Could funding from customers fuel the next great restaurant concept?

Blaze Pizza was founded in Pasadena, California, in 2011 by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Rick and Elise Wetzel, who had previously built Wetzel’s Pretzels. The idea took shape when the Wetzels went looking for a quick pizza lunch but ended up at Chipotle, where its assembly-line approach inspired them to consider how a similar made-to-order model could work for pizza. They developed Blaze Pizza around customizable pizzas that could be prepared quickly in a fast-casual setting, with the goal of filling what they saw as a gap between traditional sit-down pizzerias and conventional takeout chains.

Blaze Pizza began offering franchises in May 2012, shortly before its first restaurants opened in Southern California later that year.

Mission: Blaze Pizza's core mission is to build a place where people can enjoy fast, fire-cooked, custom-built pizza without compromising on quality or experience

Vision: Blaze Pizza was born from a simple idea: build a place where people could enjoy fast, fire-cooked, custom-built pizza without compromising on quality or experience.

• Fast-Fire’d Pizza: Blaze Pizza cooks its artisan pizzas in a blazing-hot oven in about 180 seconds, giving guests a made-to-order pizza without a long wait.

• Build-Your-Own Customization: Guests can create their own 11-inch pizza with their choice of toppings, giving them control over what goes on their pizza.

• Plenty of Choices: The 11-inch pizza menu includes four crust options and more than 35 fresh toppings, along with signature recipes for guests who would rather leave the combinations to Blaze.

• Fresh, Artisan Ingredients: Blaze emphasizes fresh, artisanal ingredients and made-from-scratch dough as central parts of the guest experience.

• More Than Personal Pizzas: In addition to its signature 11-inch pizzas, Blaze offers large pizzas, salads, cheesy breads, desserts, kids meals and beverages, giving guests options for different occasions and group sizes.

• Flexible Meal Options: The Take Two menu lets guests pair half an 11-inch pizza with a salad or cheesy bread rather than committing to one full menu item.

• Digital Deals and Rewards: Blaze offers online-only deals and a rewards program that gives members access to offers and rewards for repeat visits.

Blaze has more than 240 locations in the U.S. and internationally and points to recent recognition from Pizza Marketplace, Yelp and Entrepreneur as evidence of its position in the category.

• Established Brand Recognition: Blaze has more than 240 locations in the U.S. and internationally and points to recent recognition from Pizza Marketplace, Yelp and Entrepreneur as evidence of its position in the category.

• Flexible Restaurant Formats: Franchisees can develop traditional inline storefronts, end-cap locations or nontraditional venues such as airports, universities and travel centers, with Blaze helping determine the appropriate format for the territory.

• Real Estate and Site Selection Assistance: Blaze works with franchisees on site selection and real estate, including support from a development team with expertise in market strategy and lease negotiation.

• Design and Construction Guidance: The brand supports franchisees from prototype adaptation through development and grand opening, helping them manage buildouts and development timelines.

• Comprehensive Training: Owners and managers receive initial training, with the franchising site describing the broader training program as lasting four to six weeks.

• Hands-On Opening Support: A dedicated opening team provides trainers and field support through launch week to help franchisees get their restaurants up and running.

• Ongoing Operational Coaching: Experienced franchise business consultants provide continued coaching after opening rather than leaving franchisees to operate on their own.

• Marketing Resources: Franchisees receive national and local marketing support, including dedicated platforms with approved materials and promotions.

• Technology and Remote Operations Support: Blaze provides proprietary technology and operations systems, along with a remote operations center that monitors real-time guest feedback and conducts virtual quality audits.

• Preferred Supplier Network: Blaze has assembled preferred partners across workforce management, kitchen operations and restaurant technology, with the brand handling vendor vetting, negotiation and integration.

• Multi-Unit Growth Opportunities: Blaze offers multi-unit development agreements for qualified operators and specifically targets experienced multi-unit operators and well-capitalized entrepreneurs who want to grow with the brand.

The estimated initial investment to open a single Blaze Pizza restaurant ranges from $757,000 to $1,297,100. The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks the costs down as follows:

Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $30,000, payable in a lump sum when the franchisee signs each franchise agreement, and it is not refundable. Under an area development agreement, the development fee equals $10,000 multiplied by the number of restaurants to be developed, excluding the first.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2026 FDD, Blaze Pizza franchisees are responsible for the following recurring payments:

ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 208 traditional franchises and 10 mall storefront franchises operating for the entirety of FY 2025 reported the following annual gross sales:

Blaze Pizza supports franchisees through the site review and development process before opening. While franchisees are responsible for identifying potential locations, the brand evaluates proposed sites based on factors such as traffic patterns, parking, visibility, demographics and surrounding businesses. Once a site is accepted, Blaze reviews the lease for required provisions, provides design and layout specifications and supplies a preliminary restaurant layout at no additional cost. The company estimates that franchisees typically open nine to 12 months after signing.

Blaze Pizza provides franchisees and their management teams with training before opening, including instruction on brand standards, recipes, dough preparation, restaurant operations, inventory and cost management. The Blaze Standards Training Program includes 80 to 160 hours of in-restaurant training for the operating principal and up to three managers, along with other designated leadership roles. Around opening, a corporate team provides an additional five hours of classroom instruction and 75 hours of on-the-job training at the franchisee’s restaurant.

Training is provided at no charge for a franchisee’s first two restaurants, while additional fees may apply for subsequent locations or replacement trainees.

Blaze Pizza provides ongoing operational guidance to franchisees, along with support for advertising, promotions and certification programs. Franchisees also participate in national and regional marketing initiatives funded through the brand’s Creative Fund, while a franchisee advisory council provides input on system policies. To help maintain operating standards and identify areas for improvement, Blaze also uses an annual mystery shop program that includes written and video evaluations.

Blaze Pizza provides franchisees with a required technology system that includes point-of-sale terminals, a back office computer, kitchen displays, digital menu boards, training tablets and an online ordering tablet. The system is designed to support day-to-day operations, inventory management, and customer service.