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Pizzeria Business Plan

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Pizzeria del Causamali

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Pizzeria del Causamali is a new player in the restaurant industry.  The restaurant is in a comfortable, familiar, small town that has a strong need for additional dining options.  Bolstered by the need for more choices in family-oriented dining experiences, combined with the option for home-delivery, the restaurant is positioned to take advantage of the market need and serve the families in the Deauville area.

The Deauville’s population is rapidly growing with new subdivisions and young families moving to the rural suburb of the Hewgton area.  It is Pizzeria del Causamali’s strategy to exploit the first-mover opportunity and establish itself as the preferred pizza provider to the area.  We believe a locally-owned restaurant is the best option to serve the rapidly growing population with a fresh, unique menu as opposed to a national chain franchise.

This business plan calls for an exciting, profitable start-up year ahead with future forecasted growth as we meet the demands of the community.  In all, this plan describes a healthy company with good growth prospects, looking to manage its orderly growth in the near future.

1.1 Mission

Pizzeria del Causamali creates a friendly and pleasant atmosphere for customers in a well-designed, and productive environment in which people can work happily.  We are sensitive to the look and taste of good pizza as well as to high-quality ingredients.  We look to provide the best possible value to our customers who desire great tasting pizza and to provide customers with the satisfaction of receiving a great value, both tangibly and intangibly.  Additionally, we are the first home-deliverer of pizzas in our area. 

Our customers are our neighbors as we are residents of our market area.  We will also create and nurture a healthy, creative, respectful, and fun working environment, in which our employees are fairly compensated and encouraged to respect the customer and the quality of the product we produce.  We seek fair and responsible profit, enough to keep the company financially healthy for the long term and to fairly compensate owners and investors for their investment and risk.

1.2 Keys to Success

The keys to success in this business are:

• Delivering the customer value proposition. 
• Marketing: promoting a new company, product, and delivery channels to a rural community. 
• Product quality and consistency. 
• Pricing effectively with respect to the project quality and customer value proposition.
• Family-oriented atmosphere with occasional nights of family entertainment.
• Management: products delivered on time, costs controlled, marketing budgets managed.  There is a temptation to fixate on growth at the expense of profits.
• Reporting and controls in place for inventory and financials.

1.3 Objectives

The objectives for Pizzeria del Causamali are:

• To establish the market presence needed to support marketing and sales goals and to attract customers. 
• To reach healthy monthly sales by the end of the year, and average monthly sales increasing modestly by steadily through Year 3. 
• To achieve double digit profit margins. 
• To develop top-rated relationships with 2-4 well-respected, all encompassing distributors.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Pizzeria del Causamali is a privately-owned pizza restaurant offering a product menu that does not currently exist in the area and first to offer home delivery.  Our customers are many of the young families and students in the area.

2.1 Company Ownership

Pizzeria del Causamali will be established as a limited liability company (LLC) with Marion E. and Marianne K. Bruxellesprot as the sole owners.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Our start-up costs cover the renovation of the occupied store space, professional fees, and expenses associated with opening our first location.  The start-up costs are to be financed by direct owner investment, financial institutions, and private investors.  The assumptions are shown in the following table and illustration.

Pizzeria del Causamali offers high quality pizza to a growing community that currently has limited availability of restaurants and no availability to delivery.  At start up we will be open for dinner 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  We will consider opening earlier and serving lunch if there is a demand, and if forecast and financial analysis can justify the increased costs.

Our menu will include 4 sizes of pizzas with various combinations of toppings.  Predefined, high-margin pizzas will be highlighted on the menu.  Additionally, breadsticks, beer, and soda will be included in the initial menu offerings.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Our primary target market is people who desire a comfortable, family-oriented environment for dine-in pizza.  Our secondary target market also desires a delivery service for pizza, or a take-out approach.  There is overlap of these segments.

Deauville and its surrounding communities are a growing middle-class area with nearly 14,000 residents.  A majority of these residents are families of four or more.  The boom in the area is primarily in response to an exodus of families moving out of the over-populated areas and into a more rural setting. 

According to a Growth Plan Deauville conducted in 2001, population within Deauville is expected to increase.  However, the number of persons per household is expected to decline, meaning the need for additional housing in Deauville will continue to grow.  From the same plan, population is listed as being evenly distributed by age groupings, with approximately 33% of the population being minors.  Another 40% are less than 54 years of age, indicating a major concentration of the Deauville population being families.  The report forecasts there being nearly 1,900 households in the Deauville by 2005.  This is driving the need for more quality, family-oriented restaurants.

Additionally, Deauville residents frequently visit the building in which Pizzeria del Causamali is located. Tanning and video rental businesses are adjacent to the restaurant, so we are providing a new convenience for families to select a movie and pick up a pizza.

With the expected continued growth in the area, estimated at 7% annually, opportunities to serve Deauville and its surrounding communities will increase.  The company will sell predominantly to individuals, but it will also accept some catering jobs to individual parties, schools, and company functions in the Deauville area.

4.1 Market Segmentation

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4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Including Deauville and its surrounding areas, no pizza establishments exist.  In Deauville one to two restaurants serve pizza, but not as a primary menu item.  These pizza outlets are in taverns which are not conducive to family-type atmosphere.  No eating establishments in the Deauville area provide home-delivery service.

