Franchise Deep Dive: Pizza Ranch’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

LAST UPDATED: October 4, 2023
FRANCHISE WEBSITE: https://pizzaranchfranchise.com/
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 210+
REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $1,135,500 to $3,947,500
REPORTED ROI (Item 19): See Below

Pizza Ranch is a restaurant franchise concept that is primarily located throughout the Midwest and Great Plains region. Pizza Ranch is known for its buffet-style dining and a menu that includes pizza, fried chicken, salads and desserts. 

Pizza Ranch was founded in Hull, Iowa in 1981 by Adrie Groeneweg, who sought to meet the demand for a good pizza restaurant in his community. Groeneweg opened the restaurant with his family, and the franchise remains family-owned and operated to this day. The brand began offering franchise opportunities in 1984 with its first franchised location in Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

How Many Pizza Ranch Locations Are There?

As of October 2023, there are more than 210 Pizza Ranch locations spanning 14 states. The brand is actively offering new franchise opportunities in markets across the Midwest. 

What Is Pizza Ranch’s Business Model?

Pizza Ranch operates with a family-friendly, buffet-style dining model at a fixed price. In addition to dine-in, Pizza Ranch provides carryout and delivery services. 

The brand also features a “FunZone” arcade in roughly 59 of its locations, which provides families with entertainment options beyond dining, making it an attractive destination for families with children. 

For prospective franchisees, Pizza Ranch does not require its owners to have previous experience. They provide all the necessary training programs to get new owners up and running. This training takes place over five weeks, and is split between classroom training at the brand’s restaurant support center in Orange CIty, Iowa and hands-on training at one of the restaurants. The brand also has flexible build-out options, and offers freestanding locations or in-line and end-cap locations. Although restaurants with a FunZone arcade will add to the initial investment and operating costs, Pizza Ranch advertises itself as helping to “drive group bookings and turbocharge your revenues and profits.” 

How Much Can Pizza Ranch Franchise Owners Make?

Pizza Ranch does not have a publicly available Item 19. However, according to the brand’s consumer-facing website, the top 10% of franchise owners see earnings that outpace the industry by 11%. Additionally, Pizza Ranch claims that between 2013 and 2022, its franchisees saw a 71% in growth in sales. 

To learn more, contact the team about reading the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which will state the total earnings of any company or franchise-owned unit as a reference. 

How Much Does It Cost To Open a Pizza Ranch Franchise?

The initial investment required to open a Pizza Ranch franchise can range from $1,135,500 to $3,947,500. This investment is broken down into the following costs:

• Franchise Fee: $30,000
• Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment: $622,500 to $694,000
• Arcade Games: $330,000 to $360,000
• Leasehold Improvements: $0 to $1,037,100
• Construction Costs: $0 to $1,672,000
• Architect and Engineering Fees: $46,000 to $110,000
• Land: $0 to $900,000
• Pre-Opening Training Expenses: $51,500 to $74,000
• Food Used During Team Member Training: $7,000 To $9,000
• Startup Costs: $23,500 To $43,500
• Interest on Pre-Opening Loans: $5,000 to $35,000
• Working Capital (Three Months): $20,000 

Pizza Ranch also requires its franchisees to have a minimum net worth of $1 million and at least $400K in liquid assets. 

What Is the Franchise Fee for Pizza Ranch?

The initial franchise fee required to operate a Pizza Ranch franchise is $30K. Franchisees must also pay an ongoing royalty of 4% of gross revenues. 

Who’s On Pizza Ranch’s Leadership Team?

• Adrie Groeneweg — President and Founder
• Jon Moss — SVP and Chief Brand Officer
• Scott Groeneweg — Executive VP
• Ross Groeneweg — Chief People and Strategy Officer
• Mark Souba — Chief Development Officer
• Kelley Crawford — VP of Supply Chain and Procurement
• Dean Kooima — VP of Finance
• Scott Schell — Chief Relations Officer
• Jeff Van Schepen — VP of Business
• Perry Krosschell — Chief Vision Officer

What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More About Pizza Ranch?

• The Buffet Segment is Now Growing, Just Ask Pizza Ranch
• Pizza Ranch Accelerates Growth in First Half of 2022
• How This Pizza Chain Increases Brand Consistency 
• This Pizza Ranch franchisee is on a mission to help First Nations tribe members get into franchising 
• Pizza Ranch: Franchise Testimonial - Brad Cleveringa 

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.