2026 FDD Issued Apr 29, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Donatos Pizza Franchise Cost (2026)
Donatos Pizza’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) lists an initial franchise fee of $30,000 (Item 5). Item 7 prints 2 different totals ($586,637 – $1,182,037; $586,637 – $1,182,537) that do not reconcile with the listed expense lines, so a cleared cost range is not available. This record was published provisionally before independent verification was complete. Read the printed lines and the unresolved difference.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- See Item 7Printed Item 7 total; does not reconcile
- Franchise fee
- $30KItem 5 source and terms
- Licensing Fee
- 4% of Net SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 1% of Net SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Donatos Pizza
Company-owned restaurants outsell franchised ones by a wide margin. Item 19 shows franchised restaurants open both years averaging $977,213 in net sales, while the company's own restaurants averaged far more, and both groups sold less than the year before.
Marketing has a spending floor on top of the royalty. Alongside a royalty of 4% of Net Sales, Item 6 requires total marketing spending of a set share of sales each quarter; the national fund contribution counts toward it, and a local cooperative can require more. Online orders also carry a per-order technology charge.
The FDD's figures disagree with each other in several places. The cover, the Item 7 total and the sum of the Item 7 lines give conflicting high-end investment figures, the 2024 row of the franchised status table does not add up, and the Item 19 profit section states different EBITDA averages in its table and its notes. A buyer should ask the franchisor which figures are correct.
The system is old and changes slowly. The concept dates to 1963, a large share of restaurants are company-owned, and Item 20 shows 4 franchised openings in 2025 against 1 closure.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Donatos Pizza?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $30,000 for Donatos Pizza. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 16-17): $30,000 per traditional restaurant, non-refundable; $15,000 at a Non-Traditional Site, and none when buying an existing restaurant. A Qualified Veteran pays $24,000 for the first restaurant. Before opening you also pay a one-time $4,500 TRIO software license fee and buy part of the computer system from the franchisor ($3,000 to $5,000 of an $18,000 to $23,000 system). A Development Rights Agreement costs the full fee for the first restaurant plus $15,000 for each additional one.
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 16.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Donatos Pizza, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a Donatos Pizza franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 24.
The printed totals or listed expenses below do not reconcile. These are the amounts the FDD prints, not a source-cleared investment range. Read the source note before using any budget figure.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Security Deposit Under Lease | $2,000 | $11,000 |
| One Month's Lease Rent and Real Estate Expenses | $2,000 | $11,000 |
| Architectural Drawings | $30,000 | $38,500 |
| Leasehold Improvements / Construction | $26,500 | $426,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment | $370,637 | $396,537 |
| Computer System | $18,000 | $23,000 |
| TRIO Software License Fee | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Liquor License | $0 | $10,000 |
| Opening Inventory and Supplies | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing Program and Initial Marketing Expenses | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| Training Expenses | $1,000 | $30,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $60,000 | $170,000 |
| FDD cover (FDD printed amount, PDF p. 1) | $586,637 | $1,182,037 |
| Item 7 printed total (FDD printed amount, PDF p. 25) | $586,637 | $1,182,537 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 25 restaurants & food records without a source-review hold is $1,297,100.
Item 7 (PDF pages 24-29) covers a traditional in-line restaurant. Its 14 low estimates add to the printed $586,637, but the high estimates add to $1,205,537, while Item 7 prints $1,182,537 and the cover prints $1,182,037; the gap equals the $23,000 computer system high. The Architectural Drawings high appears as '$38,5000'. The record keeps every printed line and the printed totals. Leasehold improvements and the furniture, fixtures and equipment package are the largest lines. A Development Rights Agreement for three restaurants prints $616,637 to $1,212,037 on the cover.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Donatos Pizza charge? (Item 6)
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 18.