4.3 Service Business Analysis

Other family-oriented restaurants in the area include:  Subway(R), What’s Cookin’ diner, and Colonial House supper club.  Subway serves sandwiches, wraps, and salads, none of which are direct competition to the pizza establishment.  The diner is open until 2 p.m. each day and focuses on the breakfast crowd, with a limited sandwich availability for lunch.  The supper club has a Chicken and Pizza buffet once a week for approximately $6; the pizza served as part of the buffet are frozen pizzas.

Other restaurants in Deauville are taverns and are not conducive to family activities.  One of the bars in Deauville serves a homemade pizza.

In conversations with an independent pizza operator in Lakeshore Haven, an hour’s drive away, he indicated pizza sales in his community are thriving despite competition from 4 other pizza establishments, including Pizza Hut(R).  While exact figures were not shared, he indicated a high level of penetration into the pizza market in his area with profitable margins.  He also provided suggestions and tips to minimize costs, and components of his restaurant he would do differently, including payroll handling, vendors, and layout. 

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

There is minimal competition for pizza in the Deauville area, besides the bar establishments previously mentioned.  The closest locales for pizza to the Deauville area are Bolingbrooke, Avro, and de Havilland.  None of these competing pizza locations deliver to the Deauville area.  Additionally, Pizzeria del Causamali would be the only family-oriented, non-smoking restaurant in Deauville.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Our strategy is based on delivering a strong customer value proposition in a niche market.  The world is full of small, family-oriented towns that do not have endless opportunities for dining out.  We are looking to offer the Deauville and its surrounding areas a new choice in food options. 

• What begins as a need to satisfy a need in the community, can eventually turn into a mainstay in the small town community. 
• We are building our marketing infrastructure so that we can eventually reach additional towns with the same offering. 
• We focus on satisfying the needs of small towns. 

5.1 Competitive Edge

Our competitive edge is to be first-to-the-market with pizza in a friendly, non-smoking, family-oriented dine-in experience, and first-to-the-area with food delivery.

Additionally, the location of Pizzeria del Causamali is crucial as a convenience model to customers.  Deauville residents frequent the video rental store adjacent to the restaurant.  This location is directly in the center of activity in this rural community–it is within walking distance of the middle and high schools, the local church, and within 2 miles of the existing large subdivisions and apartment complexes in the area.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

To drive customers to Pizzeria del Causamali, we will employ several techniques outlined below.

Advertising in Bolingbrooke Post ,  de Havilland Buyer’s Guide ,  Deauville Register , and Deauville Shopping News will be used to promote the Grand Opening of Pizzeria del Causamali.  As part of the advertising, a coupon will be available to customers.  Intermittent newspaper advertisements will continue throughout the year to promote upcoming events.  Most initiatives will focus on the local Deauville papers as the target of these papers is specifically the Deauville residents.  Additional marketing efforts will come in the form of on-box coupons for future purchases.

Additionally, family-oriented events will be hosted by Pizzeria del Causamali to attract customers such as trivia nights, birthday parties, and prize giveaways.  Frequent buyer cards will be employed to entice repeat customers.  Pizzeria del Causamali will also sponsor a local Little League baseball team, and a bowling team to publicize the restaurant within the community events.

Future plans of working in coordination with the adjacent video store to offer “bundle savings” if both pizza and video rentals are purchased will be pursued within the second year of operation.

5.3 Sales Strategy

The Deauville area has expressed its need for additional restaurants, specifically a desire for pizza.  Because of this, there is pent-up demand for pizza in this area.  We will expect a high rate of sales growth within the first 3 months as this customer desire is met.

For the next year, we continue to focus on a growing presence in the community and advertising heavily throughout the community.  As a major convention center and water park open in nearby Fairchild, we will focus our attention on becoming the recognized provider of pizza to that establishment.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

Our sales forecast assumes a modest change in annual costs to accommodate new entry into the market. 

We are expecting to increase sales modestly but steadily over the next year, which is a respectable growth rate.  The growth forecast is assumed given this is a new product for the area using new channels of availability.  We are not projecting significant change in the product line, or in the proportion between different lines. 

Based on industry averages and the absence of competition for pizza in the Deauville area, we are predicting an average of 25 pizzas sold each week night (Sunday – Wednesday).  On the weekends (Thursday – Saturday), we are estimating 40 pizzas are sold each day.  Of those pizzas ordered, we are expecting approximately 1/3 to be dine-in customers.  Those customers dining in will most likely order drinks and/or beer (on average 4 for each family).  Additionally, we are estimating that approximately one-third of the pizza orders will be accompanied by an order for breadsticks.  Our estimated average prices for each item are as follows:

• Pizza:  $12
• Breadsticks:  $2.50
• Beer:  $2.50/pint
• Drinks:  $1.70 refillable

5.4 Milestones

The following table lists important program milestones, with dates and managers in charge, and budgets for each.  The milestone schedule indicates our emphasis on planning for implementation. 

Web Plan Summary

The Pizzeria del Causamali website will be the virtual business card and portfolio for the company, as well as its online “home.”  It will showcase the history, product information, and offers for Pizzeria del Causamali.  Special online-only offers will be made available on the website, along with customer’s opportunity to sign-up for email news and offers. 

The Pizzeria del Causamali website needs to be a simple yet classy and well designed website that, at the same time, is in keeping with the latest trends in user interface design.  Customers will be coming to the site for product information, history, and offers. 

Future elements of the site can contain online ordering, if customers express an interest in this functionality.

6.1 Website Marketing Strategy

Our Internet marketing activities will be focused on product information and offers.  Future opportunities exist in offering online ordering.

6.2 Development Requirements

The Pizzeria del Causamali website will be initially developed with few technical resources.  A simple hosting provider, Yahoo! Web services, will host the site and provide the technical back end.  The owner’s expertise in professional Web development will lead this effort. 

The user interface designer will work with a graphic artist to come up with the website logo, and the website graphics. 

The maintenance of the site will be done by the owners.  If the website rolls out future development such as newsletters and online ordering, the internal staff at Pizzeria del Causamali will design, implement, and execute the technology.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

We are a small company owned and operated by Marion and Marianne Bruxellesprot, husband and wife, as a partnership.  Management style reflects the participation of the owners.  The company respects its community of co-workers and treats all workers well. 

Marianne Bruxellesprot is a 1998 graduate of University School of Business with High Honors and Distinction in Business.  Her experience with general business, technology, and operations is a great asset to this venture. 

Additionally, Otho Colderobby is an advisor to the owners.  Otho is a 1991 graduate of State College with a degree in Economics.  Furthermore, Otho graduated in 1995 with a Masters in Business Administration from University School of Business with emphases in Marketing and Finance.  Otho held a senior finance management position with Frito Lay for 5 years.  Otho is currently a managing consultant with a marketing strategy firm.  He also spent 5 years in a strategic services consulting practice.

7.1 Personnel Plan

The personnel table assumes a level need of employees, and 5% per annum pay raises.  Staffing for a 7-day a week restaurant necessitates two shifts.  In addition to the hours open for serving we anticipate an additional hour before opening for prep and as much as an hour after closing for cleanup.  This is approximately 8 hours of staffing necessary Sunday – Thursday and 10 hours on both Friday and Saturday.

The two kitchen lead positions are part-time, earning $9/hr.  The kitchen leads will serve as the shift leaders of the kitchen/wait staff.  Kitchen staff will serve as the wait staff.  There will be one dedicated dishwashing position per shift.  Wages for kitchen/wait staff, dishwashers, and delivery drivers, who are all part-time, are $6/hr, with opportunities for all to share the combined earn tips.  It is imperative the people serving as the kitchen lead are over 21 and can legally serve alcohol.

Hourly part-time positions as kitchen/wait, dishwashing, and delivery staff average out to be approximately 30 hours per week each.  Delivery staff will work 5 hour shifts each night, with an extra delivery staff member added on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  During the week if this person is not delivering, they will work in the kitchen as needed, directed by the kitchen lead.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The financial picture is quite encouraging.  We will be slow to take on debt and heavily investing our own assets, but with our increase in sales we do expect to apply for a credit line with the bank, to a limit of $50,000.  The credit line is supported by assets.

8.1 Important Assumptions

The financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table.  The key underlying assumptions are:

• We assume a fairly high-growth economy for pizza in the Deauville area, given the lack of competition and interest in having a pizza restaurant available in the area and pent-up demand. 
• We assume, of course, that there are no unforeseen changes in technology to make our products immediately obsolete. 
• We assume access to equity capital and financing sufficient to maintain our financial plan as shown in the tables.

8.2 Break-even Analysis

Our break-even analysis is based on running costs, the “burn-rate” costs we incur to keep the business running, not on theoretical fixed costs that would be relevant only if we were closing. The essential insight here is that our sales level seems to be running comfortably above break-even. 

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

We expect to be profitable in the first year, with profits increasing over the next two years, as we establish a loyal customer base.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart is the projected cash flow for three years.

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

As shown in the balance sheet in the following table, we expect a healthy growth in net worth.  The monthly projections are in the appendices. 

8.6 Business Ratios

Standard business ratios are included in the following table.  Industry profile ratios are shown for comparison, and are based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 5812.0600, Pizza Restaurants.  The ratios show a plan for balanced, healthy growth.  Our return on sales and return on assets remain strong in percentage terms. 

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Everyone loves a good slice of pizza, and some people love it enough to make it their entire job and livelihood. If you're thinking about starting a small business, and are specifically wondering how to open a pizza shop, we're here to help.

In the U.S., pizza is wildly popular: 93% of Americans purchase pizza at least once a month. To put that percentage into perspective, that’s about 350 slices Americans are eating per second, or 100 acres of pizza eaten in a day.

Why do Americans love pizza so much? According to Rob Veltri, owner of Pizza in the Square in Yonkers, New York, loving pizza is a simple concept: “It’s one of the healthier bad foods you can have,” he says. Today, approximately 17% of the nation’s restaurants are pizzerias and the highest-grossing, single-unit independent pizzeria in America is Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria in Anchorage, Alaska, which brings in about $6 million in sales annually.

So if you're ready to take the leap to restaurateur, keep reading to find out how to open a pizza shop of your very own.

1. Create a business plan for your pizza shop

Usually, the first step for opening a business would be writing a business plan. When you're starting a pizza shop, the biggest part of that plan is coming up with the perfect product to keep your customers coming back for more.

