- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#329 Ranked #171 last year
- Initial investment
-
$482K - $998K
- Units as of 2024
-
178 6.0% over 3 years
Looking to grab a slice of a hot restaurant franchise opportunity? Donatos might be your chance!
Founded in 1963, Donatos is a pizza maker that has stood the test of time and strives to create consistently delicious pizza. There are several company-owned restaurants across the United States, as well as over 100 franchises. Since beginning to franchise in 1991, Donatos has developed a solid base of loyal customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Why You May Want to Start a Donatos Franchise
Donatos prides itself on efficient kitchen layouts created in order to maximize sales. As you are planning your restaurant, you can choose add-on options like patios and drive-through windows to streamline your customer service. In addition, Donatos has a great app that makes placing orders as simple as possible. This creates a more enjoyable, faster experience for your clients.
The Donatos menu is continuously innovated in order to meet clients' trends and tastes, encouraging them to come back for more. You will also receive ongoing training and support from the franchise, providing you with a winning recipe and fresh ingredients for your pizza.
You can serve many clients within the Donatos' customer reach, whether they prefer to dine-in, pick-up, or have their pizza delivered to them. The drive-up window and catering during events are options for customers, as well.
What Might Make Donatos Franchise a Good Choice?
Donatos values franchisees who are invested in their communities. They look for franchisees with strong management skills and a passion for pizza and providing quality service. If you fall in this category, Donatos might be a place for you to set up shop.
To make sure you meet the financial requirements for opening a Donatos franchise, be sure to have a secured net worth and liquid capital on hand. Also, be prepared to make an initial investment that will include a franchise fee and additional startup costs. You should be willing to open multiple restaurant locations from the start as a part of your franchise.
Included in the franchise fee is access to the Donatos systems, technology, operational support, building plans, and your own training. The ongoing fees you will pay are a royalty fee, advertising fee, and a National Marketing Fund contribution, which will usually come out of a small percentage of your net sales.
How Do You Open a Donatos Franchise?
During the process, you will have the opportunity to speak to a Donatos Franchise Development team member and get information to guide you in your business decisions. You will likely attend a program review webinar to brief you on the Donatos franchise opportunity, company culture, market, and finances. This is the perfect opportunity to talk about franchise availability in your area, the number of locations you want to open, and the experiences of other franchisees.
The company will invite you to a discovery day at Donatos' headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. This will let you meet the operations team and get hands-on experience at a local Donatos restaurant. If you qualify, you can sign a franchise development agreement and pay the franchise fee.
After this, voilà! You are an official Donatos franchisee! The only thing you'll have left to do is to plan your grand opening.
Company Overview
About Donatos
Business Overview
Franchising Since | 1991 (33 years) |
---|---|
# of employees at HQ | 90 |
Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming |
# of Units | 178 (as of 2024) |
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Donatos franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$30,000 |
---|---|
Initial Investment
|
$482,029 - $998,029 |
Net Worth Requirement
|
$1,000,000 |
Cash Requirement
|
$200,000 |
Veteran Incentives
|
20% off franchise fee |
Royalty Fee
|
4% |
Ad Royalty Fee
|
0.75%-4% |
Term of Agreement
|
10 years |
Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
Third Party Financing | Donatos has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll |
---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
On-The-Job Training | 188 hours |
---|---|
Classroom Training | 4 hours |
Ongoing Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
---|---|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Donatos landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Donatos ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Donatos.
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
This Franchise Saves 6 Items From Landfills Every Second. Here's How It Thinks About Sustainable Growth.
With over 1,300 locally-owned franchises and a 99% franchise renewal rate, this resale giant blends purpose with profitability.
KFC Is Launching a Chicken Tenders-Focused Concept Called Saucy — Here's When and Where It Opens
The chicken chain is making a strategic pivot towards the growing demand for customizable, sauce-heavy meals.
The UPS Store Franchise is Ranked #1 in its Category by Entrepreneur
Owning a UPS Store franchise comes with strong brand recognition and an extensive product offering.
Taco Bell Is Launching Chicken Nuggets — Here's When and Where to Get Yours
The fast-food giant is putting its own spin on chicken nuggets for the first time.
How Franchising Can Alleviate Entrepreneurial Imposter Syndrome
The franchise model can alleviate entrepreneurial imposter syndrome and provide an alternative path towards professional independence.
Kick-Start Your Small Business With These Cost Effective Strategies
Starting a small business is an exciting adventure, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. A key to success is effectively managing costs from the outset.