Gaebler.com reports, “In franchising news for the pizza industry, business is booming, according to the 2011 Pizza Franchise Report from Franchise Direct.”

“The report said there are about 65,000 pizza restaurants in the United States, which take in about $36 billion in sales each year. It said 90 percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a month and 26 percent eat it once a week. About 20 businesses were examined in the report, which saw independents dominate the market with 51.66 percent of sales and owning 58 percent of the restaurants. Pizza Hut was the biggest chain pizza franchise with 11.65 percent of restaurants owned an 13.78 percent of sales, showing that perhaps a big franchise could be an easier way to make money from the start.”