to IBS world, the pizza industry is worth $47 billion a year, and franchises constitute $356.4 billion of that. With a proven franchise model, you can make a lot of money with a pizza franchise.
How Much Does A Pizza Franchise Cost In The USA?
Opening a pizza franchise in the USA can cost anywhere from $25,000 to more than $1 million, depending on location, operating costs, and other factors.
High-end, dine-in pizza franchises with huge menus fall and are more expensive, while those that offer pick-up and delivery services fall on the lower end of the spectrum.
What Is The Pizza Franchise Profit Margin?
A pizza franchise can yield a profit margin of 15%, which is much higher than an independent pizza store. The profit margin of an independent pizza store is 3 to 7% only.
Which Is The Cheapest Pizza Franchise?
According to the above-mentioned data, the cheapest pizza franchise to own is CICIS, with $30,000 as a franchise fee, initial investment ranging between $222,462-$1,080,103, and royalty fees of about 4-6%.
Amit Gupta is an experienced expert in digital marketing and co-founder of DrFranchises. With more than 11 years of knowledge in franchise digital marketing, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing, Amit has helped many brands achieve incredible success online. As a passionate entrepreneur and owner of 7 franchises, he continues to study franchise models, looking at costs, revenue, and profitability to guide brands toward profitable growth. When he’s not working on digital marketing, Amit enjoys spending time playing with his beloved dog.