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The real numbers on owning a Donatos Pizza franchise

Pizza / Fast Casual Restaurant · FDD 2025 · from public state filings
CDisclosure honesty
This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.
Investment
$541,818–$1,038,174
Total fees
5% of sales
Outlets
176
Closure signals
—
Lawsuits
1

What their own earnings claim actually says

Discloses avg franchisee Net Sales (~$1.04M) and EBITDA% by sales tier. Lowest tier averages -0.5% EBITDA. Excludes owner compensation, depreciation, debt service, and 14 of 125 franchisees. Columbus market bias noted.

Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)

Item 20 outlet counts present but cessations, terminations, and transfer data not provided in excerpts.

Legal history (Item 3)

1 matters disclosed.

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The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.

Franchisor's framing: Discloses avg franchisee Net Sales (~$1.04M) and EBITDA% by sales tier. Lowest tier averages -0…
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Donatos Pizza franchise — frequently asked

How much does a Donatos Pizza franchise cost?
The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $541,818–$1,038,174, including a $30,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do Donatos Pizza franchise owners make?
Discloses avg franchisee Net Sales (~$1.04M) and EBITDA% by sales tier. Lowest tier averages -0.5% EBITDA. Excludes owner compensation, depreciation, debt service, and 14 of 125 franchisees. Columbus market bias noted. We grade this disclosure C for honesty.
What is the Donatos Pizza franchise failure rate?
Item 20 outlet counts present but cessations, terminations, and transfer data not provided in excerpts.
Is a Donatos Pizza franchise worth it?
It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. Donatos Pizza scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 5% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 1 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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Source: MN CARDS 33831-202504-08 (Clean FDD 2025). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with Donatos Pizza or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.