More Resources
More in Franchising:Franchises Food Pizza

Papa John's Int'l. Inc.

Pizza

Background

Founded: 1985 Franchising since: 1986
John Schnatter dreamed of opening his own pizza restaurant from the time he was a high school student working at a local pizza parlor in Jeffersonville, Indiana. After getting his business degree from Ball State University in 1983, he returned home, knocked down the broom closet in his father's tavern, sold his car to buy used restaurant equipment and began delivering pizzas.

The first Papa John's restaurant opened in 1985, and the company began franchising in 1986. Today, Schnatter's dream has resulted in over 3,000 Papa John's restaurants worldwide.

P.O. Box 99900
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
Phone:
(502)261-7272


Franchisor has 500 employee(s); 10 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 2193 31 590 612
2008 2,122 19 474 674
2007 1,683 17 373 648
2006 2,091 15 299 557
2005 2,016 12 399 571

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Varies

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $135.8K-491.6K
Franchise fee: $25K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5%
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Express/kiosk option available

Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $250K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Multi-unit quick-service general management experience preferred

Operations
  • 61% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 - 20
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 3 weeks
  • At location near franchisee : 3-4 weeks

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations
  • Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support
  • Ad slicks
  • National media
  • Regional advertising

Other marketing support
  • Marketing planning & support

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#10 (2009); #36 (2008); #10 (2007); #29 (2006);

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#55 (2009); #49 (2007);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#10 (2009); #43 (2008); #13 (2007); #24 (2006);


Related Franchises

Franchises, get reprints of your rankings »



Marketplace

Learn how to distribute a press release

Try our new online printing. theupsstore.com/print
Franchise Search
Franchise Features
Franchise Buying Guide
We've got all the information you need to research, buy and run a franchise successfully.

Slideshow: Top 10 Franchises for 2009 Slideshow: Franchise 500 at 30: A Look Back
This week's featured opportunity
Regis Cost Cutters
Join one of the strongest growing salon brands, supported by the world's largest hair-care company.
Shopping for a franchise or business opportunity?
Explore hundreds of businesses for sale: