Aurelio's Pizza

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Aurelio's Pizza

Food & Beverage
Pizza

Aurelio's Pizza Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Aurelio's Pizza is a pizza restaurant franchise known for its signature thin-crust pizza and Italian-American dishes, offering a flavorful and satisfying dining experience with a focus on quality ingredients and traditional recipes.

Founded in 1959 in Homewood, Illinois, Aurelio’s Pizza began as a small pizzeria created by Joseph A. Aurelio Jr. The brand quickly gained recognition for its thin-crust, Chicago-style pizza and authentic Italian beef sandwiches. Today, the company is headquartered in Homewood, Illinois, and continues to emphasize family traditions and community values.

Aurelio’s began franchising in 1974, making it the first Chicago pizzeria to do so and one of the earliest pizza franchises in the U.S. The first franchise opened in Joliet, Illinois, and the brand has since expanded to over 40 locations across several states including Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, and Florida.

The menu at Aurelio’s focuses on tavern-cut thin-crust pizzas, freshly made dough and sauces, and house-made Italian sausage. Guests also enjoy signature items like the Calabrese calzone, Italian beef sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, appetizers, and a full range of beverages including beer, wine, and cocktails.

What sets Aurelio’s apart is its legacy, consistency, and loyal customer base. While honoring its original roots, the brand also embraces modern services like online ordering, catering, loyalty rewards, and dine-in experiences, offering a competitive edge in the fast-casual pizza franchise market.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Aurelio's Pizza offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Aurelio's Sit-Down Franchise $1,080,439 to $1,252,939
Aurelio's Carry-Out/Delivery Franchise $437,904 to $539,904

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Aurelio's Sit-Down Franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $49,000
Travel & Living Expenses for Management Training $5,000
Cost of Staff Training and Grand Opening Assistance $7,500 to $15,000
Real Estate - 3 Months $25,000 to $30,000
Improvements to Real Estate $450,000 to $500,000
Equipment $300,000 to $350,000
Point of Sale System $3,939
Audio, Video, Telephone and Security Systems $20,000 to $25,000
Opening Inventory $25,000 to $30,000
Insurance $20,000 to $25,000
Signs $15,000 to $20,000
Advertising - 3 Months $20,000 to $25,000
Smallwares $22,000 to $25,000
Interior Decor $5,000 to $10,000
Uniforms $3,000 to $5,000
Miscellaneous Opening Cost $10,000 to $15,000
Working Capital - 3 Months $100,000 to $120,000
Total $1,080,439 to $1,252,939

Aurelio's Pizza offers 2 types of franchises:

Franchise Type Initial Investment
Aurelio's Sit-Down Franchise $1,080,439 to $1,252,939
Aurelio's Carry-Out/Delivery Franchise $437,904 to $539,904

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Aurelio's Sit-Down Franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $49,000
Travel & Living Expenses for Management Training $5,000
Cost of Staff Training and Grand Opening Assistance $7,500 to $15,000
Real Estate - 3 Months $25,000 to $30,000
Improvements to Real Estate $450,000 to $500,000
Equipment $300,000 to $350,000
Point of Sale System $3,939
Audio, Video, Telephone and Security Systems $20,000 to $25,000
Opening Inventory $25,000 to $30,000
Insurance $20,000 to $25,000
Signs $15,000 to $20,000
Advertising - 3 Months $20,000 to $25,000
Smallwares $22,000 to $25,000
Interior Decor $5,000 to $10,000
Uniforms $3,000 to $5,000
Miscellaneous Opening Cost $10,000 to $15,000
Working Capital - 3 Months $100,000 to $120,000
Total $1,080,439 to $1,252,939

Franchise Disclosure Document

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
1979
Franchisees

?

32
+
-9%
-9%
Franchise fee

?

$49,000
Investment

?

$438,000 - $1,253,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$0

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

n.a.

Home based

?

No
Upgrade
No
Passive investment

?

No
Upgrade
No
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Competitors

Below are some of

Aurelio's Pizza

key competitors in the

Pizza

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

32

New
+
-9%
-9%

$49,000

$438,000

$1,253,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
-4%
-4%

$50,000

$1,031,000

$3,306,000

n.a.

$1,510,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

103

New
+
7%
7%

$25,000

$279,000

$630,000

n.a.

$816,000

$xxx,xxx

72.8%

xx%

n.a.

21.0%

xx%

n.a.

9

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$137,000

$539,000

n.a.

