Pizza Ranch franchise
Pizza Ranch is a Midwestern family restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet of pizza, fried chicken and salad, plus a menu for ordering, and family arcades in many locations. At the end of 2025 there were 219 Pizza Ranch locations in the US, 213 franchised and 6 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $2.31M–$2.99M
- Franchise fee
- $30,000
- Royalty
- 3.5% + 0.5%
- Locations, 2025
- 219+8 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1984
- Franchisor based in
- Orange City, Iowa
- Time to open
- 9 months in an existing space, 12 for a new build
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Pizza Ranch, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Pizza Ranch franchise costs
Opening a leased or remodeled Pizza Ranch costs an estimated $2,305,500 to $2,987,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| With a FunZone arcade | $3,330,500 to $5,134,500 |
|---|
Source: Pizza Ranch, Inc, 2026 filing, page 19
Pizza Ranch franchise fee
The franchise fee is $30,000, per restaurant, $7,500 on signing and the rest before construction. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Pizza Ranch, Inc, 2026 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 3.5% of gross revenues or $500 a month, whichever is greater, plus a 0.5% service fee, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 5% of gross sales |
Source: Pizza Ranch, Inc, 2026 filing, page 15
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Pizza Ranch publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports historical performance for franchised restaurants. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Pizza Ranch, Inc, 2026 filing, page 43
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 212 (+7) | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 212 (0) | 6 | 6 |
| 2025 | 213 (+1) | 6 | 6 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Pizza Ranch, Inc, 2026 filing, page 50
How Pizza Ranch compares
Of the 9 pizza franchises on this site, Pizza Ranch is the most expensive to open and the smallest by number of locations.
| Measure | Pizza Ranch | Typical pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $2.31M | $573K |
| Royalty | 4% | 5.3% |
| Closed or left per year | 2% | 2% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +3.9% | +6.1% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 9 |
Typical is the median across the 9 brands in pizza franchises.
Other pizza franchises
Pizza Ranch franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Pizza Ranch?
9 months in an existing space, 12 for a new build, according to Pizza Ranch's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Pizza Ranch help with financing?
No. Pizza Ranch does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Pizza Ranch franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Pizza Ranch assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Pizza Ranch franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Pizza Ranch growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 21 franchised locations opened and 13 closed or left, a net change of +3.9%. About 2% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 2% typical for pizza franchises.
How does Pizza Ranch compare with other pizza franchises?
Of the 9 pizza franchises here, Pizza Ranch is the most expensive to open (low end $2.31M against a $573K median) and the smallest by number of locations. Its 4% royalty is below the 5.3% median.
Does Pizza Ranch say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports historical performance for franchised restaurants. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Pizza Ranch based?
Pizza Ranch, Inc is based in Orange City, Iowa and the brand has sold franchises since 1984.