The Most Profitable Pizza Franchises of 2025
Pizza pie, as it turns out, is every bit as American as apple pie. How do we know this? Well, Americans consume about 3 billion pizzas every year—roughly 46 slices per person. According to a 2025 Talker Research survey of 5,000 adults, 21% of Americans name pizza as their absolute favorite food.
With these incredible facts in mind, many people dream of opening a pizza shop. Often, the desire to run their own pizza business starts with a franchise opportunity.
Pizza is an optimal food service option for franchising. What gives this ubiquitous food a boost in the franchise world? The secret can be found in pizza’s popularity and its simplicity.
Read on to learn more about what makes pizza a great franchise investment, and see our selections for the top five most profitable pizza franchises of 2025.
Why Pizza Makes a Great Franchise Opportunity
Launching a pizza franchise offers flexibility and reliable returns. Because pizza is both straightforward and infinitely customizable, this cuts down on inventory, preparation, and menu options needed for success. Here are some reasons investors and owner-operators have given us for starting a pizza franchise.
Simple and versatile product: From vegan and gluten-free options to exotic combinations and high-quality ingredients, pizza offers something for everyone. Every pizza is recognizable yet unique, making it perfect for a streamlined food service experience.
Widely enjoyed food category: Pizza is an immensely popular food globally and, as the 2025 Talker Research survey confirms, it remains the most popular food in the U.S. This level of enthusiasm means there is plenty of room for restaurants to deliver. Though the product is largely the same, locations can differentiate with service, add-ons, unique toppings, and presentation.
Low-headcount model: You can run a pick-up location with a small staff: a clerk for orders and check-out, kitchen workers for pizza and cold food prep, a back-room employee washing dishes and sanitizing surfaces, and a delivery driver for orders. Most kitchens run efficiently with just three to five crew members per shift.
Easily scalable operations: Once you’ve successfully launched and staffed a pizza restaurant, scaling to multiple locations is easy. The ingredients, systems, packaging, and advertising are easily expanded to a larger network of units. Multi-unit owners may even take advantage of economies of scale when ordering ingredients and supplies.
The Pizza Franchise Opportunity Landscape in 2025
The pizza industry continues to thrive in 2025, with the market now valued at over $50 billion annually in the United States alone. For entrepreneurs seeking profitable franchise opportunities, the pizza segment offers compelling advantages over other food service categories.
Pizza franchise opportunities remain among the most sought-after investments in the food service industry for good reason. The average store-level EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) for the most profitable pizza franchises typically ranges from 15-20%, substantially higher than many other restaurant concepts.
What makes pizza franchise opportunities particularly attractive in 2025 is the industry’s resilience and adaptability. Even as dining trends evolve, pizza brands have successfully integrated technology, expanded delivery capabilities, and diversified menu offerings to maintain strong consumer demand.
For investors evaluating pizza franchise opportunities, it’s worth noting that the most profitable pizza franchise operations have embraced digital ordering platforms, with leading brands like Domino’s generating more than 85% of their 2024 U.S. retail sales through digital channels. Franchisees who invest in superior digital infrastructure often see improved operational efficiency and higher average order values.
2025 Pizza-Franchise Trends to Watch
Automated pizza kiosks: Brands like PizzaForno have scaled to 25 U.S. units and market 24/7 “unmanned” profitability. This Toronto-born concept now operates 70-plus kiosks across North America and recently signed a 40-unit Michigan deal placing machines at Amazon distribution centers.
Edge-to-Edge® topping wars: Donatos’ signature heavy-topping style is fueling menu price premiums and enhancing margins. Other brands like Mountain Mike’s are following suit with their own premium-topped offerings that command higher ticket prices.
Drive-thru & pick-up windows: Chains that added dedicated quick-pickup lanes in 2024 trimmed wait times by up to 30%. This focus on convenience is becoming standard for new store designs across the industry.
What to Look for in a Pizza Franchise
Every franchise is different, so it is essential to conduct thorough due diligence into opportunities. Have a knowledgeable franchise attorney or broker-advisor review the franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) to evaluate the franchise’s strength. In general, look for a few common indicators of a successful franchise brand:
Well-established systems: Look for a franchise partner with a long track record of success, including mature sales systems and processes. Franchisors should be able to offer access to the systems, guidance, suppliers, and marketing to make opening a franchise location more user-friendly than launching a stand-alone business.
