Comparing Franchise Brands in the Pizza Industry

Pizza is a staple of many an American diet, and why not? It’s delicious, and also versatile. Whether you’re partial to your local, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pizza joint or to larger name brands, there’s no doubt that pizza is a very personal food option, and according to research, this isn’t going to change anytime soon.

A January 2019 Mental Floss article highlighted research from food research firm Technomic that Americans ate pizza at least once a week in 2013. A May 2016 CreditDonkey report found that Americans consumed about three billion pizzas every year and that the United States accounts for approximately one-third of the world’s pizza consumption. For these reasons, pizza can make for a lucrative franchise opportunity.

Here are 10 pizza franchise brands that are each doing what they can to stand out in the market.

Cicis Pizza

Locations: 430-plus

Item 7: $686,445 to $1,033,180

Item 19: Not available

Founded in 1985, this pizza brand currently has more than 430 restaurants in more than 30 states. One way in which Cicis differentiates itself in the market is its offering of group dining events. Cicis started to offer new incentives for new franchisees in September of 2018, including a discounted franchise fee and a $50,000 equipment and inventory credit. The brand requires a minimum net worth of $750,000 and $250,000 of liquid capital, and the demographic criteria for a Cicis Pizza restaurant require a residential population of 40,000 or more.

Domino’s

Locations: 16,000

Item 7: $119,950 to $461,700

Item 19: Average unit volume of $1.1 million (2017)

With 16,000 stores throughout the U.S. and in more than 85 international markets, Domino’s definitely qualifies as a major player. In the U.S., the brand is 93% franchise-owned. Domino’s has a commitment to diversity, and notes on its franchise development website that some of the most successful franchise owners started out as customer service representatives, delivery experts and more in their communities. Recently, Domino’s has been testing new delivery functions to better serve customers, including robot cars.

Hungry Howie’s

Locations: 550

Item 7: $228,300 to $475,000

Item 19: Average unit volume of $666,000

Hungry Howie’s awarded its first franchise in 1983, and since, has expanded to 550 locations in 22 states. Hungry Howie’s currently has single and multi-unit franchise opportunities available in several states, including Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. With 8 years of consecutive same-store sales increases and the U.S. pizza industry reaching $44 million in revenue in 2017, Hungry Howie’s is growing right along with American cravings.

Little Caesars Pizza

Locations: 5,40

Item 7: $334,000 to $1.37 million

Item 19: Average sales per unit of $815,000 (2017)

This well-known pizza chain got its start in a Detroit suburb in 1959 and started franchising in 1962. The brand currently has franchising opportunities available in every state and offers both a traditional franchise store model and three non-traditional store models: Classic Express, Self-Serve Express and Cashier Express. Little Caesars’ entire franchising process, from submitting the franchise application to the grand opening of a location, typically takes between 120 to 365 days. Little Caesars requires prospective franchisees to have $100,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $250,000.

Marco’s Pizza

Locations: 900-plus

Item 7: $293,515 to $619,710

Item 19: Average net royalty sales of $651,419

Founded in 1978, Marco’s Pizza has grown to more than 900 stores. In 2018, the brand nabbed the No. 25 spot on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list. An ideal Marco’s Pizza franchisee is passionate, business-minded, community-oriented and a team player. The brand has available markets for franchising across the United States, including California, Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama and Virginia, and notes that it can offer exclusive territories for multi-unit deals. Candidates are required to have at least $125,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $400,000.

Paisano’s Pizza & Grill

Locations: 37

Item 7: $383,000 to $605,500

Item 19: Average unit volume of $1.5 million

Paisano’s currently has 37 restaurants (and zero restaurant closures), with four more expected to open in 2019. The brand’s menu is not limited to pizza, and includes calzones, Italian sandwiches and hamburgers. In terms of revenue opportunities, the brand hangs its hat on a robust event catering business. Community-minded prospective franchisees will be happy to note that the brand has an “Order and Share” coupon program that allows it to contribute to fundraising initiatives.

Papa John’s

Locations: 5,000-plus

Item 7: $115,120 to $794,420

Item 19: Average franchise unit sales of $879,794 (2016)

This pizza brand boasts more than 5,000 locations and 120,000 team members across the globe. Papa John’s has been embroiled in quite a bit of controversy over the last two years, but it appears the tide has settled. Despite its international presence, there are still many territories available for franchise development. In addition to fulfilling the necessary financial requirements—Papa John’s requires a minimum net worth of $250,000 to invest—prospective franchisees should be business professionals with management experience, with restaurant or retail experience preferred. Papa John’s recently had some very positive press thanks to its appointing former NBA star and businessman Shaquille O’Neal to its Board of Directors.

Pizza Hut

Locations: 16,000

Item 7: $297,000 to $563,000

Item 19: Average sales per unit of $900,000 (2017)

Founded in 1958, Pizza Hut calls itself the “pizza company that lives life unboxed.” With more than 16,000 restaurants across 100 countries, Pizza Hut’s global name recognition makes it an extremely attractive investment. To create a sense of community within its system, Pizza Hut also maintains an active blog called Hut Life, in which it posts about company culture, community outreach initiatives, employee successes and more. In terms of experience, prospective Pizza Hut franchisees should have successful restaurant or retail ownership or management experience.

Redbrick Pizza

Locations: 7

Item 7: $316,000 to $538,000

Item 19: Not available

In addition to its extensive menu and make-your-own pizza options, Redbrick Pizza is the forward-thinking brand of the future, complete with gluten-free items and eco-friendly initiatives. The brand is currently looking into include organic menu items and environmentally-friendly packaging. The brand’s current franchising incentives include deferring the royalty fee for the first six months after a restaurant opens and a military veteran discount of 50 percent off of the franchise fee for the first location. Franchisees should possess local market expertise as well as experience in building and managing teams. To further incentivize prospects, the brand also offers zero royalties on the first $1 million in sales.

Toppers Pizza*

Locations: 80-plus

Item 7: $298,750 to $534,000

Item 19: Average unit volume of $920,287

This Wisconsin-based pizza brand takes it roots to heart and prides itself on only using “real Wisconsin cheese” on its pizzas. In addition to pizza, customers have a variety of menu items from which to choose, including Topperstix, wings, quesadillas and more. Known for its irreverent brand voice and culture, Toppers Pizza is currently offering multi-unit opportunities in Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana and North Carolina.