2026 FDD Issued Apr 18, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 3, 2026
Marco's Pizza Franchise Cost (2026)
A Marco's Pizza franchise costs an estimated $286,477 – $811,186 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $25,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Single Marco's Pizza Store. Item 6 lists royalty: 5.5% of Net Royalty Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $286K – $811KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $25KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 5.5% of Net Royalty SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 1% of Net Royalty Sales + VariesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 1,184Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 2.7% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Marco's Pizza
Leasehold improvements drive most of the spread between Item 7's low and high Store estimates. The table uses a leased site and includes a Brand Launch Program amount as a separate opening cost. Marco's development arrangements change when fees are paid: the standard Development Fee is credited toward a later Initial Franchise Fee, while the Royalty Incentive Program requires the full fee for several planned Stores upfront. Treating those payments as extra charges for the same single Store would misread the document.
The marketing obligations are linked. The Brand Development Fund is separate from geography-based advertising, but approved cooperative spending can offset part of the geography-based contribution. Local Store Marketing is calculated as the remaining amount needed to reach the disclosed overall requirement after these other contributions. Adding the headline percentages as independent layers would overstate the required spending. The standard royalty can change under the agreement, and the employee and development-incentive rates apply only to qualifying alternatives. The Store also pays both a periodic software-support amount and a weekly technology charge.
Item 19 gives a full-period sales average for a selected group of franchised Stores, excluding special venues and Stores outside its operating criteria. Its year-end Store count is dated earlier than the Item 20 outlet count, so those figures should not be forced into one snapshot. The Item 20 movement rows reconcile on their own cutoff dates. The latest table records both new openings and several exit categories; transfers count changes of owner separately. None of these figures describes the profit of a typical owner.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Marco's Pizza?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $25,000 for Marco's Pizza. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Standard single-Store Initial Franchise Fee is $25,000. Item 5 describes first-responder, military and qualifying employee discounts, a fee waiver for eligible existing operators under the time-limited Equipment Incentive Program, and a separate Royalty Incentive Program. A standard Development Agreement requires $5,000 per committed Store, credited against that Store's later Initial Franchise Fee. The Royalty Incentive Program instead requires full upfront franchise fees. The Brand Launch Program and certain equipment or technology purchases are separate from the standard franchise fee.
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 18.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Marco's 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 Marco's Pizza franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 36.
Item 7 of Marco's Pizza’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one single marco's pizza store at $286,477 – $811,186. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Real Property | $6,000 | $22,000 |
| Equipment, Fixtures | $97,725 | $175,000 |
| Point of Sale Computers | $20,000 | $23,000 |
| Credit Card Processing | $6,700 | $6,900 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $65,000 | $400,000 |
| Signage | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $7,000 | $11,000 |
| Small Supplies | $14,200 | $18,500 |
| Deposits, Pre-Paid Expenses | $2,500 | $6,000 |
| Business Licenses | $500 | $3,000 |
| Insurance | $2,366 | $16,500 |
| Training Expenses | $1,250 | $9,350 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | $500 | $5,000 |
| Architectural and Engineering | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| Technology Fee | $336 | $336 |
| Digital Delivery Area, Demographics Reports, and electronic files for POS and OLO platform | $500 | $500 |
| Brand Launch Program | $15,500 | $25,500 |
| Store Technology Infrastructure System | $800 | $2,400 |
| Menu Boards | $600 | $1,200 |
| Additional Funds, 3 months | $9,000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $286,477 | $811,186 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 25 restaurants & food records without a source-review hold is $1,297,100.
The single-Store Item 7 table spans PDF pages 36-37. A Development Agreement for two Stores has a separate $10,000 upfront development payment, but the FDD says each $5,000 share is credited against a later Initial Franchise Fee; the cover's first-Store investment range stays $286,477-$811,186. A qualifying Royalty Incentive Program instead requires at least three full upfront franchise fees. These are development-payment arrangements, not alternate physical Store formats.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Marco's Pizza charge? (Item 6)
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 23.