Territory opportunities: Because pizza enjoys such massive popularity, there are plenty of opportunities to expand into multiple locations. Look for a brand partner with healthy territory options. This will allow you to scale your business to multiple locations as you experience success with your primary store.
Strong revenues: Although food service has the reputation of working on slim profit margins, the same is not necessarily true of a pizza restaurant franchise. Conduct due diligence on your chosen franchise brand. You should see a strong track record of new store openings, gross sales growth, and high median profit with the right opportunity.
Digital sales mix: If a brand books less than 50% of orders online, its technology stack is lagging. The most successful franchises have embraced digital ordering to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Unit-level EBITDA: Target franchises with EBITDA greater than $120,000, as anything below leaves little cushion for wage increases or ingredient price fluctuations.
Transparent Item 19: Robust earnings claims in the FDD let you benchmark performance realistically. Vague disclosures can be a red flag when evaluating pizza franchise opportunities.
The Most Profitable Pizza Franchises of 2025
As motivated as you might be to open a pizza franchise, choosing one can be a daunting task. There are more than 83,000 pizza restaurants in the United States and nearly half of those are franchises. So, we did the legwork and chose five profitable pizza franchises for you to consider.
Newk’s Eatery
A relative newcomer compared to the other franchises on this list, Newk’s Eatery serves pizza, sandwiches, and soups in a fast casual café environment. The Jackson-based concept now has nearly 100 units across 13 states and continues to expand with new multi-unit deals in Georgia and South Carolina. Locations also offer catering services and the Newk’s app allows customers to order online and accumulate reward points. The company was founded by the Newcomb family and prides itself on its freshly prepared ingredients and a philanthropic focus on raising money to fight ovarian cancer ($3.5M+ raised to date).
Fast facts
- Locations: Nearly 100 across 13 states
- Founded: 2004
- Franchised: 2005
- EBITDA: $425K
- Startup cost: $1.2M–$1.5M
- Franchise fee: $40,000
Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream
Fast casual pizza chain Happy Joe’s serves up an award-winning menu of innovative recipes, and franchisees can choose between two location models. The Iowa-born brand now reports 40-plus active restaurants in the U.S. and Egypt, with an impressive 22 new franchise agreements signed in 2024 alone. Full-sized, dine-in Happy Joe’s locations feature kids’ party rooms and game areas perfect for birthdays and family gatherings, while efficiency-minded owners may opt for a delivery and carry-out-only location. Under CEO Tom Sacco, the chain is modernizing with robotics and AI voice ordering while maintaining its family-friendly, birthday-party DNA.
Fast facts
- Locations: 40+ in U.S. and Egypt
- Founded: 1972
- Franchised: 1973
- EBITDA: $320K
- Startup cost: $515K–$1.3M
- Franchise fee: $20K–$30K
Domino’s Pizza
Domino’s is the world’s largest pizza chain with approximately 21,300 stores across 90+ markets. U.S. operators benefit from the industry-leading app, curbside tracker technology, and a new DoorDash partnership, while headquarters targets 175 additional domestic builds in 2025. The company leverages technology to increase speed and customer experience, with over 85% of U.S. retail sales generated through digital channels in 2024. The app features active order tracking, live check-in for curbside pick-up, and a loyalty points system that allows customers to earn food rewards.
Fast facts
- Locations: 21,300+ worldwide across 90+ markets
- Founded: 1960
- Franchised: 1962
- EBITDA: $225K
- Startup cost: $156K–$744K
- Franchise fee: $10,000
Donatos Pizza
Ohio-based Donatos Pizza is known for its thin-crust pizza that’s “loaded Edge to Edge®” with toppings, particularly its large pepperoni pizza that includes 100+ pepperoni slices. The company and its franchise partners now operate approximately 175 traditional restaurants plus nearly 300 non-traditional outlets—many inside Red Robin locations. CEO Kevin King’s 2025 roadmap emphasizes AI voice ordering and an aggressive Texas build-out that could exceed 100 stores over the decade. The Donatos online ordering platform accounts for more than 70% of sales and features predictive intelligence that calculates delivery times and demand for drivers.