Pizza in the Square has been around for nearly 30 years and Veltri was there from day one. As a result, he remembers a time when people were afraid to try a pizza that veered slightly from the traditional. This isn’t the case anymore.

“Right now, you can put anything on a pizza,” he says. “You really can. I think that’s one of the things that makes us successful. We’re always willing to change and make things different.”

Perhaps the Italian immigrants who introduced pizza to Americans in the late 19th century wouldn’t approve of Veltri’s Nutella pie or spaghetti and meatballs pizza, but modern, more experimental consumers are loving them. Just take a look at the pizzeria’s reviews for proof, says Veltri.

Once you have the perfect recipes and menu down to a science, it's time to create the rest of your business plan for your pizza shop. This includes creating a budget, a marketing and sales plan, a name for your shop and should also include ideas for a restaurant or business space.

Something else you'll need to decide at this stage is the legal structure of your business. Choosing a business entity will be necessary for creating your business plan and the steps that follow, including what taxes you'll pay and what legal responsibilities you'll assume. Whether you opt for a sole proprietorship, LLC, C corporation or another business structure, you'll need to provide this information as you follow the next steps in starting a pizza shop. And keep in mind, you may want to consult a business attorney when making this decision.

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Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

2. Register your pizza shop

Once you've crafted the business plan for your pizza shop and chosen a business entity , the next step in starting your pizza shop is registering your business. To do so, you'll need to get an employer identification number , also known as an EIN or business tax ID number. You can apply for an employer identification number with the IRS online and get one almost instantly, and this number will be used for tax, banking and credit purposes.

Registering your business also means claiming the name of your pizza shop, which is a different process in each state. Many states though, like Pennsylvania, have an online database where you can check and see if your desired business name is available.

Once you've established that the name you want for your pizza shop is available, you should register the business under that name by following the rules laid out by the state in which you'll be operating your pizza shop.

3. Get any required licenses or permits for your pizza shop

Any time you're serving food you're going to need additional permits and licenses to do so legally. After all, there's a certain level of responsibility that comes with serving customers a hot slice (or five).

The rules around these business licenses and permits can vary from state to state but you'll likely need a food service license, food handler's permit, a building health permit and more.

Having fresh ingredients isn't only good from a food safety perspective, customers want it too. “What I’ve seen in the last few years is that people have turned back to quality,” says Veltri. “If it’s a little more expensive, they understand. With the news, social media and everything, [consumers] have learned how things like the costs of goods have increased. They’ll accept the good quality if they have to pay more for it.”

He adds: “We grind our tomatoes by hand every day. That’s how we make our sauces. Everything is done from scratch. Every sauce is made from scratch. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but everything is done fresh. And that’s what we’ve focused on since day one.”

If you also plan to sell alcohol at your pizza shop, you'll need a liquor license — which can be a complicated process in its own right. Make sure you understand all of the licenses and permits you'll need when starting a pizza shop before you open your doors to customers.

4. Create a financial plan and get funding for your pizza shop

Just as important as crafting the perfect recipe, creating a financial plan is essential to starting a pizza shop. After all, starting any new business is usually not cheap. As a consumer, you might think, "How expensive could the ingredients be? I can get a slice for a dollar on the street, how much could it cost the shop to make the pizza in the first place?" The answer is actually, it could cost a lot to open a pizza shop and run it successfully.

According to Veltri, it can cost anywhere between $75,000 to $100,000 for a pizza counter and maybe a few booths. If you want to open a sit-down pizzeria, that can run you at least half a million. Whatever your dream pizzeria looks like, be realistic and overestimate your startup costs — adding on an additional 15% to 25% to your budget — so that you don’t run into financial issues while starting your pizza shop.

Veltri’s reasoning for high costs: “Equipment is not cheap."

“I have two ovens in the front,” he explains. “The basic, old-fashioned oven with the stone and everything, then I also have a conveyor oven underneath that.”

While having fancy equipment, like a wood-burning oven, might have higher costs, as this New York Magazine report finds, the oh-so-satisfying taste it produces might be worth it. For instance, think about Brooklyn’s famous Roberta’s pizza joint, which has gained massive popularity and a loyal following for their wood-fired pies and home-grown ingredients.

Before you get discouraged, there are financing solutions that can provide the money you need to start your pizza shop. From restaurant equipment financing to a business term loan, or even a 0% intro APR credit card, there are several options to help get your pizza shop off the ground.

This is also where your business plan can really come in handy. Anyone considering giving you money will want to see that you have a solid plan for starting the business and eventually turning a profit. So whether you're hoping for a bank loan or to find an investor, having a solid business plan is key to starting a pizza shop.

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5. Open a business bank account for your pizza shop

As soon as your pizza shop is officially registered and you're about to start spending money on it, you should open a business checking account . You'll want to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances, at the very least for tax purposes. Establishing your bank account early on is also an important element for building your business credit score . You can check your free business credit report in a few places online. Your business credit score is another reason the EIN is important and why you'll want it whether it's required for your business or not.

When starting a pizza shop, you'll want, at the minimum, a business checking account and a business credit card . Once you have your business account and credit card set up, be sure to use them for any expenses related to your pizza shop, including purchases, paying bills, etc.

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Pizza Shop Business Plan

Starting a pizza shop is rewarding & daunting at the same time, because of the fierce competition and oversaturation.

Worry not, with proper planning & unique pizza styles, you can ace up your pizza shop.

Need help writing a business plan for your pizza shop? You’re at the right place. Our pizza shop business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
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How to Write A Pizza Shop Business Plan?

Writing a pizza shop business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Highlight the pizzas you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your business. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of pizza shop you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following pizza businesses:

• Traditional Pizzeria
• New York Style Pizzeria
• Neapolitan Pizzeria
• Gourmet Pizzeria
• Fast-Casual Pizza Chain
• Take-and-Bake Pizza Shop
• Vegan or Plant-Based Pizza Shop
• Mobile Pizza Truck
• Gluten-Free Pizza Shop
• Describe the legal structure of your pizza shop, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

If you’re an established pizza shop, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.

Future Goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Market size and growth potential:

Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

Analyze emerging trends in the industry, such as technology disruptions, changes in customer behavior or preferences, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your pizza shop business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Mention your menu:

Mention the pizza shop menu your business will offer. This list may include:

• Classic pizzas
• Specialty pizzas
• Pizza customization options
• Sauces & sides

Pizza offerings:

Quality measures:.

This section should explain how you maintain quality standards and consistently provide the highest quality.

Additional Services:

In short, this section of your pizza shop plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your pizza restaurant business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your pizza shop, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

Include the list of equipment and machinery required for a pizza shop, such as an oven, dough mixer, refrigerators, pizza press, food prep tools, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your pizza shop’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

Introduce your management and key members of your team, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.

This section should describe the key personnel for your pizza shop, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your pizzeria business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample pizza shop business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful pizza shop plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our pizza shop business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a pizza shop business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful pizza shop. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your pizza shop.

How to get funding for your pizza shop?

There are several ways to get funding for your pizza shop, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

Small Business Administration (SBA) loan

Crowdfunding, angel investors.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your pizza shop?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your pizza shop business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your pizza shop business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any pizza shop business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Pizza Shop Business Plan Template

Pizza shop business plan.

If you want to start a pizza shop business or expand your current one, you need a business plan.

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their pizza shops.

Below are links to each section of your pizza shop business plan template:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Pizza Shop Business Plan FAQs

What is a pizza shop business plan.

A pizza shop business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your pizza shop business. A business plan provides details about your business concept, competition, target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

What Is the Easiest Way to Complete My Pizza Shop Business Plan?

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template  allows you to quickly and easily complete your Pizza Shop Business Plan.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for a Pizza Shop?

If you’re looking to start a pizza shop business, or grow your existing pizza shop business, you need a business plan. A business plan will illustrate your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. Your Pizza Shop Business Plan should be updated as your company grows and changes.

What Are the Sources of Funding for Pizzerias?

Pizza Shop businesses are usually funded through small business loans, personal savings, credit card financing and/or angel investors.

PIZZA SHOP BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE

• Pizza Shop Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan
• 10. Appendix
• Pizza Shop Business Plan Summary

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Pizza Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Pizza Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Pizza business plan.

We have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Pizza businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Pizza business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Papa Jack’s is a new pizza restaurant in the Cincinnati, Ohio area that will serve residents, businesses and local schools. The restaurant will primarily be a dine-in establishment, but will also offer delivery and pick-up. The pizzeria offers an extensive menu that includes pizza, sandwiches, pasta, salads, desserts, and drinks. All of our food is made from unique and authentic Italian recipes created by the founder himself.

Papa Jack’s is founded and run by Jack Russo. Jack has spent the past 15 years in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter, chef, and restaurant manager. His experience in the industry has given him the knowledge and skills needed to run all aspects of a pizza restaurant.

Product Offering

Papa Jack’s will offer a full menu of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. Pizza selections include thin crust, pan and stuffed, while pasta options include all traditional Italian specialties like spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine alfredo and lasagna. Sandwiches include Italian Beef, Sausage and Chicken Parmesan.

The restaurant is also available for private events and catering.

Customer Focus

Papa Jack’s will serve the residents and workers of Cincinnati, Ohio and the immediately surrounding areas. The area is home to thousands of families and students who are always looking for high-quality pizza restaurants. Cincinnati is also full of hard-working laborers who need high-quality dine-in and takeout options after a hard day of work.

Management Team

Papa Jack’s is founded and run by Jack Russo. Jack has worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years and is knowledgeable of the operations and standard procedures of running a restaurant. Jack is also a well-respected chef who has made thousands of pizzas and other Italian dishes throughout his career. After spending years working at other restaurants, Jack has decided to run his own pizza restaurant where he can sell pizzas made from his own unique and authentic recipes. Though Jack has experience managing a restaurant, he will hire other management staff to help him run Papa Jack’s.

Success Factors

Papa Jack’s will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Location: Papa Jack’s location is near the center of town, giving us access to commuters going and leaving, local office workers, students and passersby. We also offer adequate parking making it easy for customers to patronize us.
• Great pizza and service at an affordable price: The pizza restaurant will offer dine-in, home delivery and carry-out services, providing convenience to our customers and further extending our market reach.
• Management: Our management team has years of business and marketing experience that allows us to market to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than our competitors.
• Relationships: Having lived in the community for 25 years, Jack Russo knows all of the local leaders, newspapers and other influencers. As such, it will be relatively easy for us to build branding and awareness of our restaurant.

Financial Highlights

Papa Jack’s is seeking a total funding of $400,000 to launch its pizza restaurant. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures, salaries, marketing expenses, and working capital.

Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Restaurant design/build: $200,000
• Equipment, supplies, and inventory: $50,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $100,000
• Marketing costs: $30,000
• Working capital: $20,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Papa Jack’s.

Company Overview

Who is papa jack’s, papa jack’s history.

Papa Jack’s was founded by Jack Russo. Jack has worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years and is ready to apply his experience and skills in his own pizza restaurant. His experience as a chef has helped him create an extensive menu made from his own unique and authentic recipes.

Jack incorporated Papa Jack’s on February 1st, 2023 and was able to achieve the following milestones since then:

• Developed the company’s name, logo and website
• Created the menu
• Determined equipment and inventory requirements
• Began recruiting key employees with experience in the restaurant industry

Papa Jack’s Services

Industry analysis.

The pizza industry has grown over the past five years due to rising consumer spending and changing preferences. Consumer spending is expected to increase an annualized 3.0%, as unemployment declines and economic conditions improve. As a result, the pizza industry has benefitted.

Changing consumer preferences have altered the industry over the past five years. Americans have become more concerned about their health and the food they eat, moving away from food high in fat, salt and sugar. Organic, locally grown and gourmet food has become more popular, and pizzerias are offering a greater array of flatbreads and whole-wheat and gluten-free crusts as a result. Consumers have also been indicating a preference for quick-service pizza shops, where pizza can be ordered online, rather than traditional, sit-down pizza restaurants.

The way operators use technology will also become increasingly important to the industry’s performance as consumers increasingly use their smartphones or tablets to order, expecting seamless internet interfaces that make it easy to customize pizza preferences.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The following are the precise demographics of the Cincinnati area:

Customer Segmentation

Papa Jack’s will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Local workers

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Papa Jack’s will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Pizza Garden

Pizza Garden was founded in 1988 and opened its first franchise a year later. Pizza Garden has nearly 14,000 restaurants, about 60% of which are in the United States. Similar to its competitors, the company focuses on a franchise model, with over 90.0% of Pizza Garden restaurants operating under franchise or license agreements.

Pizza Garden’s menu features a range of pizzas, offering a variety of toppings suited to local preferences and tastes. Many Pizza Garden locations also offer pasta and chicken wings. Pizza Garden offers casual dine-in, delivery and carryout.

City Pizzeria

Founded in 1985, City Pizzeria is one of the largest pizza restaurant chains in the United States. The company operates and franchises pizza delivery and carryout. The company operates in all 50 states and in 34 countries.

City Pizzeria’s menu includes pizza, and other side items such as breadsticks, cheese sticks, chicken wings and desserts, all made of quality ingredients on a consistent basis. The company’s quality control center system takes advantage of volume purchasing of food and supplies and provides consistency in fresh dough production. The company’s marketing strategy has increasingly been focused towards online and digital marketing in response to increasing consumer use of online and mobile technology.

Checkers Pizza

Checkers Pizza has grown to over 14,800 company-owned and franchised locations worldwide since its founding in 1960. Checkers Pizza operates in all 50 states and has locations in more than 70 countries. Furthermore, it is the second-largest pizza company in the world. Checkers Pizza sales are primarily generated through its pizza delivery business. As a result, the company focuses on securing its position within the industry by providing convenient store locations and an efficient supply chain.

Checkers Pizza’s menu varies regionally, but is primarily focused on Italian-American entrees and side dishes. They recently added artisan-style pizzas and added handmade pan pizza to their menu. They also have pasta, chicken, bread bowls, desserts and oven-baked sandwiches.

Competitive Advantage

Papa Jack’s will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Papa Jack’s will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Moderate price point
• Offering a convenient location that offers dine-in, delivery and carry-out options
• Family-friendly environment
• Providing excellent customer service

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Papa Jack’s is as follows:

Papa Jack’s will initially give free pizza samples to passersby to enable them to taste the quality of our products and learn about us.

Website/SEO

Papa Jack’s will develop a professional website that showcases pictures of our pizzas, drinks, and other food offerings. It will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Social Media

Jack Russo will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. These accounts will showcase pictures of the restaurant and popular items on the menu. The company will use targeted marketing to appeal to our target demographics.

Word of Mouth & Referrals

Papa Jack’s is confident that its existing loyal clients will spread the word and refer the pizzeria to residents who may not be familiar with it. The pizzas speak for themselves and word will quickly spread around town of the delicious pizza and food that Papa Jack’s has to offer.

The pricing of Papa Jack’s will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing our pizzas and other food items.

Operations Plan

The operations plan for Papa Jack’s is relatively simple as its overhead and cost is small. The functional roles for its employees are as follows:

Operation Functions:

• Jack Russo will be the Owner and Restaurant Manager of Papa Jack’s. He will oversee the general operations of the restaurant, help out with customer service, and help out in the kitchen.
• Jack will hire an Assistant Manager to help him manage the staff and run the general operations of the restaurant.
• Jack will also hire an Administrative Assistant to help out with the administrative and executive functions of the company.
• As the restaurant grows, Jack will hire several waiters, chefs, and other staff to run the service functions of the pizzeria.

Milestones:

Papa Jack’s aims to open in the next six months. The following are the milestones needed in order to obtain this goal.

• 3/202X – Finalize lease agreement
• 4/202X – Begin interior design and construction
• 5/202X – Social media and advertising campaign begins
• 6/202X – Final walk-through of construction and build-out
• 7/202X – Order and pre-stock inventory; hire key employees
• 8/202X – Grand opening of Papa Jack’s

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

Papa Jack’s revenues will come primarily from selling pizza, sandwiches, pasta, drinks, and other food items.

The major costs for the company will be food costs and salaries. In the initial years, the company’s marketing cost is expected to be high, as it establishes itself in the market.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

• Year 5 : 110
• Annual lease: $100,000
• Average order value: $25

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, pizza business plan faqs, what is a pizza business plan.

A pizza business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your pizza business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Pizza business plan using our Pizza Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Pizza Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of pizza businesses , some examples include: Franchise Pizza Shop, Full Service Pizza Shop, and Quick Service Pizza Shop.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Pizza Business Plan?

Pizza businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Pizza Business?

Starting a pizza business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Pizza Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed pizza business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your pizza business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your pizza business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Pizza Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your pizza business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your pizza business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Pizza Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your pizza business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your pizza business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

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Franchise Business Plan Template Restaurant Business Plan Template Fast Food Business Plan Template

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Back to All Business Ideas

How to Open a Pizza Shop

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on March 25, 2022 Updated on May 7, 2024

Investment range

$14,550 - $29,100

Revenue potential

$275,000 - $820,000 p.a.

Time to build

1 – 3 months

Profit potential

$41,000 - $125,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Who doesn’t love pizza? Thick crust, thin crust, stuffed crust — we can’t get enough! Pizza is worth almost $50 billion in the US alone and continues to grow. From mustard to rhubarb to curry, today’s topping possibilities are endless, and you can even find breakfast pizzas and dessert pizzas! If you love getting creative in the kitchen, why not open your own pizza shop and put those skills to work? You could be the next Papa John’s or Pizza Hut franchise, making good money while delivering smiles to countless faces.

But before you start baking those pies, you need to know what you’re getting into from a business perspective. Luckily, this step-by-step guide is packed edge-to-edge with all you need to know about starting a pizza place and will put you on the road to entrepreneurial success.

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a pizzeria has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Good money — Profit margins are high compared to other restaurant types
• Share your passion — Share your pizza love; spread joy
• Creativity — Pizza offers a world of creative options
• High startup costs — Space and equipment are $$
• Highly saturated market — Every “hood” has a pizza shop or two

Pizza Shop Industry Trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth — The US pizza restaurant industry was worth $49.4 billion in 2023, and has declined 2.4% in relation to the previous year.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/pizza-restaurants-united-states/ ))
• Growth forecast — The pizza restaurant industry is expected to increase 1.4% in 2024.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/pizza-restaurants-industry/ )) 
• Number of businesses — There were 73,333 pizza restaurant businesses in the US in 2023.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/pizza-restaurants-united-states/ ))
• Number of people employed — In 2024, the US pizza restaurant industry employs about 574,000 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/pizza-restaurants-industry/#IndustryStatisticsAndTrends ))

Trends and Challenges

• Cauliflower crust plus vegan and gluten-free pizza options are all the rage.
• Pizzas that are internationally inspired are trending with Gen Zers, including Indian and Southeastern-inspired pizzas.
• Consumers are also seeking eco-friendly packaging for their pizzas, meaning recyclable boxes.
• Higher dairy, wheat, and flour prices are cutting into the profit margins of pizza shops.
• Labor shortages, particularly in the restaurant industry, are making it difficult for pizza shops to effectively operate while short-staffed.

Demand Hotspots

• Most popular states — The most popular states for pizza shops are New Hampshire, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
• Least popular states — The least popular states for pizza shops are Louisiana, South Carolina, and North Carolina.(( https://www.zippia.com/pizza-maker-jobs/best-states/ ))

What Kind of People Work in Pizza Shops?

• Gender — 46% of restaurant owners are female, while 54% are male.
• Average level of education — The average restaurant owner has a bachelor’s degree.
• Average age — The average owner of a restaurant in the US is 39.1 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/restaurant-owner-jobs/demographics/ ))

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Pizza Shop Business?

Startup costs for a pizza shop range from $15,000 to $30,000 or more. Costs include a space rental deposit, space preparation, and kitchen equipment.

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your pizza shop business, including: 

• Pizza mixers
• Pizza conveyor oven
• Prep tables
• Tables and chairs
• Refrigerator

How Much Can You Earn From a Pizza Shop Business?

Pizza prices range from $7 for a small cheese pizza to $20 or more for a specialty pizza with toppings. You can also sell beverages, so these calculations will assume that your average sale price will be $15. The average profit margin for pizza shops is 15%.

In your first year or two, you might sell 50 pizzas a day, bringing in nearly $275,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $41,000 in profit, assuming that 15% margin. As your brand gains recognition and you get repeat customers, sales could climb to 150 a day. With an annual revenue of $820,000, you’d make a tidy profit of almost $125,000.

