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QSRRevenue OnlyItem 19: ✓ DisclosedHigh Confidence · 100/100

Papa John's Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Papa John's.

Based on 2025 FDD · 8 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
68
B
Moderate-Low Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
C
64/100
7/7 metrics · High confidence
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
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Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Papa John's franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Papa John's franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $261K – $853K. Reported owner economics show $22K. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$261K – $853K
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
$22K
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
25.3 years
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
11.5%
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costs →Estimate franchise ROI →Check SBA default rates →Browse QSR franchises →Compare similar franchises →

Quick fee read: $25K franchise fee · 11% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

Free decision snapshot

Before you talk to Papa John's, check the numbers buyers usually miss.

The unlocked report ties this brand's FDD disclosures to SBA outcomes, Item 20 movement, fee load, missing-data labels, and buyer assumptions — so you can decide whether this is worth deeper diligence.

FDD disclosure qualitySBA default outcomesItem 20 unit movementFee/cost stressComparable brands
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Total Investment Range$261K – $853K
MinMid: $557KMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$25K
Royalty Rate
5%
Ad Fund Rate
6%
Total Burden
11.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
2,689
+63 vs prior yr
Net Unit Growth
→ 2.4%
Year over year
Cash-on-Cash Return
4.0%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
25.3 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
11.5%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
$1.1M
Item 19 disclosed
Red Flags Assessment
MEDIUM: Royalty burden above 10%
MED ×1
Premium Data

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CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
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Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Papa John's vs. QSR Average

MetricPapa John'sQSR Avg
SBA Default Rate11.5%▼9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return4.0%▼14.2%
Total Investment$557K$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

SBA Loan Performance

Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2015-2026). 92 loans across 24 states.

Default Rate
11.5%
High Risk
Total SBA Loans
92
24 states
Total Loan Volume
$44.0M
SBA 7(a) approved
Avg Loan Size
$478K
Per franchisee
Loan Status Breakdown
35
Paid in Full (38%)
40
Currently Active
6
Charged Off (2.2% by $)
$965K
Total Charged Off ($)
● Paid● Active● Charged Off

Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.

Compare

Papa John's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Papa John's vs Loving CupPapa John's vs Donut King

Multi-Brand Operators · Who Runs This Brand

Sun Holdings
View Hub
Dallas, TX· 1,200+ locations
60 locations of this brand
Part of a multi-brand portfolio. See how operators structure holdings, financing, and growth →
Explore all multi-brand franchise operators →

Similar Franchises · QSR

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Revenue Only
$427K–$2.3M
Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
$427K – $2.3M
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K

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Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Papa John's franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Papa John's's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Papa John's disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Papa John's →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

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