Item 6 of Donatos Pizza’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensing Fee | 4% of Net Sales | Every period | 4% of the prior week's Net Sales, collected weekly by automatic debit (notes 2, 3 and 7). (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Marketing Spending Requirement (includes National Marketing Fund) | 5% of Net Sales | Every period | You must spend at least 5% of Net Sales each quarter on advertising, marketing and promotion; National Marketing Fund and cooperative contributions count toward it, but grand opening spending and redeemed coupons do not (note 5). (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| National Marketing Fund Contribution | 1% of Net Sales | When it applies | Currently 1% of Net Sales, up to 4%, paid weekly; counts toward the 5% Marketing Spending Requirement above, so it is not added to it (note 4). (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Computer System | Varies | When it applies | $3,000 to $5,000 for the part of the computer system bought from the franchisor as reseller. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Proprietary Computer Software Maintenance and Support | $185 per month | Every period | Currently $185 per month, never more than $225, for bug fixes, upgrades and helpdesk support. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| TRIO Software License Fee | $4,500 | When it applies | $4,500 one-time before installation; waived on a transfer. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Miscellaneous Computer Software Fees | Varies | When it applies | Then-current charges, generally $10 to $200 per task, for reinstalls, fixes for your errors or added software services; vendor charges may be passed through at cost. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Reimbursement of Upgrading and Maintenance Costs | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's costs plus a 15% administrative fee if it repairs or upgrades the restaurant for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Cooperative Advertising | Varies | When it applies | 2% to 4% of Net Sales, set by an advertising cooperative with the franchisor's approval (note 6). (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Additional Training or Assistance | Varies | When it applies | Currently $400 per person per day plus expenses, capped at $2,000 per occurrence. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | The greater of $20,000 or actual costs for Opening Training at your second or later restaurant (note 8). (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Transfer of Franchise Rights to a Non-Existing Franchisee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000; no charge for transfers among family members or to an entity you own, though costs may be passed on. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Transfer of Franchise Rights to an Existing Franchisee | $5,000 | When it applies | $5,000 for a transfer to an existing franchise owner. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Renewal Fee | $15,000 | When it applies | $15,000 for a renewal term of 10 years. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Cost of the audit if reports are late or fees are understated by more than 2%. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | The lesser of 1.5% per month or the highest legal rate on amounts more than 7 days late. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Insufficient Funds Charge | Varies | When it applies | The franchisor's out-of-pocket expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Product and Service Purchases | Varies | When it applies | Purchases from the franchisor, affiliates and designated suppliers (Item 8). (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to 8% of Net Sales plus costs if the franchisor manages the restaurant after your death or disability. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | Due if you do not comply with your agreements (note 9). (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Costs arising from your restaurant, business or breach (note 9). (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Technology Transaction Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $0.24 per online order fulfilled by your restaurant, paid weekly. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| New Product or Supplier Testing | Varies | When it applies | Cost of testing a product or supplier you propose. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Premiums plus 20% if the franchisor buys required insurance for you. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Donatos Pizza startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Donatos Pizza franchised outlet history
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 81.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 128 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 51 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 121 | 6 | 0 | 127 | — |
| 2024 | 127 | 5 | 6 | 125 | — |
| 2025 | 125 | 4 | 1 | 128 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
7 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF page 81) prints 2024 as start 127, opened 5, ceased 6, end 125, which does not add up (it yields 126). 2023 and 2025 add up and match Table 1 (PDF page 79). The company-owned count held at 51 after one closure in 2023 (Table 4, PDF page 82). Table 5 lists 13 franchise agreements signed but not opened and 10 projected openings.
How much do Donatos Pizza franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 74.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Net Sales, Franchisee Covered Restaurants of $977,213 (Fiscal 2025 (December 31, 2024 to December 29, 2025), 116 franchised traditional restaurants open throughout fiscal 2024 and 2025; 45 (39%) exceeded the average). Donatos Pizza’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Donatos Pizza Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Donatos Pizza’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Donatos Pizza franchise agreement term?
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 66.
The standard Donatos Pizza franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 66): a 10-year term, renewable for a further 10 years if you give notice, have complied, remodel and upgrade the restaurant, and pay the $15,000 renewal fee.
How long does it take to open a Donatos Pizza franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Donatos Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 47.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement (outside a Development Rights Agreement) to opening: 6 to 18 months.
Comparing other franchise records
An unresolved startup-total conflict prevents matching this record to other brands by investment amount. Browse the franchise directory and read the format and source qualifications on each record.
Compare other restaurants & food franchises
Sources
Donatos Pizzeria, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 29, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 16
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 18
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 24
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 71
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 81
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 66
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If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 29, 2026).
- November 3, 2026: Rechecked against the revised April 29, 2026 Minnesota FDD (the later of two same-date clean copies): Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 24 rows (the draft had 5), with the 5% marketing requirement recorded once. Franchising began in 1991, not 1975 (the 1975 date is an incorporation). Item 19 drops company-only and inconsistent profit figures. Moved franchisor details into standard fields, added the opening time and rewrote the analysis. The Item 7, Item 20 and Item 19 conflicts remain and are disclosed.
- November 2, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner directed on November 2, 2026 that every remaining batch 6 brand go live, including brands whose FDDs print conflicting figures. Each record was rechecked against its FDD on November 3, 2026; the unresolved source conflicts remain disclosed and the record is not marked verified.