Item 6 of Marco's 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.5% of Net Royalty Sales | Every period | May rise to 6%; employee and time-limited development programs have separate rates. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Royalty - Key Management Employee Program | 2.5% of Net Royalty Sales | When it applies | Alternative to the standard royalty for qualifying franchisor employees; an Area Representative commission adds 2.2 percentage points when due. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Royalty - 2026 Royalty Incentive Program | Varies | When it applies | Qualifying Stores pay zero for Accounting Periods one through six and 2.5% for periods seven through eighteen, then the then-current standard royalty, subject to program conditions. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Brand Launch Program | Varies | When it applies | Conditional additional spending up to $10,000 if stated early performance goals are not met; the initial Brand Launch budget is in Item 7. (Item 6, PDF p. 23) |
| Brand Development Fund | 1% of Net Royalty Sales | Every period | Current rate; may increase by 0.5 percentage point with notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Geography Based Advertising Funds | Varies | Every period | Current National Advertising Fund is 4% of Net Royalty Sales; Regional Advertising Fund varies by region, with a combined ceiling of 5.5%. Qualifying co-op expenditure may be credited against this obligation. (Item 6, PDF p. 24) |
| Market Advertising Cooperative | Varies | When it applies | Only where an advertising cooperative applies; its payments can be credited against other advertising requirements. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Local Store Marketing | Varies | Every period | Minimum residual expenditure equals 7% of Net Royalty Sales less Brand Development, geography-based funds and allowable co-op amounts; not an extra 7% on top of those payments. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| SMS/MMS Program Fee | $100 per 28-day period | When it applies | Optional at the FDD issue date but may become mandatory. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Training Registration Fee | $225 | When it applies | Per trainee when collected. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Additional Training | $1,100 | When it applies | Per additional person beyond the two included in initial training. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Replacement Designated Franchise Operator Training | Varies | When it applies | $5,500 per replacement person plus requested translation costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 25) |
| Multi-Unit Leadership Excellence Training Registration Fee | $550 | When it applies | Per person; program required for franchisees with four or more Stores under the FDD conditions. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Missed Training Instruction Make-Up or Retraining Fee | Varies | When it applies | $100 per instructor hour, billed in half-hour increments, when retraining is needed. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Additional Assistance | $300 | When it applies | Per day of additional assistance. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Performance Deficiencies Service Fee | $500 | When it applies | (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Financial Reporting Fee | $100 | When it applies | Per reporting violation. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Relocation | Varies | When it applies | Greater of $10,000 or one-third of the then-current standard Initial Franchise Fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Transfer | Varies | When it applies | $5,000-$10,000 depending on the transfer; the FDD reserves discretion for certain ownership changes. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | When it applies | Greater of $6,250 or 25% of the then-current standard Initial Franchise Fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 26) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Conditional reimbursement if the franchisor obtains required coverage after noncompliance. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Interest and Additional Expense Fees | Varies | When it applies | 1.5% monthly interest on late payments plus a conditional 5% expense charge. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Delayed Opening Fee | Varies | When it applies | Conditional weekly formula based on prior systemwide weekly average sales, subject to Item 6 Note 17 and incentive exceptions. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Liquidated Damages | Varies | When it applies | Conditional termination formula using prior royalty and advertising payments and remaining term. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Software Maintenance and Support Fees | $430 per 28-day period | Every period | (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Franchise Conference or Meeting Nonattendance Fee | Varies | When it applies | Lesser of contracted required room nights or $1,000 when a required meeting is missed. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Web Based Training (Marco's University) | Varies | When it applies | Payment is included in the Technology Fee; this table row is not an additional charge. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| Technology Fee | $27.96 per week | Every period | (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Audit Costs | Varies | When it applies | (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Securities Offering Fee | Varies | When it applies | Greater of $2,500 or actual evaluation expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Development Agreement Continuation Fee | Varies | When it applies | Conditional weekly formula to extend a missed development milestone for up to thirteen accounting periods. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| MUO & Inventory Tablet | Varies | When it applies | Optional tablet purchase estimate $499-$625, plus described processing and shipping amounts. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Additional Email Fee | $120 per year | When it applies | Only for email accounts beyond the two included per franchisee group. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
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.
Marco's Pizza startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
The geography-based advertising contribution varies by region, and co-op payments are credited against other advertising obligations. Local marketing is a residual formula, not an additional flat percentage. Program alternatives and conditional charges are not all payable together. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Marco's Pizza franchised outlet history
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 99.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 1,139 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 45 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 2.7% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,018 | 85 | 32 | 1,071 | 3.1% |
| 2024 | 1,071 | 68 | 25 | 1,114 | 2.3% |
| 2025 | 1,114 | 53 | 28 | 1,139 | 2.5% |
Franchised units went from 1,018 to 1,139 over 3 years (+121).
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. Compare Marco's Pizza’s exit rate with other brands.
56 units changed owners in 2025.
Table 3 national totals on PDF page 99 reconcile for all three fiscal years. Table 2 transfer totals are on page 96; Table 4 company-owned endings are on page 100. Note 1 on page 101 says the 2025 Item 20 fiscal year ended December 31, whereas Item 19's sales period ended December 28. Item 20 counts the systemwide franchised outlets rather than the narrower Item 19 full-period sales sample.
How much do Marco's Pizza franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 91.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Net Royalty Sales, Total Franchised Stores of $878,180 (Fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2025, 997 franchised Stores open for the full 52-week fiscal period, excluding special venues and other listed groups). Marco's Pizza’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees such as the royalty (5.5% of Net Royalty Sales) come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
See every Marco's 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 Marco's Pizza’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Marco's Pizza franchise agreement term?
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 84.
The standard Marco's Pizza franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Initial term begins when the Store opens. Item 17 permits two conditional additional ten-year terms; an existing-Store buyer receives the remainder of the original term.
How long does it take to open a Marco's Pizza franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Marco's Pizza 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 55.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states no typical time to open. The agreement requires you to open within 365 days after entering into the Franchise Agreement.
The FDD states a different December 26, 2026 deadline for a qualifying equipment incentive.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Marco's Pizza’s $286,477 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Restaurants & Food. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Papa Johns $281K – $890K Restaurants & Food
- Ben & Jerry's $280K – $631K Restaurants & Food
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe $276K – $771K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Pinkberry $303K – $684K Restaurants & Food
- Subway $263K – $630K Source review pending Provisional publication Restaurants & Food
- Wayback Burgers $256K – $859K Restaurants & Food
Compare other restaurants & food franchises
Sources
Marco's Franchising, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 18, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 18
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 23
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 36
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 90
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 99
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 84
Page references for Marco's Pizza use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
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 check completed against the recorded FDD.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 18, 2026).