Franchise Deep Dive: Toppers Pizza Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

The QSR pizza concept recently surpassed an average unit volume of $1 million. Now, it is looking to grow nationwide.

Toppers Pizza is a QSR pizza concept that focuses on providing guests crave-worthy, customizable pizzas thanks to its wide selection of bold topping options. Scott Gittrich, the brand’s founder, was in the pizza space as early as his college years. After dropping out to pursue pizza full-time, Gittrich gained some experience at other pizza concepts before opening his first Toppers Pizza restaurant in 1991. According to the brand’s website, he did this “with a mission to set the standard for high-quality pizza.”

Over the course of the last 30-plus years, Toppers has grown to over 70 locations, offering flavors and ingredients that can’t be found at other, more traditional pizza shops.

“Our ‘Never Settle’ attitude pushes us to create crave-worthy menu offerings with fresh ingredients that other pizza concepts simply can’t compete with,” Toppers says.

Growth and sales

As of 2023, there are 74 Toppers Pizza locations open. The brand’s unit count has been steadily growing since the 2010s, and its revenues have followed with the brand celebrating its 13th consecutive year of same-store sales growth in 2022.

Though the majority of Toppers’ locations are in Wisconsin and Minnesota, it is also working to expand in Michigan, Iowa, Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and more.

With eight new franchise agreements signed in 2022, the brand continues to grow nationwide.

Toppers Pizza leverages a quick-service model that offers dine-in, carry-out and delivery. Though Toppers focuses on pizza, including a “build your own” option, house pizzas and premium pizzas, its menu also includes cheesesticks, wings, sides, desserts and drinks.

Toppers Pizza’s 2021 Franchise Disclosure Document lists 2020 average growth sales statistics by the amount of time a restaurant had been open.

• Restaurants open for at least one fiscal year averaged $995,259 in gross sales.

• Restaurants open for at least two fiscal years averaged $995,259 in gross sales.

• Restaurants open for at least three fiscal years averaged $1,010,303 in gross sales.

• Restaurants open for at least four fiscal years averaged $1,020,685 in gross sales.

• Restaurants open for at least five fiscal years averaged $1,030,185 in gross sales.

Franchise costs

The reported initial investment to open a Toppers Pizza franchise is $314,075–$530,000, including:

• Initial Franchise Fee: $30,000

• Travel & Living Expenses for Your Initial Training: $2,000–$10,000

• Travel & Living Expenses for Our Training Team: $525–$12,000

• Equipment & Smallwares: $80,000–$135,000

• Construction & Leasehold Improvements: $119,000–$168,000

• Indoor & Outdoor Signage: $3,000–$18,000

• Pre-Opening Salaries & Payroll: $4,800–$10,000

• Pre-Opening Rent: $0–$12,000

• Utility & Insurance Deposits: $2,000–$6,000

• Market Introduction & Team Recruiting Program: $8,000–$11,000

• Opening Inventory: $5,000–$10,000

• Architectural Fees: $8,000–$14,000

• Permits & Professional Fees: $750–$6,500

• POS System Hardware: $14,000–$17,500

• POS System Software Licenses: $2,500

• POS System Installation: $2,000–$5,000

• Project Management: $7,500

• Opening Extension Fee: $0–$5,000

• Additional Funds: $25,000–$50,000

The franchise fee to open a Toppers Pizza franchise depends on how many locations the franchisee owns.

• First restaurant: $30,000

• Second restaurant: $20,000

• Third restaurant: $20,000

• Fourth restaurant: $15,000

• Fifth restaurant: $15,000

• Sixt or subsequent restaurant: $10,000

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