1851

LAST UPDATED: May 17, 2023FRANCHISE WEBSITE:<a href="https://papamurphysfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://papamurphysfranchise.com/</a>NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 1,231REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $308,469 to $557,879REPORTED ROI (Item 19):&nbsp;$806,539 (AUV for 2022)<a href="https://papamurphysfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Papa Murphy’s</a> is a take-and-bake pizza franchise that serves up made-to-order, high-quality pizzas at an affordable price. Today, as the fifth largest pizza franchise in the country, Papa Murphy’s competes against brands like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.papajohns.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Papa John’s</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://biz.dominos.com/about-us/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dominos</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/littlecaesarsinternational">Little Caesars</a>.How Many Papa Murphy’s Locations Are There?The origins of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/papamurphys/">Papa Murphy’s</a> started in 1984, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-graham-56998287?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Robert Graham</a> opened Murphy’s Pizza, developing a pizza dough that could be baked at 425 degrees in a conventional home oven. Although Graham’s pizza was good, he struggled to run the business efficiently as this was his first time in the fast-food industry.&nbsp;In 1988, Graham met entrepreneur Terry Collins and sold him a controlling 51% interest in the seven-store Murphy’s Pizza chain. In 1990, Collins acquired the rights to another take-and-bake pizza chain, Papa Aldo’s Pizza, which had the opposite problem of Murphy’s Pizza — strong management and operations but an inferior product. So, five years later, Collins decided to combine the best of both worlds into one franchise called Papa Murphy’s.Throughout the next decade, Papa Murphy’s continued to expand around the United States. In 2010, the company was sold to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/papa-murphys-sold-to-lee-equity-partners-89698002.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lee Equity Partners of New York</a>. Growth continued and, by 2012, there were 1,350 stores in operation. In 2019, Papa Murphy’s was acquired by Canadian private food conglomerate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/mty-completes-papa-murphy-s-acquisition?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTY Food Group for $190 million</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;Over the last few years, Papa Murphy’s sales have slumped, and there have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/papa-murphys-owner-hopes-brands-tough-2022-past?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">many store closures</a>. Today, Papa Murphy’s includes a little over 1,200 locations in the United States, Canada and United Arab Emirates.What Is Papa Murphy’s Business Model?Unlike many pizza chains that focus on delivery or dine-in, Papa Murphy’s is all about takeout. Guests come into stores to pick up their made-to-order pizza, and then they take it home to bake it. This take-and-bake pizza model requires a small footprint since franchisees don’t need any ovens or dine-in capacity. This not only allows for a lower cost of entry but also reduces labor costs. Additionally, the streamlined business model allows franchise owners to focus on building guest relationships and creating the best product possible.&nbsp;<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax8UonWrZNI"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dax8UonWrZNI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>How Much Can Papa Murphy’s Franchise Owners Make?Papa Murphy’s 2022 Item 19 is based on the unaudited sales and operating costs reported for the 819 franchised stores that were open and operating for all of the trailing 52 weeks ending on September 27, 2021.<ul><li>Highest Net Sales: $2,495,542</li><li>Lowest Net Sales: $146,368</li><li>Average Gross Sales: $806,539</li><li>Median Gross Sales: $727,715</li><li>Average Discounts (on gross sales): 13.5%</li><li>Median Discounts (on gross sales): 13.7%</li><li>Average Net Sales: $697,417</li><li>Median Net Sales: $622,937</li><li>Number of Stores Exceeding Average Net Sales: 333</li><li>Percentage of Stores Exceeding Average Net Sales: 40.7%</li><li>Average Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): 31.2%</li><li>Median COGS: 31.2%</li><li>Average Employee Labor: 18.7%</li><li>Median Employee Labor: 18.4%</li><li>Average Management: 4.8%</li><li>Median Management: 5.2%</li><li>Average Payroll Taxes and Benefits: 3.1%</li><li>Median Payroll Taxes and Benefits: 2.9%</li><li>Average Advertising: 7.3%</li><li>Median Advertising: 7.7%</li><li>Average Rent and Common Area Maintenance (CAM): 5.8%</li><li>Median Rent and CAM: 6.1%</li><li>Average Other Store Expenses: 9.0%</li><li>Median Other Store Expenses: 9.4%</li><li>Average Royalties: 5.0%</li><li>Median Royalties: 5.0%</li><li>Average Store Contribution: 15.1%</li><li>Median Store Contribution: 12.7%</li></ul>How Much Does It Cost to Open a Papa Murphy’s?Papa Murphy’s franchise costs, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD):<ul><li>Franchise Fee: $25,000</li><li>Lease and Utilities Deposits and Payments: $2,500 to $6,000</li><li>Leasehold Improvements: $91,015 to $201,969</li><li>Signs: $7,500 to $11,500</li><li>Stamped Architectural Drawings: $6,250 to $9,350</li><li>As Built Survey: $2,500 to $3,700</li><li>Opening Package (including Equipment and Supplies), Decor, Cabinets, Point-of-Sale System, and Smallwares: $134,344 to $198,139</li><li>Miscellaneous Development Service Fees: $0 to $1,270</li><li>Inventory: $5,000 to $7,000</li><li>Initial Marketing Fees and Expenses — Six Months: $15,000</li><li>Franchise Premises Rent — Three Months: $3,090 to $10,526</li><li>Materials and Supplies: $500 to $2,000</li><li>Travel and Living Expenses for In-Store Compatibility Check, Operations In-Store Training, Enterprise Solutions Training, and Foundations Class: $3,395 to $12,150</li><li>Employee Training: $500 to $1,500</li><li>Insurance — Three Months: $375 to $1,175</li><li>Bookkeeping/Payroll Service — Three Months: $1,500 to $1,600</li><li>Additional Funds, Working Capital, and Miscellaneous Expenses — Three Months: $10,000 to $50,000</li><li>Total Estimated Papa Murphy’s Franchise Costs:&nbsp;$308,469 to $557,879</li></ul>What Is the Franchise Fee for Potbelly?Papa Murphy’s requires a franchise fee of $25,000.Who is the Leadership of Papa Murphy’s?<ul><li><a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/eric-lefebvre-511738126?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Lefebvre — Chief Executive Officer and Board of Managers</a></li><li><a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/renee-st-onge-90a98224?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rene?e St-Onge — Chief Financial Officer and Board of Managers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nik-rupp?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nik Rupp — Chief Operating Officer and Board of Managers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-mcbee-727b398?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kim McBee — Senior Vice President of Guest Experience and Brand Marketing&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-walker-b182aab?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shauna Walker — Senior Vice President of Franchise Performance and Engagement</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-rudolph-880748a6?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Rudolph — Vice President of Field Operations</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemar-pucel-cfe-247b9b26?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shemar Pucel — Senior Director of Franchise Sales</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-mcgrew-179b823a?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2722475" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rhonda McGrew — Director of Franchising</a></li></ul>What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More About Papa Murphy’s?<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/papamurphys/a-day-in-the-life-jeff-rode-papa-murphys-franchisee-2703875#featured">A Day in the Life: Jeff Rode, Papa Murphy’s Franchisee</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/papamurphys/papa-murphys-simple-business-model-helps-multi-unit-franchisees-thrive-5802#stories">Papa Murphy's Simple Business Model Helps Multi-Unit Franchisees Thrive</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/papamurphys/multi-unit-franchisee-successfully-diversifies-portfolio-with-papa-murphys-5799">Multi-Unit Franchisee Successfully Diversifies Portfolio with Papa Murphy's</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/papamurphys/papa-murphys-recognized-as-top-pizza-franchise-by-consumers-11939#featured">Papa Murphy’s Recognized as Top Pizza Franchise by Consumers</a></li></ul>Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on this site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any franchises, securities, or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the franchise and/or securities laws of such jurisdiction.All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the email constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this article before making any decisions based on such information or other content.

