FAQs (fresh out of the oven)
Hungry for answers? Dig into the facts about franchise opportunities—and then let’s talk over a slice of pizza.
What are the qualifications to be a Pizza Hut® franchisee?
Financial
- $700,000 net worth
- $350,000 liquid assets
- Strong credit report and history
Experience
- Successful retail or restaurant ownership experience
- Management experience within restaurant industry
Personal
- Growth mindset and passion for operations
- Willingness to be fully “hands-on” with the business
- Customer-focused with strict attention to detail
- Ability to build a team and grow their capabilities
What fees will I pay when I become a Pizza Hut franchisee?
Traditional
Initial Franchise Fee = $25,000
Monthly Service Fee (i.e.: Royalty Rate) = 6% of Gross Sales
National Advertising = 4.75% of Gross Sales
Non-Traditional
Initial License Fee = $5,000-$20,000
Monthly License Service Fee (i.e., Royalty Rate) = 10% (includes National Advertising Fee)
Annual Marketing Fee = $1,500
The above amounts do not include the initial investment required to construct the restaurant, grand opening expenses, or opening inventory. Please refer to the current Pizza Hut, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for more in-depth information on the estimated initial investment and other ongoing fees.
How long is the approval and building process?
Initial qualification for a Traditional location involves a series of background checks and interviews and generally takes 10-12 weeks. After that, identifying and securing a restaurant can take 3 to 9 months depending on the size and scope of the opportunity.
Generally, once your trade area has been approved and you have signed your Development Agreement, you have six months to open for business.
Initial qualification for a Non-Traditional license location involves an application and background check that generally takes about 4-6 weeks. After that, restaurant build out, training, and opening can generally take between 3 and 6 months.
What kind of return on my investment may I expect?
Pizza Hut provides some key financial performance representations in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Prospective franchisees are encouraged to conduct their own independent investigation to determine potential sales and profit levels prior to signing any binding agreement. Existing franchisees are also a resource you can use for more information. A list of domestic franchise restaurants, the franchisee’s name, and the restaurant phone number can be found in Item 20 of the FDD. Contact information for Traditional franchisees can be found in Item 20 and exhibits H-1 and H-2 of the FDD and for Non-Traditional licensees in Item 20 and exhibits F and G of the FDD.
What kind of training does Pizza Hut offer?
Traditional
Before you open your restaurant, you and/or your key operator are required to attend and complete the Pizza Hut operations training program. The initial training program is 8–12 weeks long and is conducted in a certified training restaurant in Plano, Texas. Additional training will be required for key operation partners.
Pizza Hut pays for the cost of the training, and franchisees are responsible for all other costs including travel and lodging. Please refer to Item 11 of the Franchise Disclosure Document for specific information.
Non-Traditional
Licensees must designate a minimum of two individuals as “Pizza Hut Champions” who are required to complete either virtual training at an LIC location or in-person training at Pizza Hut’s headquarters in Plano, Texas.
The Licensee is expected to pay for any travel costs and accommodations (in-person) or food production expenses (virtual) incurred by each Pizza Hut Champion. Please refer to Section 5.3 of the Master License Agreement (MLA) for more details.