Enjoy a slice of the action with a pizza franchise

Pizza is a firm favourite in the UK. Customisable, affordable and delicious, it’s easy to see why. If you’re also a fan of this Italian staple, starting a pizza franchise could be a great career move for you, allowing you to combine passion and profit. But with so many investment options out there, how do you choose the right pizza franchise for you?

One of the most popular sectors within the franchising industry is food. There’s always demand for food delivery and food service, so it’s no surprise that so many are investing in food franchises of all types and sizes across the UK. It’s a near-guaranteed return on your investment! 

Several of these food franchising opportunities are pizza-focused, from running your own pizza restaurant to running a pizza delivery business. Read on to discover what kind of investment would best suit you. 

Why open your own pizza franchise?

There are many different reasons to consider starting a pizza franchise. Here are just a few:

• It’s a low risk investment option - The franchising business model is far lower risk than starting a business from scratch, whether pizza-based or otherwise. Failure rates are low, and financial liability is reduced.

• Pizza franchises experience consistently high levels of demand - Pizza is a well-loved staple of the British public’s diet, and as a franchisee with a pizza restaurant or pizza delivery business, you’ll always know your customers are ready and waiting.

• You’ll enjoy immediate brand recognition - If you franchise with an established and existing business, you’ll benefit from all the pros of brand recognition, and you won’t have to build a customer base from scratch.

• You’ll be provided with training and supported at every step of the process - As a franchisee, you’ll have all the training and support that you need in order to succeed. Your franchisor will be just as invested in the success of your franchise as you.

• You’ll have access to an existing supply chain - Just like your customer base, your suppliers will be waiting for you.

If you feel passionate about cooking, eating and serving customers quality food, why not open your own food franchise and start a career that you’re passionate about that also comes with a high likelihood of success? Follow a proven business model, utilise the support and training of your franchisor, and achieve your pizza business dreams.

Financial stability and a love for what you do aren’t guaranteed with franchise ownership. But for many entrepreneurs who possess passion and dedication, it becomes a life-changing and fulfilling way to experience these benefits on their own terms.
—Forbes 

Types of pizza businesses

1. Pizza restaurant franchise

Starting an Italian restaurant franchise is no small task, and the process might be intimidating, especially if you don’t have much experience in the sector. How do you open and run a restaurant when you’ve never done it before? With the support of your experienced franchisor, of course. With extensive training and support, and the backing of a proven model of business success.

• Less than 1% of franchises close each year due to commercial failure [British Franchise Association], and if you utilise the resources available to you, you’re highly unlikely to become a part of that 1%. Here are three tips for pizza restaurant success:

• Choose a good location with your franchisor’s help, with high footfall and plenty of parking

• Hire a trusted team of employees

• Be decisive and clear with these employees about everything

Most pizza restaurants are looking for specific personality traits and skill sets from prospective franchisees, including a strong track record and a clear set of long-term goals and ambitions. Experience would be beneficial, but won’t always be required. Most of all, restaurant franchisees in general will need a willingness to expand, adapt and evolve with the demands of the food service sector.

In a highly competitive market, you have to continually move forward and evolve as a brand in order to stand out on the high street. Crucially, we’ll always do this while staying true to our identity and brand DNA.
—Marc Saunders, Bella Italia

2. Pizza delivery franchise

The takeaway food delivery market is valued at a staggering £8.5 billion [Statista]. With the expansion of companies like Deliveroo and JustEat, more and more people are ordering takeaways and investing in takeaway businesses. In 2020, for example, Deliveroo generated £4.1 billion in revenue, a 431% increase comparative to 2019. With over six million Deliveroo users, primarily in the UK, the demand for good delivered food is high [BusinessofApps].

Evidently, the sector is extremely viable, and if you’re torn between starting a delivery franchise and starting a restaurant franchise, it might sway you to know that often, starting your own food delivery business will be cheaper than starting your own restaurant, and will require less in the way of experience. The ideal pizza delivery franchisee would be:

• Dedicated to the growth of the entire franchise 

• Passionate about great food and great service 

• Professionally competent, with high standards and expectations

• Inspired, determined and committed

• Willing to follow the franchisor’s proven business model 

From the consumer perspective, there’s nothing more convenient than having the restaurant come to them. The off-premises component has been primarily responsible for industry growth over the past decade, and it won’t be decreasing.
—Hudson Riehle, National Restaurant Association

Joining the pizza sector

Choosing the right pizza franchise for you will come down to the amount you’d like to invest, the level of experience you have, and the type of opportunity that you feel would suit your preferences and skill set. Even within these two options, there are many other factors, such as whether a restaurant focuses primarily on pizza or delivers a full Italian dining experience.

Browse available pizza franchise opportunities to find the right fit, and be sure to do your research before you sign on the dotted line. You could become a Bella Italia franchisee, a Moninna’s Ristorante & Pizzeria franchisee, or anything in between!