5 Pizza Franchises We Love

According to a study by FranNet, 91% of Americans eat pizza at least once a month. And while other segments in the restaurant industry struggled during the pandemic, the pizza industry thrived, pivoting to delivery and curbside pickup consumer preferences, making the pizza industry one of the most lucrative options for business-hungry entrepreneurs.

Here are five of our favorite pizza franchises to watch this year.

Marco’s Pizza

• Startup costs: $223,535-$586,410
• Units: 1,000

Marco’s Pizza, an upscale pizza franchise, is in the process of exploding onto the national and international scene. The brand has been one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in franchising for the past decade and has recently reached a tipping point that should help future franchisees grow even faster.

Round Table Pizza

• Startup costs: $426,500-$836,250
• Units: 412
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Bill Larson opened the first Round Table Pizza in 1959, envisioning a gathering place where family and friends could share a pizza. He believed in using gold-standard ingredients and time-honored recipes. Today, the brand pays homage to Larson’s vision by continuing to use only superior ingredients, along with many of his original recipes. Additionally, the brand recently refreshed its look to better reflect its extraordinary pizza and its founder’s dreams.

Romeo’s Pizza

• Startup costs: $103,000-$396,000
• Units: 44

Romeo’s Pizza is known for using only the freshest ingredients. Its sweet tomatoes are harvested at their peak and fresh-packed from field to can in less than 10 hours. The combination of the brand’s sweet sauce, fresh-made dough and hand-cut vegetables create a truly delicious pizza.

Little Caesars

• Startup costs: $360,000-$1,686,000
• Units: 4,200+
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Little Caesars was founded in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan as a single, family-owned restaurant. Since then, it has become the third largest pizza chain in the world with stores in each of the U.S. 50 states and 26 countries worldwide.

Domino’s

• Startup costs: $145,000-$500,000
• Units: 17,000

The Domino's menu varies by region, but the brand’s stability is one of the reasons it is an American favorite. In 2011, Domino's rebranded in a campaign that was well-received and launched artisan-style pizzas along with chicken and bread sides, as well as beverages and desserts.