Breaking into the pizza franchise business might seem daunting. There are some very big chains in that restaurant space. Investors might think that, unless they’re signing a franchise agreement with the biggest chains, they’re not getting in with the most profitable pizza franchises.
The beauty of the pizza market, however, is that customers love their favorite pizza, and they’re incredibly loyal. Ask any crowd what their favorite question is, and you’ll have a different answer from each person.
WHAT IS THE MOST PROFITABLE PIZZA FRANCHISE? OPINIONS ARE WIDELY VARIED.
That means smaller pizza franchises have room to be profitable, too, and there may be surprising perks to owning them. Let’s take a look at the most profitable pizza franchises and see if they’re really the best investment.
MOST PROFITABLE PIZZA FRANCHISE #1: DOMINO’S
Domino’s wasn’t always at the top of the most profitable pizza franchise list, but ever since they changed their recipes, they’ve appealed to a wider audience and gained traction in the pizza restaurant segment.
They also stand out in how technologically advanced they’ve become. Not only are they using electric delivery vehicles, so delivery customers can relax about contributing to the company’s carbon footprint, but they also expanded how customers order. People can use smart technology—speakers, TVs, watches—and even social media alongside the typical ordering apps.
This means they’re the biggest. But does it mean they’re the best or most profitable pizza franchise? Sure, they reported more than 18,800 locations, but more than 12,000 of those were outside the US. That many locations simply makes them the most convenient.
Not exactly loyalty-inspiring.
Also, what’s the cost for a potential franchise investor to sign up? Does that include the cost of electric vehicles? Ouch.
MOST PROFITABLE PIZZA FRANCHISE #2: PIZZA HUT
In the mid-90s, Pizza Hut was the darling of the pizza restaurant segment, inarguably the most profitable pizza franchise at the time with 25% of the market share in 1995. Then, the bottom fell out.
Their dine-in restaurants began closing, and Pizza Hut continues to do so today. The company recently announced another 500 dine-in location closures in order to concentrate on the delivery and carryout segment. They’ve been fending off rivals stealing their market share for the last 25+ years, and it’s not a good place to be.
Pizza Hut has been franchising for a long time, and the number of franchises is actually climbing again, at least for delivery/carryout locations. They’re sitting atop more than 17,000 units, with more than 12,000 of those outside the US.
It’s another convenient pizza franchise, but are people really ordering from Pizza Hut because it’s their favorite pizza? Or is it because it’s the pizza people know and the location closest to them?
MOST PROFITABLE PIZZA FRANCHISE #3: PAPA JOHN’S
Papa John’s started with honorable intentions in the mid-80s. Founder John Schnatter’s father’s tavern was about to go under, so he converted it to a pizza shop that focused on its slogan, “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,” and taking on the delivery and carryout market more so than dine-in customers.
For a time, it worked, especially when Papa John’s became one of the first national pizza chains to embrace online ordering in 2002. That made it one of the most profitable pizza franchises of its time.
Until Schnatter very publicly used a racial slur and tarnished Papa John’s reputation when he was company chairman. Even stepping down from his position following the controversy wasn’t quite enough for the company to regain their previous growth trajectory. They’re still growing, just not quite at the same rate, with a few more than 5,700 locations, of which just over 2,500 are outside the US.
MOST PROFITABLE PIZZA FRANCHISE #4: PLAZA PIZZA®
Let’s talk about a pizza restaurant that’s inspired serious loyalty: Plaza Pizza®. Not one you’ve heard of? Maybe not yet.
Plaza Pizza® opened their doors in 1971 in Newark, Ohio. The owners of Plaza Pizza® knew they were just one more mom and pop pizza shop amid several of the same, so they had to do what they could to stand out, and that meant flavor.
From the beginning, Plaza Pizza® has concentrated on being the best pizza, with the freshest toppings atop a crispy, thin crust with a satisfying cracker crunch, and a proprietary sauce with a zesty flavor that stands out in the pizza crowd.
Plaza Pizza® quickly rose in the Ohio area as a favorite among residents. So much so that in 2019, almost 50 years later, when the original owners wanted to retire, the Claggett family were dismayed at the prospect of losing the pizza that had been such a ubiquitous part of their childhood memories.
So three Claggetts, Brian, Ben, and Olivia, consulted with the rest of the Claggett clan, and together decided to carry on the Plaza Pizza® legacy.
How’s that for inspiring loyalty among Plaza Pizza® franchise lovers?
Now, the Claggetts are business minded, and they recognize what makes Dominos, Pizza Hut, and Papa John’s among the most profitable pizza franchises. Customers want the tastiest of pizzas—which Plaza Pizza® already is—with the modern convenience of online and app ordering and digital payment methods.
That’s why Plaza Pizza’s® new franchise model includes these successful markers of the most profitable pizza franchises. Plaza Pizza® is now available for delivery, and can be ordered through the Toasttab app, and we also accept card payments, too.
What hasn’t changed is what’s been loved by Plaza Pizza® customers for 50 years: our classic toppings, daily made crusts, and fresh ingredients.
We’ve taken the best of the biggest pizza franchises and applied it to an Ohio pizza institution for what’s potentially one of the best new pizza franchise investments available for franchise owners in 2023. That’s saying something, considering Ohio was recently surveyed to be the Best State for Pizza in the US.
Could Plaza Pizza® become the next most profitable pizza franchise? We like to think we’re in a position to do just that. We’ve already got the pizza. Now, we just need the franchisees to achieve our expansion plans. Are you with us? Contact us today to learn more!
