Pizza Ranch Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Buffet-style pizza restaurant franchise featuring a selection of pizzas, fried chicken, salads, and desserts, creating a family-friendly and all-you-can-eat dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

212
+
3%
3%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$2,102,000 - $4,910,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$2,063,000

+
-2.2%
-2.2%

Pizza Ranch is a popular fast-casual dining chain predominantly found in the Midwest region of the United States. Founded in 1981 by Adrie Groeneweg and Lawrence Vander Esch, the chain originated in Hull, Iowa, with Groeneweg showcasing pizza recipes crafted by his mother, Lorraine.

Pizza Ranch offers a diverse menu featuring pizza, chicken, fresh salads, Buffalo wings, and delectable desserts. One of its standout features is the buffet-style dining experience, which has become a favorite among patrons.

In addition to dine-in options, Pizza Ranch provides carry-out and delivery services, catering to a wide range of customer preferences.

The franchise journey began in 1984 under the name Pizza Ranch Inc., eventually relocating its headquarters to Orange City, Iowa. Over the years, Pizza Ranch has become known for its commitment to community involvement and charitable initiatives, often supporting local events and fundraising efforts.

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.

Pizza Ranch offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Pizza Ranch Franchise Initial Investment
Pizza Ranch® (if you lease or remodel your Restaurant) $2,101,500 to $2,962,000
Pizza Ranch® (if you build a new Restaurant) $3,151,500 to $4,909,500

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a new Pizza Ranch franchised restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Pizza Ranch franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $30,000 to $30,000
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $493,000 to $700,000
Arcade Games $378,000 to $550,000
Construction Costs $2,000,000 to $2,400,000
Architect/Engineering Fees $110,000 to $130,000
Land $0 to $800,000
Pre-Opening Training Expenses $80,000 to $137,000
Food Used During Team Member Training $7,000 to $9,000
Start-Up Costs $23,500 to $43,500
Interest on Pre-Opening Loans $10,000 to $90,000
Working Capital (3 months) $20,000 to $20,000
Total Initial Investment (with a FunZone) $3,151,500 to $4,909,500

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Pizza Ranch offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Pizza Ranch Franchise Initial Investment
Pizza Ranch® (if you lease or remodel your Restaurant) $2,101,500 to $2,962,000
Pizza Ranch® (if you build a new Restaurant) $3,151,500 to $4,909,500

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a new Pizza Ranch franchised restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Pizza Ranch franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $30,000 to $30,000
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $493,000 to $700,000
Arcade Games $378,000 to $550,000
Construction Costs $2,000,000 to $2,400,000
Architect/Engineering Fees $110,000 to $130,000
Land $0 to $800,000
Pre-Opening Training Expenses $80,000 to $137,000
Food Used During Team Member Training $7,000 to $9,000
Start-Up Costs $23,500 to $43,500
Interest on Pre-Opening Loans $10,000 to $90,000
Working Capital (3 months) $20,000 to $20,000
Total Initial Investment (with a FunZone) $3,151,500 to $4,909,500

Franchise Disclosure Document

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Number of units

Training 

Prospective Pizza Ranch franchisees participate in an extensive training program before launching their restaurant. This comprehensive training covers all facets of restaurant management, from operational procedures to utilizing essential equipment and computer systems.

Key personnel, including the Principal or General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Kitchen Managers, and Guest Services Manager, must complete the Manager in Training Program.

This training is conducted at a Certified Training Restaurant or another location specified by Pizza Ranch. The curriculum includes topics such as Advertising/Marketing, Accounting/Profitability, Restaurant Operations, Restaurant Management, Guest Relations, and essential soft skills like Culture and Leadership.

Territory Protection

Pizza Ranch® franchisees do not receive exclusive territorial rights. Instead, they are assigned a specific location to operate their Pizza Ranch® restaurant.

This arrangement ensures that while franchisees can run their business at the designated site, there is no protection from the establishment of additional Pizza Ranch® restaurants or outlets nearby.

The franchisees' operational rights are confined to their designated location. Any plans to move or expand beyond this location require prior written approval from the franchisor. This framework highlights the necessity of adhering to the assigned location and recognizing the absence of broader territorial exclusivity.

Competitors

Below are some of

Pizza Ranch

key competitors in the

Pizza

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

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.

Competitors

Happy's Pizza

Happy's Pizza is a multi-location restaurant franchise offering pizza, barbecued ribs, chicken, seafood, and more, serving value-focused families and neighborhood crowds, and known for its extensive comfort-food menu, generous portions, delivery-friendly model, and upbeat, community-rooted Detroit brand origin story.

Franchisees

?

54
+
-4%
-4%
Investment

?

$264,000 - $619,000

Street Pizza

Street Pizza is a lively pizza restaurant franchise offering bottomless sourdough pizzas, wings, and cocktails, serving social diners, groups, and party-goers, and known for its “pizza without rules” attitude, vibrant music, arcade-style fun, and a casual, high-energy dining experience.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$1,804,000 - $3,303,000

Cascadia Pizza Co.

Cascadia Pizza Co. is a pizza catering brand offering wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas from food trucks, trailers, and taprooms, serving private events and neighborhood guests, and known for mobile ovens, handcrafted dough, and Pacific Northwest-inspired toppings.

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$347,000 - $677,000

Chanticlear Pizza

Chanticlear Pizza is a pizza restaurant franchise offering multiple crust styles, specialty pizzas, and related items, serving neighborhood diners in the Twin Cities region, and known for decades of local heritage, thin-crust favorites, delivery convenience, and community-focused operations.

Franchisees

?

10
+
-9%
-9%
Investment

?

$247,000 - $326,000

Bellacino's

Bellacino's is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering pizza, grinders, and related menu items, serving families, workers, and students, and known for dough and bread made from scratch daily, oven-baked sandwiches, and a comfortable neighborhood dining experience.

Franchisees

?

46
+
-2%
-2%
Investment

?

$311,000 - $477,000

Krave It

Krave It is a fast-casual franchise offering gourmet wraps, bowls and specialty sandwiches in NYC style, serving value- and quality-seeking diners, and known for growth-oriented franchise support and evolving restaurant model.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$201,000 - $408,000

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