Pizza Hut franchise
Pizza Hut is a pizza chain serving pan pizza, pasta and wings for delivery, carryout and, in some locations, dine-in. It is owned by Yum! Brands, and franchisees work within a set of brand standards and a proprietary operating system. At the end of 2025 there were 5,031 Pizza Hut locations in the US, 4,956 franchised and 75 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $846K–$2.13M
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 5,031−346 in 3 yrs
Compare with similar brands Estimate your costs
Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1959
- Franchisor based in
- Plano, Texas
- Time to open
- 6 to 12 months after signing
- Territory
- Limited protection, a 500-yard protected radius
- Financing
- None offered
From Pizza Hut, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Pizza Hut franchise costs
Opening a delivery-based Pizza Hut, excluding real estate costs an estimated $846,000 to $2,130,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| Fast casual delivery/carry-out | $818,000 to $2,130,000 |
|---|---|
| Free-standing delivery/carry-out | $816,000 to $1,900,000 |
| In-line or end-cap delivery/carry-out | $670,000 to $960,000 |
Source: Pizza Hut, LLC, 2026 filing, page 21
Pizza Hut franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, per restaurant. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Pizza Hut, LLC, 2026 filing, page 15
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | A monthly service fee of 6% of gross sales (6.5% in some cases), paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 4.75% of gross sales to the system advertising fund. |
Source: Pizza Hut, LLC, 2026 filing, page 16
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Pizza Hut publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives historical sales for domestic traditional franchised restaurants open at least a year. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Pizza Hut, LLC, 2026 filing, page 51
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,300 (−2) | 7 | 157 |
| 2024 | 5,214 (−86) | 23 | 175 |
| 2025 | 4,956 (−258) | 75 | 313 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Pizza Hut, LLC, 2026 filing, page 53
How Pizza Hut compares
Of the 9 pizza franchises on this site, Pizza Hut is the 7th cheapest to open and the 2nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Pizza Hut | Typical pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $846K | $573K |
| Royalty | 6% | 5.3% |
| Closed or left per year | 4.1% | 2% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −6.5% | +6.1% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 9 |
Typical is the median across the 9 brands in pizza franchises.
Other pizza franchises
Pizza Hut franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Pizza Hut?
6 to 12 months after signing, according to Pizza Hut's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Pizza Hut help with financing?
No. Pizza Hut does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Pizza Hut franchisees get a protected territory?
Partly. You get some protection (a 500-yard protected radius), but not an exclusive territory.
Is Pizza Hut growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 299 franchised locations opened and 645 closed or left, a net change of −6.5%. About 4.1% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2% typical for pizza franchises.
How does Pizza Hut compare with other pizza franchises?
Of the 9 pizza franchises here, Pizza Hut is the 7th cheapest to open (low end $846K against a $573K median) and the 2nd largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 5.3% median.
Does Pizza Hut say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives historical sales for domestic traditional franchised restaurants open at least a year. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Pizza Hut based?
Pizza Hut, LLC is based in Plano, Texas and the brand has sold franchises since 1959.