Papa Murphy’s Pizza Franchise

Papa Murphy’s has franchised under its current brand name since 1995, with predecessor franchise businesses dating to 1982 and 1986. The present franchisor, Papa Murphy’s International LLC, is based in Vancouver, Washington, and became part of the MTY group through a 2019 transaction. The brand specializes in a pizza occasion built around customer convenience: a prepared meal taken home for baking when the customer chooses.

Stores make dough daily, grate mozzarella cheese and prepare fresh vegetables, offering signature and customized pizzas alongside approved salads, desserts and related products. The take-and-bake format places the operating emphasis on food preparation, order accuracy and guest service. Stores do not require delivery drivers or wait staff, and the franchised model has no pizza ovens, venting hoods or dining areas.

Store format and investment

The estimated initial investment is $450,330 to $693,450 for a Kitchen Delite store format. The estimate includes buildout, equipment and opening supplies, marketing and working capital. Its low end incorporates the $15,000 franchise fee for an additional store; the initial franchise fee for a first store is $25,000. Actual costs vary with the condition of the premises, location, upgrades and development requirements.

Initial training combines practical store instruction with technology and business education. Operations In-Store Training takes place at a designated Papa Murphy’s training store for up to 25 days or 250 hours. It covers pizza preparation, guest service, ordering, inventory, scheduling, food and labor controls, safety and shift management. Enterprise Solution Training is completed within that store-training period, focusing on point-of-sale and back-office systems.

The virtual Foundations Class adds instruction in marketing, hiring, financial management, brand standards, food safety, leadership and the guest experience. Initial training tuition is included for up to two individuals who sign the franchise agreement; additional franchisees and non-owner attendees currently pay $750 each. Franchisees pay travel, accommodation, wages and other attendance expenses, and at least one agreement signer must complete the required program successfully.

Before opening, Papa Murphy’s assists with market-area and site analysis, reviews the selected site and lease, and supplies operating manuals, selling aids and an opening marketing plan. The franchisee selects and secures the premises subject to approval. Ongoing assistance covers training, marketing, sales support and use of the operations manual, together with brand advertising and approved local promotional materials. Each store must be managed by a trained owner or a Certified Manager.

Papa Murphy’s offers a distinctive way to operate in the pizza category. Preparing pizzas for customers to bake at home removes the in-store pizza-cooking and dining-room functions from the core model, allowing the team to focus on preparation, service and consistent execution. The menu also provides room for customer choice through approved crust, sauce and topping combinations.

The franchise fits an owner who wants a defined retail food operation with hands-on training and established recipes, technology and marketing resources. The owner or approved operating personnel must oversee daily operations, and owners of multiple stores must participate actively in each business. For someone who enjoys leading a store team and serving a local customer base, that combination provides a clear operating role and a structured path from site selection to daily management.

For further reading, explore Papa Murphy’s Franchise: Investment, Training and Take-and-Bake Operations.