$1,049,000

$xxx,xxx

63.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

7

New
+
40%
40%

$49,500

$449,000

$891,000

n.a.

$908,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

409

New
+
15%
15%

$25,000

$347,000

$1,092,000

n.a.

$1,028,000

$xxx,xxx

73.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

212

New
+
3%
3%

$30,000

$2,102,000

$4,910,000

n.a.

$2,063,000

$xxx,xxx

72.2%

xx%

n.a.

14.1%

xx%

n.a.

192

New
+
-4%
-4%

$15,000

$109,000

$236,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

55

New
+
20%
20%

$30,000

$510,000

$690,000

n.a.

$983,000

$xxx,xxx

71.4%

xx%

n.a.

7.4%

xx%

n.a.

5214

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$462,000

$2,054,000

n.a.

$969,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

599

New
+
3%
3%

$7,500 to $25,000

$153,000

$1,159,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3705

New
+
3%
3%

$20,000

$447,000

$1,817,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

161

New
+
-2%
-2%

$50,000

$1,688,000

$4,832,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

56

New
+
2%
2%

$25,000

$1,431,000

$2,595,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

33

New
+
-27%
-27%

$40,000

$207,000

$2,484,000

n.a.

$2,081,000

$xxx,xxx

76.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

17

New
+
-6%
-6%

$45,000

$1,672,000

$2,493,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
-9%
-9%

$25,000

$329,000

$908,000

n.a.

$1,084,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$39,500

$403,000

$536,000

n.a.

$1,126,000

$xxx,xxx

53.0%

xx%

n.a.

15.0%

xx%

n.a.

48

New
+
-2%
-2%

$35,000

$312,000

$1,485,000

n.a.

$807,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

299

New
+
13%
13%

$30,000

$477,000

$983,000

n.a.

$1,015,000

$xxx,xxx

75.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

7

New
+
-13%
-13%

$25,000

$224,000

$444,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

101

New
+
-9%
-9%

$25,000

$304,000

$808,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
12%
12%

$20,000

$145,000

$1,568,000

n.a.

$472,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

42

New
+
-5%
-5%

$25,000

$121,000

$350,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$25,000

$237,000

$533,000

n.a.

$730,000

$xxx,xxx

60.0%

xx%

n.a.

17.2%

xx%

n.a.

113

New
+
9%
9%

$30,000

$206,000

$673,000

n.a.

$1,193,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$406,000

$1,148,000

n.a.

$2,223,000

$xxx,xxx

77.3%

xx%

n.a.

15.2%

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
-12%
-12%

$40,000

$323,000

$1,359,000

n.a.

$842,000

$xxx,xxx

70.1%

xx%

n.a.

11.2%

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
-11%
-11%

$40,000

$609,000

$2,056,000

n.a.

$1,805,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

9

New
+
80%
80%

$40,000

$106,000

$729,000

n.a.

$957,000

$xxx,xxx

65.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

60

New
+
-2%
-2%

$20,000

$214,000

$690,000

n.a.

$676,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
300%
300%

$15,000

$147,000

$575,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1001

New
+
-13%
-13%

$25,000

$367,000

$733,000

n.a.

$616,000

$xxx,xxx

68.8%

xx%

n.a.

15.2%

xx%

n.a.

2819

New
+
1%
1%

$7,500

$32,000

$228,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2752

New
+
4%
4%

$25,000

$111,000

$853,000

n.a.

$1,068,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$860,000

$1,355,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$810,000

$1,240,000

n.a.

$2,009,000

$xxx,xxx

74.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

16

New
+
0%
0%

$39,000

$204,000

$592,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

197

New
+
42%
42%

$20,000 to $35,000

$207,000

$946,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
0%
0%

$20,000

$301,000

$489,000

n.a.

$586,000

$xxx,xxx

74.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

394

New
+
9%
9%

$30,000

$573,000

$786,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

23

New
+
-58%
-58%

$30,000

$239,000

$590,000

n.a.

$934,000

$xxx,xxx

71.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
-20%
-20%

$50,000

$720,000

$5,375,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
0%
0%

$25,000

$211,000

$706,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

51

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$191,000

$641,000

n.a.

$824,000

$xxx,xxx

67.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
25%
25%

$15,000

$255,000

$734,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

72

New
+
-16%
-16%

$30,000

$156,000

$331,000

n.a.

$784,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

259

New
+
-12%
-12%

$15,000 to $30,000

$242,000

$1,019,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

45

New
+
5%
5%

$25,000 - $30,000

$167,000

$785,000

n.a.