Franchise Deep Dive: Papa Murphy’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

1851 Franchise

With a uniquely low cost of entry, this take-and-bake pizza franchise bills itself as one of the most affordable businesses to own in the booming pizza industry. 

franchise-deep-dive-papa-murphys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Dillas Quesadillas

Design with photo of Michael Mabry and Dillas Primo Quesadillas logo

Franchise Times: New Franchise Exec Says Dillas Is Bringing ‘Excitement’ Back to QSR Category

michael-mabry-franchise-growth

Lawn Squad

Greener, Faster, Smarter: Why Entrepreneurs Are Choosing Lawn Squad 

Greener, Faster, Smarter: Why Entrepreneurs Are Choosing Lawn Squad as a Treatment-Only Lawn Care Franchise

lawn-squad-franchise-opportunity

Jollibee

How Jollibee’s Veteran Leadership Team Is Rewriting the Playbook for U.S. Expansion

franchise-leadership-growth

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of guest checking in at Woodhouse Spas reception desk

franchise-questions-answered

Mellow Mushroom

How Mellow Mushroom’s Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Restaurant Portfolio

How Mellow Mushroom’s Flexible Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Growing Restaurant Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-brad-harper-restaurant-growth

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

Scenthound Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

scenthound-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Robert Palmer’s Long Game: Turning a Cleveland Lawn Business into the Lawn Squad Franchise

growing-the-lawn-squad-franchise-scaling-authority-brands

Newk's Eatery Franchise - Columbus, Mississippi Expansion - 1851 Franchise

Newk’s Eatery Taps Seasoned Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Multi-Unit Operators for New Columbus, Mississippi Expansion

newks-franchise-columbus-ms-patel

360° Painting Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

360-painting-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

ai-job-cuts-franchising-path-forward

Paris Baguette Welcomes Zac Sulma as New Chief Operating Officer

new-coo-zac-sulma

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

Franchise Deep Dive: Papa Murphy’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS