Pizza. Is there anyone that doesn’t love pizza? It’s one of the biggest selling food items in the country – if not the world. There are gourmet pizzas, basic pizzas, takeout pizza joints, brick oven pizzerias and dine-in pizza restaurants. If you’re considering a franchise business as a moneymaking opportunity, there’s bound to be a pizza franchise opportunity that fits your style.

Back in 1986, Restaurant Business magazine headlined with “Pizza Market Is on the Move”. Even then, pizza restaurants far outnumbered burger joints, and the big names in the business – Pizza Hut and Papa Gino’s – were announcing aggressive expansion plans to take advantage of the popularity of the glorious tomato and cheese pie. In the 20 years since that article, the pizza franchise opportunity market has only mushroomed – and that’s only one of the ingredients that are contributed to the fantastic growth. In 2004, the pizza business posted an astonishing $32 billion in sales.

One of the best ways to grab your slice of the pizza pie is by buying into a pizza franchise opportunity. Pizza Hut and Papa Gino’s are still on the block, but they’ve been joined by dozens of other pizza chains with national reputations and widely recognized brands. When you decide to take advantage of a pizza franchise opportunity, you’re buying into a business that’s shown steady growth and innovation for more than twenty years. Few other businesses can say the same.

What gives pizza its staying – and growing power?

Can you say versatility? I’m sure you can. Whether it’s a basic round of dough spread with tomato sauce and cheese, or an elaborate concoction of white cheeses, prosciutto and melon, pizza is a favorite with over 94% of the population. It’s the number one food preference of children between the ages of 3 and 11 – and its popularity never wanes.

As the pizzeria turns 100 – October 2005 was the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first pizzeria – there are more varieties and styles of pizza and pizza dining than ever – and a pizza franchise opportunity for every one of them. You have your choice of dozens of different national and regional chain restaurants – with almost guaranteed success in any one of them.

Why invest in a pizza franchise opportunity rather than opening your own independent pizza shop? There are some excellent reasons:

According to government studies, less than 8% of franchises fail in their first five years. Compare that to the 77% of independent startups that never make it to their five year anniversary.

94% of business owners operating franchises consider their businesses to be successful.

Franchises reach break-even point sooner and grow faster than independent businesses in the same field.

A franchise gives you the benefit of a well-known name and goodwill from the moment you open your doors.

Buying into a pizza franchise opportunity will usually be a lower initial investment, and yield higher returns more quickly than an independent pizzeria.

The market for pizza just keeps growing as new trends appear on the horizon. Pizza is the perfect business for the franchising entrepreneur – experienced or novice. Whether it’s take-out or eat-in, gourmet or deep dish, thin crust or calzone, there’s a slice of the pizza pie waiting for you.