Key Takeaways

• The average cost to open a pizza shop ranges from $100K–$700K, depending on format and location.

• Pizza shops can operate as dine-in restaurants, take-out and delivery stores, express concepts, or mobile food trucks.

• Startup expenses include equipment, supplies, rent, staffing, marketing, and technology.

• Franchising with Antioch Pizza Shop simplifies startup by providing training, supplier access, and an established brand system.

• A detailed business plan and financing strategy are essential for long-term success.

How to Start a Pizza Shop in 2025

Pizza is one of America’s favorite foods — 93% of Americans eat it at least once a month, fueling a $45-billion industry with more than 75,000 pizzerias nationwide. But while loving pizza is easy, knowing how to start a pizza business that lasts requires planning, capital, and operational know-how.

Whether you’re dreaming of running a local favorite or joining a proven franchise like Antioch Pizza Shop, this guide walks through every key step: concept, cost, equipment, location, and financing.

What Style of Pizza Shop Will You Open?

The type of pizzeria you open determines your equipment, staffing, and budget. There are four main models to consider:

1. Traditional Dine-In Restaurant – Offers table service, take-out, and delivery; requires 2,000–3,000 sq. ft.

2. Take-Out & Delivery Only – Lower overhead, typically 1,000–2,000 sq. ft.

3. Express Restaurant – A compact, limited-menu version ideal for high-traffic zones.

4. Mobile Food Truck – A flexible, entry-level format perfect for events or festivals.

Antioch Pizza Shop offers all four models, each with built-in training, supplier relationships, and marketing support.

What Equipment is Needed to Start a Pizza Business?

A pizza restaurant requires both commercial kitchen essentials and pizza-specific tools.

Core Equipment Checklist:

• Refrigeration: Walk-in coolers, reach-ins, and prep tables

• Dough Prep: Mixers, sheeters, proofing cabinets, and presses

• Cooking: Pizza ovens (stone-deck, conveyor, or brick), grills, and fryers

• Prep & Storage: Counters, sinks, shelving, and dough trays

• Smallwares: Pizza cutters, peels, pans, and baking sheets

• Front-of-House: Tables, chairs, menus, signage, POS system

Tip: Secure at least two or three suppliers for regularly sourced items to avoid shortages.

Franchises like Antioch Pizza Shop streamline this process by providing approved supplier lists and negotiated pricing.

Food Suppliers

Create a list of food suppliers that service your area and see what they offer. Ask about ordering minimums, delivery days, and payment terms.

Finding out what food you can easily and regularly obtain, and the cost of that food will help you plan a menu. Food costs are important because food is perishable. Take a look at our menu to see how we have incorporated a large selection of options while maintaining smart food costing.

How to Choose the Best Location for a Pizza Shop

Your location will directly impact both your startup cost and long-term revenue.

Key Factors to Evaluate:

• Traffic: High-visibility, high-traffic areas attract walk-in and drive-by customers.

• Parking: Essential for dine-in and carryout traffic.

• Demographics: Family neighborhoods and business districts perform best.

• Lease Terms: Expect to pay rent several months before opening.

• Size Requirements:

  • Dine-In: 2,000–3,000 sq. ft.

  • Take-Out/Delivery: 1,000–2,000 sq. ft.

Antioch Pizza provides location guidance to franchisees, including demographic analysis and site selection support.

What Technology Does a Modern Pizza Shop Need?

Today’s restaurants rely heavily on technology for efficiency and customer experience.

Must-Have Systems Include:

• Point-of-Sale (POS) & Kitchen Display Systems (KDS)

• Security alarms and video surveillance

• Online ordering integration and automated ticket printing

• Accounting and inventory software

Franchised locations with Antioch receive tech integration support, ensuring smooth operations from day one.

How to Market a New Pizza Shop

Even the best pizza needs strong marketing to succeed. Budget for both pre-launch and ongoing campaigns.

Marketing Essentials:

• Exterior signage and interior menus

• Website and social-media setup

• Flyers, coupons, and grand-opening promotions

• Local sponsorships and community partnerships

• Staff uniforms and branded materials

Antioch Pizza franchisees receive marketing toolkits, launch templates, and promotional guidance to attract early customers and build loyalty.

How Many Employees Do You Need to Run a Pizza Shop?

Staffing depends on your restaurant type and size. Typical roles include:

• Kitchen staff (pizza cooks, prep workers, dishwashers)

• Front-of-house (servers, hosts, delivery drivers, or cashiers)

• Manager or owner-operator

Franchisees often begin as hands-on operators to control costs and ensure quality.

How Can You Finance a Pizza Shop Startup?

Unless you are self-financing, a business plan is required to obtain outside financing for your business. The lender will want to be sure you know how to start a pizza business and how to maintain a positive revenue situation.

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a business plan template you can reference, and they also provide loans for small businesses which might be an option for you in financing your pizza shop. Financing is critical for any business, so here are two tips to keep in mind:

• In your expenses, have a contingency line of 10% of your total expenses
• Allow for 3 months of funds to be available to you while you are getting the business ready to open

Plan Your Business with Antioch Pizza Shop: A Franchise

Antioch supplies franchisees with manuals and procedures to assist with setting up your pizza shop. We also provide pre-opening support, ongoing support, and assistance to franchisees throughout their franchise ownership tenure. In our initial investment fee, we include an estimate that covers the cost of furniture, fixtures, and equipment necessary for the operation of a franchise.

Our four pizza shop options with their total initial investments are:

1. The traditional restaurant offering dine-in, take-out, and delivery ($218,000 to $696,500)
2. The take-out and delivery-only restaurant with limited seating ($218,000 to $696,500)
3. An express restaurant: a smaller version of the take-out and delivery restaurant with a limited menu ($101,500-$324,000)
4. A mobile food truck ($103,500-$189,500)

Full details on these investments are available in our franchise disclosure document.

What’s Included in Your Antioch Pizza Shop Investment

We anticipate franchisees will open their Antioch Pizza Shop within 3-12 months of signing the franchise agreement. The training program includes product knowledge, store operations, marketing, equipment knowledge, management, financials, POS system, food prep, our culture, community outreach, and some additional training areas.

A franchise representative will spend up to 3 weeks assisting with on-site training for the first two concepts, 2 weeks with the Express concept and 1 week with the food truck. You will also have a confidential manual of operations.

When your goal is running a successful pizza shop, your pizza franchise costs include a proven business model that provides a solid foundation to start and grow your business.

Contact Antioch Today About a Franchise Opportunity

Opening a pizza shop is not only a financial commitment, but also a commitment of your time and a plan for your future. You want to be confident in making the right decision. As a company built from the dough up, Antioch Pizza Shop is proud to offer an enticing franchise model to aspiring pizzapreneurs.

Submit a franchise form to start the conversation and see how we might be exactly what you’re looking for.