Pizza Franchise Opportunities in Florida

By The Franchise Browser Editorial

If you're looking for a pizza franchise in Florida, there are plenty of options. Most of the big national pizza chains already have stores across the state. Those stores are proof the brands work here, but they also mean you'll be up against them. This guide covers which pizza brands are franchising in Florida right now, what their Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) say it costs to open, how Florida's franchise rules differ from those in "registration states," and how to vet a pizza franchise before you sign.

Every cost figure below comes from the franchisor's 2026 FDD, and we cite the issuance date and where we got the document each time. These figures are estimates for budgeting. They are not quotes. For the bigger picture of franchising in the state, see our Florida franchise guide.

Which pizza brands franchise in Florida?

These brands were offering franchises when we checked in October 2026, and each one already operates in Florida. Unit counts come from each brand's 2026 FDD, Item 20, and show outlets open at the end of 2025.

• Marco's Pizza. Marco's had 162 franchised Florida stores at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20). Its Florida franchise opportunities page lists target markets including Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. For one store, Marco's asks for $200,000 in liquid capital and a $600,000 net worth (Marco's).
• Papa Johns. Papa Johns had 271 franchised and 46 company-owned Florida restaurants at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20). Its FAQ says it awards franchises to "serious multi-unit operators" with "a proven track record."
• Jet's Pizza. Jet's had 35 franchised and 6 affiliate-owned Florida outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20). Every location must have an owner/operator managing partner, and Jet's asks for at least $350,000 in liquid assets (Jet's).
• Mellow Mushroom. Mellow Mushroom had 23 franchised Florida restaurants at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20). It franchises full-service and counter-service ("fast-fine") formats and costs far more to open than a delivery-and-carryout store.
• Hungry Howie's. Florida stores are franchised by a separate company, HH Pizza, Inc. of Dunedin (Hungry Howie's disclaimer). FDACS lists "H.H. Pizza Inc" in Dunedin with a registered Florida franchise exemption (BF21096), issued September 9, 2026 and expiring August 23, 2027 (FDACS license lookup).
• Domino's (internal candidates only). Domino's is only considering internal candidates who have at least one year of experience as a Domino's general manager or supervisor.

Whether you can open in a specific territory always depends on franchisor approval. Ask each franchisor in writing which Florida territories are open.

Startup costs and franchise fees (FDD Items 5 and 7)

Item 5 of an FDD covers the initial franchise fee. Item 7 estimates the total initial investment, including build-out, equipment, opening inventory and a few months of working capital. All figures below come straight from each brand's 2026 FDD. Except for Hungry Howie's, we pulled the FDDs from the Minnesota Department of Commerce's public CARDS franchise registration database.

Notes on the table:

• Marco's lists discounted fees in Item 5: $20,000 for qualifying first responders, $15,000 for U.S. veterans, and no fee for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more. It also reserves the right to negotiate the fee.
• Papa Johns requires a development agreement even for a single unit. A development fee deposit of $5,000 to $25,000 per restaurant is credited toward the initial fee, and the standard fee depends on incentives and negotiation (Item 5).
• Jet's charges $15,000 instead of $30,000 when the franchisee is at least 20% owned by a qualifying military veteran or active-duty service member (Item 5). We read the FDD from a redlined copy of the 2026 filing.
• Mellow Mushroom's range depends on the format. A leased "fast-fine" shell runs $1,330,000 to $2,051,000, a leased traditional restaurant $1,695,000 to $2,916,500, and a traditional restaurant where you buy the real estate $2,911,000 to $4,841,500 (Item 7).
• Hungry Howie's figures belong to the Michigan franchisor. We couldn't find an FDD from HH Pizza, Inc. in any state database we could reach, so ask HH Pizza directly for its disclosure document. Hungry Howie's also says its Item 19 sales figures exclude Florida units (Hungry Howie's, citing its 2026 FDD). The low end of the fee range, $12,500, applies to qualified veterans. Item 7 assumes leased space and excludes buying land or constructing a building.

