Two National Pizza Brands Listed Among QSR Magazine's 16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025

Two national pizza brands—Marco’s Pizza and Papa Johns—have been ranked among the “16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025” by QSR magazine, PMQ’s sister publication.

For more than 10 years, QSR has showcased fast-food and fast-casual concepts “that provide the best opportunities for entrepreneurs to succeed in the restaurant industry.” Criteria for the annual report include franchise costs, growth potential, operator support, and brand differentiation.

“Franchise opportunities are more competitive than ever, and the brands that stand out are those that combine innovation, support and financial upside,” said Danny Klein, QSR’s editorial director and vice president of food, retail and hospitality for WTWH Media, which owns both QSR and PMQ. He said companies like Marco’s and Papa Johns “represent some of the most exciting opportunities in the marketplace right now.”

According to the QSR report, Marco’s Pizza has 1,117 franchise units and a total of 1,162 units in the U.S. with systemwide sales of $1,050,859,657 and a franchise average unit volume of $934,318.

QSR reported that Marco’s awarded 85 franchises and opened 70 stores in 2024, with nearly 40 additional openings in 2025. “Marco’s continues to focus on innovation, operations and development incentives tailored to multi-unit operators,” the report stated. “Strategic leadership hires across technology, marketing and operations further support growth. The Marco’s Independent Franchisee Association helps facilitate real-time feedback and data-sharing. Looking ahead, Marco’s is targeting expansion in the Midwest, East Coast, Sun Belt, nontraditional venues and internationally through a 50-unit deal in Mexico City.”

In a statement, Gerardo Flores, Marco’s chief development officer, said the recognition by QSR “validates our franchise model and the dedication of our operators nationwide. As we continue to scale, our focus remains on supporting our franchise owners with innovative technology, operational excellence and growth-forward programs.”

Papa Johns, meanwhile, has 2,752 franchise units and a total of 3,514 units in the U.S, with a franchise AUV of $1,157,331.

Papa Johns hired former Wendy’s CEO Todd Penegor as its chief executive in August 2024 “to reverse declining performance,” the QSR report noted. “His 100-day plan identified key challenges, such as weak value messaging and inconsistent operations. Penegor refocused efforts on affordability, launched national ads like ‘Meet the Makers,’ revamped Papa Rewards to drive loyalty, and invested $25 million in marketing and CRM.”

Papa Johns “return to a barbell menu strategy, more targeted LTOs and sharper digital personalization are expected to fuel future momentum and transaction growth as Papa Johns works to regain share,” the report states.

QSR’s Best Franchise Deals were selected from a nomination process that ran from mid-May to mid-June. Finalists were reviewed by the Franchise Council, which selected their top choices from shared information and FDD data. Their top choices comprised the final list.

For added context, other franchise brands that made this year’s list of the country’s best franchise deals included: