Marco's Pizza franchise
Marco's Pizza makes Italian-style pizza from fresh dough and a three-cheese blend, along with subs, wings and salads, mainly for carryout and delivery. Stores also handle in-store dining and catering where space allows. At the end of 2025 there were 1,184 Marco's Pizza locations in the US, 1,139 franchised and 45 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $286K–$811K
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- Locations, 2025
- 1,184+121 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2004
- Franchisor based in
- Toledo, Ohio
- Time to open
- Must open within 365 days of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Marco's Franchising, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Marco's Pizza franchise costs
Opening one Marco's Pizza store costs an estimated $286,477 to $811,186. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Marco's Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 37
Marco's Pizza franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, for a single store (discounted for qualifying first responders and veterans). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Marco's Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 18
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5.5% of net royalty sales (can rise to 6%), paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 1% of gross sales |
Source: Marco's Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 23
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Marco's Pizza publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 net royalty sales for 997 franchised stores open the full year. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Marco's Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 90
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,071 (+53) | 43 | 32 |
| 2024 | 1,114 (+43) | 45 | 25 |
| 2025 | 1,139 (+25) | 45 | 28 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Marco's Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 93
How Marco's Pizza compares
Of the 9 pizza franchises on this site, Marco's Pizza is the 3rd cheapest to open and the 5th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Marco's Pizza | Typical pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $286K | $573K |
| Royalty | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| Closed or left per year | 2.7% | 2% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +11.9% | +6.1% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 9 |
Typical is the median across the 9 brands in pizza franchises.
Other pizza franchises
Marco's Pizza franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Marco's Pizza?
Must open within 365 days of signing, according to Marco's Pizza's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Marco's Pizza help with financing?
No. Marco's Pizza does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Marco's Pizza 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 Marco's Pizza growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 206 franchised locations opened and 85 closed or left, a net change of +11.9%. About 2.7% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2% typical for pizza franchises.
How does Marco's Pizza compare with other pizza franchises?
Of the 9 pizza franchises here, Marco's Pizza is the 3rd cheapest to open (low end $286K against a $573K median) and the 5th largest by number of locations. Its 5.5% royalty is in line with the 5.3% median.
Does Marco's Pizza say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 net royalty sales for 997 franchised stores open the full year. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Marco's Pizza based?
Marco's Franchising, LLC is based in Toledo, Ohio and the brand has sold franchises since 2004.