Florida franchise law: what is (and isn't) required

No state registration review, but an annual exemption filing

Some states require a franchisor to register its FDD and have it reviewed before selling franchises there. Florida doesn't. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) says franchise sellers "are no longer required to file registration documents" with the department.

Florida does require a filing, though. Its Sale of Business Opportunities Act (Fla. Stat. 559.80–559.815) exempts franchise sales only when two conditions are met, under section 559.802:

1. The arrangement fits the FTC's definition of a franchise.
2. Before offering or selling a franchise located in Florida or to a Florida resident, the franchisor files a notice with the department saying it substantially complies with the FTC Franchise Rule, and pays a fee of no more than $100.

The exemption lasts one year and must be renewed every year (s. 559.802(2)). Under s. 559.801(2), "the department" means FDACS. Renewal fees are also capped at $100. The notice itself is short: the department can ask only for basic identifying details, such as the franchisor's name, the franchise name, its principal business address and its federal employer identification number (s. 559.802(3)). FDACS confirms that this franchise exemption filing remains in place and must be filed every year before a franchise is offered or sold in Florida.

In practice, you can ask a franchisor whether it has a current Florida franchise exemption on file. But a filing doesn't mean the state has reviewed or approved the FDD.

Florida's franchise misrepresentation statute

Florida also has a separate law on franchise misrepresentation, Fla. Stat. 817.416. It makes it unlawful to intentionally misrepresent a franchise's chances of success or the known total investment it requires. It also gives buyers a civil remedy: a court judgment for all money invested. A franchise attorney can tell you how it applies to your situation.

The FTC Franchise Rule still applies

Federal rules still apply in Florida. The FTC Franchise Rule (16 CFR Parts 436 and 437) requires franchisors to give prospective buyers a disclosure document containing 23 specific items. According to the FTC's Consumer's Guide to Buying a Franchise, you must receive the FDD at least 14 days before you're asked to sign any contract or pay the franchisor any money.

How to evaluate a pizza franchise

The FDD is where your evaluation starts. The FTC's guide explains each item in detail. For a pizza concept, focus on these:

• Item 7 (initial investment). Find out what the range leaves out. Hungry Howie's, for example, excludes buying real estate and constructing a building (2026 Item 7). Get Florida quotes for build-out, signage and insurance. The FTC suggests budgeting for first-year operating expenses and up to two years of personal living expenses, because "some franchises never break even" (FTC).
• Item 19 (financial performance). Franchisors don't have to include earnings figures. Any sales or earnings claim they make must appear in Item 19 (FTC). Check which units the figures cover. Hungry Howie's Florida exclusion shows why that matters. Remember that gross sales are not profit.
• Item 20 (outlets and turnover). Look at openings, closures and transfers, and in particular how many Florida units have closed or changed hands. Item 20 also lists contact details for current and former franchisees.
• Item 21 (financial statements). Have an accountant review the franchisor's audited financials to judge whether it can deliver the support it promises.
• Territory (Item 12). Delivery depends on how your territory is drawn. Read exactly what protection you get. Mellow Mushroom's 2026 FDD, for example, grants an exclusive 3-mile radius from the restaurant's front entrance but keeps rights to other channels (Item 12). The FTC notes that even "exclusive" territories may not protect you from online sales.
• Validation calls. Call Florida franchisees listed in Item 20, including ones who have left the system. Ask what they actually spent, how long they took to open, whether they get the support they were promised, and whether they would buy again (FTC).
• Attorney and accountant review. Hire a franchise attorney to review the franchise agreement, Item 17 (renewal, termination, transfer and dispute resolution) and any development agreement. Hire an accountant to build a Florida-specific budget.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Figures were current when we checked in October 2026, and FDDs are updated every year, so always rely on the current FDD you receive.

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