1851

Dan DiZio stumbled into both the entrepreneurial world and soft pretzel industry at the young age of 11. His neighbor owned a bakery in a small town outside of Philadelphia and approached DiZio about selling pretzels on a busy street corner in Philadelphia with an agreement that the two of them would split the sales for the day. The one-time experience soon turned into a part-time gig and eventually a full-time commitment for DiZio; setting up shop every day after school, on the weekends and throughout the summer.

After completing high school, DiZio attended college at East Stroudsburg University where he met Len Lehman. Lehman became his business partner and eventually the Co-Founder of Philly Pretzel Factory. The two entrepreneurs capitalized on the college party scene by creating a company that offered cleaning services to fraternities after large parties.

After graduating, the men took 9-to-5 jobs; DiZio a stockbroker and Lehman a counselor. They quickly became dissatisfied with the careers they were pursuing. DiZio thought back to when he was making hundreds of dollars a day selling pretzels on a street corner at age 11. He approached Lehman with the idea to start a pretzel concept called <a href="http://www.ownappf.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-i-franchised-my-business-dan-dizio-of-philly-pretzel-factory-2705390" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philly Pretzel Factory</a>.

&ldquo;I decided to get back to my roots and convinced Len to invest in a pretzel bakery,&rdquo; said DiZio. &ldquo;We opened our first location in 1998, and the concept was a success, allowing us to open up ten stores in total over the next seven years between ourselves and with friends.&rdquo;

In 2005, DiZio received a call from a prospective investor looking to franchise with the brand. Having no experience in franchising and little knowledge on the business format, DiZio initially ignored the request. However, after meeting with a lawyer to discuss specifics and talking with Lehman, DiZio began seriously considering franchising Philly Pretzel Factory.

&ldquo;We had ten stores at the time, all flourishing, but we needed an extra push to allow us to open stores quickly before competition would come along and copy our concept,&rdquo; said DiZio. &ldquo;After looking into it, franchising was ultimately the best option that would allow us to scale quickly.&rdquo;

DiZio and Lehman sold all of the stores to franchise owners except the founding location, and led the team to revamp the brand&rsquo;s growth strategy for franchising, allowing the expansion into territories that would&rsquo;ve otherwise been untapped.

&ldquo;Our first ten stores were all within a 45 minute range from one another due to the fact that we had limited resources to oversee so many corporate stores,&rdquo; said DiZio. &ldquo;After franchising, we were able to grow at a much faster pace and within a much larger area.&rdquo;

For DiZio, it&rsquo;s been a dream come true franchising Philly Pretzel Factory. The brand is close to hitting 200 stores, an accomplishment Dan said would have never been possible without franchising his business.

&ldquo;The reward of having my own dreams brought to life through Philly Pretzel Factory&rsquo;s success is obviously very rewarding, but what I really enjoy and find extremely satisfying is watching franchisees prosper in their own lives through our business model,&rdquo; said DiZio.

Why I Franchised My Business: Dan DiZio of Philly Pretzel Factory

1851 Franchise

Dan DiZio, CEO and Co-Founder of Philly Pretzel Factory, shares why he decided to franchise.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

why-i-franchised-my-business-dan-dizio-of-philly-pretzel-factory

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Kathy Turner: The Filta Franchisee Keeping LA's Kitchens Cooking (and Green)

kathy-turner-the-filta-franchisee-keeping-las-kitchens-cooking-and-green

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 Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

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

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: 1851 Supplier Highlights

Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support: List of Franchise Suppliers

emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

Coffee and Analytics: Franchising and AI — Future-Proofing Your Business in an Uncertain Economy

franchising-and-ai-economic-uncertainty

Coffee & Analytics: The Secret to Attracting Multi-Unit Franchisees

coffee-analytics-the-secret-to-attracting-multi-unit-franchisees

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

Why I Franchised My Business: Dan DiZio of Philly Pretzel Factory

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS