How to Start a Papa John's Franchise

Cara Squires, writer

Published at 04/09/2018, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 6 min

How to Start a Papa John's Franchise
Photo © papa-johns-franchise-fee.jpg

If you’re looking to start a fast food franchise in the pizza sub-sector, Papa John’s is one of the best options out there. This industry-leading franchise network has many locations in operation up and down the UK and a hugely proven business model to its name. Read on, and you’ll find out exactly how to go about launching your own fast food delivery franchise with the pizza giant.

The British public loves pizza. It’s a well-documented fact. From Papa John’s to Snappy Tomato Pizza, there are a million options out there when it comes to making a career change with a pizza franchise. Pizza delivery is a particularly prominent sector of industry (which you could enter smoothly with a Papa John’s franchise investment), valued at over £2 billion and making up around a third of the total delivered food market in the UK [Statista].

What does a Papa John’s pizza delivery franchise do?

We award the Papa John’s franchise to highly capable individuals that can operate a multi-store business, or businesses who share our values. We are looking for natural leaders that want to deliver the best customer service and serve their communities with better pizza. - Papa John’s

As a Papa John’s pizza franchisee, you’ll do all the things you’d expect to do when running a pizza shop - managing the business, supporting a team of employees, maintaining high standards both in terms of food quality and in terms of customer service - but through it all, you’ll be supported and assisted every step of the way by a hard-working and well-established franchisor team. There are a few different routes you might go down when you invest with Papa John’s:

  • Multi-store opportunities (the traditional route in which you run several high street brick-and-mortar restaurants)
  • Kiosk opportunities (found in places like sports stadiums)
  • Modular opportunities (found in places like holiday parks/family destinations and at major events)

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Why consider running your own franchise with Papa John’s UK?

The high demand for pizza delivery services in this country has already been evidenced above, and the benefits of franchising as a business model are many and various (access to a proven business model and an existing customer base, access to ample training and support, endless room for growth and expansion, etc.). But there are also a few key reasons why a Papa John’s franchise, in particular, is such a great option:

  • The franchise is a full member of the British Franchising Association, holding itself to high standards and strict ethical codes
  • The Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association has named Papa John’s pizza delivery chain of the year several times over
  • The extremely recognisable brand name of Papa John’s will make external funding and bank backing much easier to secure (as the franchise is a known quantity, very likely to generate a return and enable you to pay back your loan)
  • You’ll benefit from globally renowned training and award-winning marketing support on a national level

How to start a Papa John’s franchise

1. Do plenty of research to ensure the investment is the right fit

From cost of investment (a minimum of £100,000) to demands on time and requirements to open multiple locations, a franchise agreement with Papajohn’s is a huge commitment to make. Before you make it, be sure you know not just that you can afford the initial and ongoing costs, but that you’re the right fit for a role that’s going to be heavily managerial in nature and demanding on your time, especially in the first few years.

2. Get to know the pizza industry well

As you don’t necessarily need previous pizza industry experience to become a Papa John’s franchisee, the next thing you should do, once you’ve determined you’re a good fit for the investment, is get to know the industry like the back of your hand. Dive deeply into research, and prepare yourself as well as you can for pizza franchise success. Ask and answer the following questions and more: Which customer trends are dominating the market? What are competitors doing? What’s on the horizon in six months? What about in six years?

3. Do your due diligence and get all the answers you’re searching for before you invest

A well-known business like Papa John’s is a safer bet in terms of being sure you’re getting what you pay for than a name you’ve not come across before. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing your due diligence, reviewing the opportunity in full and asking your franchisor contact plenty of questions. Get answers to every query you have, and don’t sign on that dotted line before you’re certain all the facts are at your disposal!

Alternative pizza franchise opportunities

1. Bella Italia

Bella Italia is a very popular contemporary Italian restaurant franchise with over 100 outlets across Britain. The franchise has many loyal customers across the globe who love its menu of pizza, pasta and grill options.

  • Becoming a Bella Italia franchisee: You’ll need to be well-funded with a good local network, plenty of long-term ambitions and a strong background of food and beverage experience, particularly in the casual dining sub-sector.
  • How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £350,000, with franchise fees of £25,000, a total investment cost of £700,000 and a royalty fee charged at 6%.
  • What you get for your investment: You’ll receive extensive training from a dedicated team, and you’ll have access to comprehensive property, operating and safeguarding support. On a quarterly basis, your business will be reviewed to ensure it’s on track.

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2. Moninna’s Ristorante & Pizzeria

Moninna’s Ristorante & Pizzeria serves fresh Italian dishes to its customers, including delicious pizza and decadent pasta. These dishes can be enjoyed in-restaurant or delivered, and though the franchise was only founded in early 2020, it’s already enjoying rapid growth in the UK.

  • Becoming a Moninna’s franchisee: If you’re passionate, customer-focused and entrepreneurial, you’re perfect for Moninna’s - no prior experience in hospitality required.
  • How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £25,000, with franchise fees of £10,000 and operating and advertising fees charged at 9% and 7% respectively.
  • What you get for your investment: You’ll enjoy comprehensive training (including buddying and in-restaurant learning). Once you’re all set up, you’ll have access to all the ongoing support you need - including to the online Moninna Hub full of useful resources.

Start a franchise in the pizza world today using the profitable Papa John’s business model

If you’re now more certain than ever that a pizza franchise investment is the right move, stay on Point Franchise and dive even deeper. Make sure you’ve definitely chosen the right pizza franchise for you, and then get to know a little more about Papa John’s by checking out a profile of the company’s new CEO, Rob Lynch.

Cara Squires, writer

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