$811,000

$xxx,xxx

72.1%

xx%

n.a.

6.2%

xx%

n.a.

73

New
+
66%
66%

$30,000

$290,000

$551,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

37

New
+
3%
3%

$35,000

$439,000

$1,501,000

n.a.

$874,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$1,336,000

$7,506,000

n.a.

$2,211,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

125

New
+
3%
3%

$30,000

$542,000

$1,038,000

n.a.

$958,000

$xxx,xxx

68.5%

xx%

n.a.

9.5%

xx%

n.a.

254

New
+
-14%
-14%

$30,000

$667,000

$1,143,000

n.a.

$1,286,000

$xxx,xxx

80.6%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

75

New
+
19%
19%

$25,000

$146,000

$428,000

n.a.

$1,039,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

69

New
+
-9%
-9%

$35,000

$369,000

$940,000

n.a.

$804,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

26

New
+
-10%
-10%

$45,000

$488,000

$1,133,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

86

New
+
5%
5%

$30,000

$859,000

$1,247,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

494

New
+
-1%
-1%

$25,000

$292,000

$567,000

n.a.

$805,000

$xxx,xxx

70.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

6751

New
+
5%
5%

$10,000

$107,000

$744,000

n.a.

$1,279,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10.7%

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
300%
300%

$50,000

$1,390,000

$1,835,000

n.a.

$2,780,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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Number of units

Training

Aurelio’s Pizza franchise provides a structured training program designed to prepare franchisees for the successful operation of their restaurant. The training focuses on essential operational, management, and customer service procedures that align with the brand’s standards.

  1. Initial Training Program: Franchisees are required to complete a comprehensive training course that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on experience. This training is conducted at Aurelio’s headquarters or an approved location and typically covers food preparation, inventory control, POS systems, employee management, and customer service protocols.
  2. On-Site Training: Aurelio’s also provides on-site training assistance before the opening of the franchise. This includes support with setup, operations, and staffing to ensure a smooth launch and adherence to brand standards.
  3. Ongoing Support and Refresher Training: The franchisor may also offer refresher courses and additional training sessions as needed to keep franchisees and their staff up to date on best practices, menu changes, or operational improvements.

Territory Protection

Aurelio’s Pizza franchise offers its franchisees a protected territory to operate their business. The protected territory is typically defined in the Franchise Agreement and is based on population size, geographic boundaries, or other market factors.

During the term of the agreement, the franchisor will not establish another traditional Aurelio’s Pizza franchise or operate a company-owned unit within the designated territory.

However, the territorial protection granted does not guarantee exclusivity against all types of competition. Aurelio’s Pizza reserves the right to sell its products through non-traditional channels, such as grocery stores, third-party delivery apps, or food trucks, even within a franchisee’s territory.

Competitors

Pizza Twist

Pizza Twist is a pizza franchise known for its unique fusion flavors, offering traditional and Indian-style pizzas with vegan, gluten-free, and halal options.

Franchisees

?

73
+
66%
66%
Investment

?

$290,000 - $551,000
Food & Beverage
Pizza

Paulie Gee's

Paulie Gee's is a pizzeria franchise known for its artisanal, wood-fired pizzas made with fresh ingredients, offering a cozy dining experience.

Franchisees

?

5
+
25%
25%
Investment

?

$255,000 - $734,000
Food & Beverage
Pizza

Slice House by Tony Gemignani

Slice House by Tony Gemignani is a pizza franchise offering a variety of regional styles, including New York, Sicilian, and Detroit-style pizzas.

Franchisees

?

3
+
50%
50%
Investment

?

$406,000 - $1,148,000
Food & Beverage
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East of Chicago Pizza

East of Chicago Pizza is a pizza franchise known for its signature pan, thin, and stuffed crust pizzas with a variety of toppings.

Franchisees

?

60
+
-2%
-2%
Investment

?

$214,000 - $690,000
Food & Beverage
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Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom is a pizza franchise known for its stone-baked pizzas, craft beers, and eclectic, artistic restaurant atmosphere.

Franchisees

?

161
+
-2%
-2%
Investment

?

$1,688,000 - $4,832,000
Food & Beverage
Pizza

Russo's New York Pizzeria

Russo’s New York Pizzeria is a pizza franchise serving authentic New York-style pizzas, pastas, and Italian dishes in a casual dining setting.

Franchisees

?

37
+
3%
3%
Investment

?

$439,000 - $1,501,000
Food & Beverage
Pizza
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