Carbone's Pizzeria Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Carbone's Pizzeria is a franchise offering traditional Italian pizzas and a variety of other Italian dishes, known for its quality ingredients and family-friendly atmosphere.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

-9%

Franchise fee

$25,000

Investment

$329,000 - $908,000

Revenue (AUV)

$1,084,000

n.a.

Founded in 1977 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Carbone’s Pizzeria has grown into a beloved regional pizza chain known for its family-recipe, high-quality offerings. It remains headquartered at 680 East Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN, operating as M & T Pizza, Inc.

Drawing on decades of community roots, Carbone’s delivers a nostalgic, family-friendly dining experience that resonates with local and franchise audiences alike.

The brand began franchising in 1977, expanding its footprint beyond company-owned locations. Carbone’s sells a full menu of pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and more, catering to dine-in, carry-out, and catering customers.

It differentiates itself through its secret family sauce recipe, fresh ingredients used since the 1950s, and a warm, locally-focused atmosphere. This blend of tradition, quality, and franchising momentum helps Carbone’s compete strongly in the casual pizza segment.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Carbone's Pizzeria franchise is $329,000 - $908,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$25,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training	$1,000 to $2,500
Leasehold Improvements	$130,000 to $400,000
Rent (3 months)	$7,500 to $18,750
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Smallware’s	$90,000 to $285,000
Point of Sale	$5,000 to $10,000
Signs	$6,000 to $18,000
Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$34,100 to $39,100
Opening Inventory	$10,000 to $20,000
Estimated Additional Funds – 3 months	$20,000 to $90,000
Total	$328,600 to $908,350

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$25,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training	$1,000 to $2,500
Leasehold Improvements	$130,000 to $400,000
Rent (3 months)	$7,500 to $18,750
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Smallware’s	$90,000 to $285,000
Point of Sale	$5,000 to $10,000
Signs	$6,000 to $18,000
Miscellaneous Opening Costs	$34,100 to $39,100
Opening Inventory	$10,000 to $20,000
Estimated Additional Funds – 3 months	$20,000 to $90,000
Total	$328,600 to $908,350

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Carbone's Pizzeria's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Carbone's Pizzeria had 34 total units in 2025, of which 32 were franchised-owned and 2 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Carbone's Pizzeria

key competitors in the

Pizza

sector.

Franchise

Upgrade

New

-9%

2% - 4%

$329,000

$908,000

$1,084,000

n.a.

Pizza Hut

$200K - $500K

5214

New

-2%

6% - 6.5%

$462,000

$2,054,000

$969,000

n.a.

Patsy's Pizzeria

$200K - $500K

New

-29%

6.00%

$399,000

$766,000

n.a.

Big Mama's and Papa's Pizzeria

$200K - $500K

New

-17%

6.00%

$305,000

$764,000

n.a.

Aurelio's Pizza

$200K - $500K

New

-9%

5.00%

$438,000

$1,253,000

n.a.

Donatos Pizza

Over $500K

125

New

4.00%

$542,000

$1,038,000

$958,000

9.5%

Hangar 54 Pizza

Under $25K

162

New

57%

n.a.

$9,000

$644,000

n.a.

Training

Carbone’s Pizzeria offers a comprehensive training program for its franchisees to ensure uniform operational quality and adherence to the brand’s standards.

Initial Training Program
Franchisees must complete the franchisor’s initial training program prior to opening their restaurant. This program is provided at no additional cost, though franchisees are responsible for all associated travel and accommodation expenses. The training is conducted at a location designated by the franchisor and includes both operational and marketing guidance.
Mandatory Participation
The training is required for all owners and operations managers, or any staff with managerial responsibilities. Franchisees or their representatives do not receive compensation or reimbursement for time or expenses during training.
Refresher and Ongoing Training
Carbone’s Pizzeria may also require franchisees to attend additional training programs or refresher courses to stay updated on system changes. These sessions may be held at the franchisee's restaurant and may involve a fee payable before attendance. The franchisor provides ongoing consultation during normal business hours to support continued success.

Territory Protection

Carbone’s Pizzeria grants franchisees a defined territory, generally with a radius of approximately 5 miles around the approved restaurant site. In more densely populated areas, this radius may be smaller, and while territories may overlap, the franchisor will not approve another Carbone’s Pizza restaurant within your territory as long as you remain in compliance.

However, Carbone’s Pizzeria does not grant exclusive territorial rights. The franchisor and its affiliates retain the right to operate or allow others to operate similar or even competing businesses within the territory, provided they do not use the Carbone’s Pizza or Pizzeria names.

Furthermore, they may sell similar products through alternative channels like the internet, catalog, and convenience stores, and may also authorize deliveries across territories that are not yet franchised to others.