Fast facts
- Locations: 175 traditional; 300 non-traditional
- Founded: 1963
- Franchised: 1991
- EBITDA: $140K
- Startup cost: $475K–$1.0M
- Franchise fee: $30,000
Toppers Pizza
Toppers Pizza founder Scott Gittrich started out delivering pizzas in the mid-1980s and has since grown this Wisconsin-headquartered franchise into a late-night delivery specialist. By late 2024, the brand had 71 U.S. locations, with sixteen company-owned, and reports that 80% of sales flow through its proprietary digital platform. With average unit volumes of $1.1 million and a pipeline of 20-30 openings slated for 2025, Toppers positions itself as the best pizza franchise for markets hungry after midnight.
Fast facts
- Locations: 71
- Founded: 1991
- Franchised: 2000
- EBITDA: $135K
- Startup cost: $465K–$685K
- Franchise fee: $30,000
Emerging Leaders: High-Growth Pizza Franchises to Watch
While established brands dominate market share, several rising stars in the pizza franchise space deserve attention for their exceptional growth and profitability metrics.
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut remains one of the most recognized pizza brands worldwide, with a renewed focus on franchise development and modernization in 2025. Their recent strategic shift emphasizes technology integration and streamlined operations, resulting in improved profitability metrics for franchisees. With flexible store models including delivery-carryout, express, and traditional dine-in options, Pizza Hut offers versatile investment opportunities designed to maximize returns across diverse market conditions.
Fast facts
- Locations: 18,700+ worldwide
- Founded: 1958
- Franchised: 1959
- EBITDA: $210K
- Startup cost: $415K–$2.1M
- Franchise fee: $25,000
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Marco’s Pizza
Marco’s Pizza has emerged as one of the fastest-growing pizza franchises, with over 1,200 locations nationwide. Franchisees benefit from an impressive average gross sales figure of $912,000 per location and a profitable business model with 15% average operating margins. Marco’s combination of authentic Italian recipes and modern operations has helped the brand capture significant market share in the competitive pizza segment.
Fast facts
- Locations: 1,222
- Founded: 1978
- Franchised: 2004
- EBITDA: $136K
- Startup cost: $287K–$806K
- Franchise fee: $25,000
PizzaForno
This innovative automated pizza concept represents the cutting edge of minimal-labor restaurant models. PizzaForno’s 24/7 kiosks require no on-site staff, can be placed in non-traditional locations like distribution centers and college campuses, and offer a unique investment proposition with no royalty fees. While revenue per unit is lower than traditional restaurants, the dramatically reduced labor costs create an intriguing profit model for tech-forward investors.
Fast facts
- Locations: 70+ across North America
- Founded: 2018
- Franchised: 2019
- EBITDA: Varies by location
- Startup cost: $120K–$195K
- Franchise fee: $15,000
Operational Excellence: Maximizing Pizza Franchise Profitability
The most profitable pizza franchises share several operational characteristics that contribute significantly to their bottom-line performance. Prospective franchisees should focus on these areas to maximize returns:
Labor Management: Labor typically represents 25-30% of costs for pizza operations. The most profitable pizza franchises implement scheduling systems that optimize staffing during peak periods while minimizing overhead during slower times. Cross-training staff to handle multiple roles further enhances operational efficiency.
Digital Integration: High-performing pizza franchises generate 65-75% of orders through digital channels. This reduces order-taking labor costs while increasing average ticket sizes by 15-20% compared to phone orders. Investing in a robust digital ordering platform is essential for maximizing profitability.
Delivery Optimization: Delivery represents over 40% of sales for the most profitable pizza franchises. Implementing effective delivery zone management, driver routing systems, and appropriate delivery fees can significantly impact profitability. Some of the best pizza franchises now achieve delivery contribution margins of 18-22%.
Menu Engineering: Strategic menu design can substantially influence profitability. The most successful pizza franchises regularly analyze food costs and sales data to promote high-margin items while maintaining value perception. A well-engineered menu can improve overall food cost percentages by 2-3 points.
Multi-Unit Scale: The path to significant wealth in pizza franchising typically involves multi-unit ownership. Operating three or more locations allows for shared resources, improved vendor pricing, and more efficient marketing spend. The most profitable pizza franchise operators own an average of 3.7 units.
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Explore More Profitable Franchise Opportunities
If you’re considering expanding your business horizons, read on to learn about the most profitable franchise opportunities in each industry. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned veteran in the franchise world, our curated selection will guide you toward making an informed decision.If you’re considering expanding your business horizons, read on to learn about the most profitable franchise opportunities in each industry. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned veteran in the franchise world, our curated selection will guide you toward making an informed decision.