What Barriers to Entry Are There?

There are a few barriers to entry for a pizza shop. Your biggest challenges will be:

• The startup costs of space and equipment
• Drawing customers in a saturated market

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a pizza shop, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an Opportunity

Research pizza shops in your area to examine their products, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a gluten-free or vegan pizza shop.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as Indian-inspired pizzas or Middle Eastern-inspired pizzas.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine Your Menu

You’ll need to come up with a pizza menu, but you can also offer additional food and beverage items like garlic bread, chicken wings, and alcoholic beverages.

How Much Should You Charge for Pizzas?

You’ll need to check local pizza prices to make sure you’re competitive in your market. Prices will also depend on what it costs to make your pizzas. You should aim for a profit margin after all costs of about 15%.

Once you know your costs, you can use our profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify Your Target Market

Your target market will be broad, since almost everyone likes pizza. You should spread out your marketing to include TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even LinkedIn.

Where? Choose Your Pizza Shop Location

The location of your pizza shop is a crucial factor that can determine the success or failure of your business. To ensure success, aim to find a spot that can be considered a pizza lover’s paradise. Look for an area with a high volume of foot traffic, where potential customers are constantly passing by.

It’s also beneficial to choose a location near residential areas, as this will make your shop easily accessible and convenient for customers looking for a quick and delicious meal.

You’ll need to rent out a space for your shop. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Pizza Shop Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “pizza” or “pizza shop,” boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for example, “Jim’s Pizza Station” over “Jim’s Sicilian Pizza Corner” or “Jim’s Vegan Pizza Bistro”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Discover over 300 unique pizza shop name ideas here . If you want your business name to include specific keywords, you can also use our pizza shop business name generator. Just type in a few keywords, hit Generate, and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Pizza Shop Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Business overview — Detailed introduction to your pizza shop, including the business name, the type of pizza shop (dine-in, take-out, delivery), location, and the vision behind starting it
• Product and services — Description of the pizza and related products (like beverages, sides, etc.) you’ll offer, plus any additional services such as catering or special event hosting
• Market analysis — Examination of the local demand for pizza, customer demographics, and spending habits in your targeted area to demonstrate viability
• Competitive analysis — Assessment of other pizza providers in the vicinity, highlighting what your shop will do differently or better to attract and retain customers
• Sales and marketing — Strategy for attracting customers to your pizza shop, which may include advertising channels, pricing strategy, promotions, and customer loyalty programs
• Management team — Overview of the key players in your business, their roles, and their experience in the food industry that contributes to the shop’s success
• Operations plan — Outline of the day-to-day running of the shop, including suppliers, equipment, staff, and processes for preparing and selling pizza
• Financial plan — Projection of the startup costs, operating costs, revenue expectations, profit margins, and break-even analysis to ensure financial feasibility
• Appendix — Supplementary section containing any additional documents that support your business plan, such as menus, maps, surveys, or legal documents

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose Where to Register Your Company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to pizza shops. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind that it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose Your Business Structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your pizza shop will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole proprietorship — The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General partnership — Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corporation — Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corporation — This refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just needs to elect to be an S Corp for tax status. In this business structure, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number or EIN. You can file for your EIN online, by mail, or by fax. Visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund Your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans — This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans — The Small Business Administration can act as a guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants — A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and family — Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding — Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal — Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a pizza shop business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. 

Step 8: Apply for Pizza Shop Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a pizza shop business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

A pizza shop may need the following, depending on the requirements in your area:

• Foodservice license
• Food handler’s permit
• Building health permit
• Liquor license

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your pizza shop business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability — The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business property — Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment breakdown insurance — Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation — Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property — Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto — Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability — Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP) — This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential Software and Tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Restaurant 365 , lightspeed , or  toast , to manage your inventory, orders, staff, and payments.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , FreshBooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences of filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop Your Website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

However, people are unlikely to find your website unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Targeted social media advertising — Utilize Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to target specific community groups, engage younger audiences, and leverage trending topics.
• Optimized website and SEO — Implement best SEO practices to enhance search rankings and improve conversion rates.
• Local SEO — Regularly update Google My Business and Yelp profiles to increase local visibility and encourage positive reviews.
• Mobile app development — Offer a mobile app for easy ordering and to manage promotions and loyalty rewards.
• Content marketing — Distribute engaging newsletters and blog posts about pizza, and run interactive competitions to boost customer engagement.
• Influencer and community partnerships — Collaborate with food influencers and local businesses for broader reach and community integration.
• Experiential marketing — Host pizza workshops, tasting events, and themed parties to enhance in-store experiences.
• Sustainability practices — Promote eco-friendly initiatives to attract environmentally conscious consumers.
• Customer loyalty programs — Develop loyalty and VIP programs to reward frequent customers and gather valuable feedback.
• Dynamic promotions — Execute flash sales and happy hours to increase store visits and use paid ads to target potential customers actively searching for pizza.
• Visual merchandising — Enhance physical and digital spaces with compelling visuals to attract and retain customers.
• Community engagement — Support local artists and engage in community events to strengthen local ties and visibility.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Today’s customers are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they can quickly grasp how your pizza shop meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your pizza shop business could be: 

• The best vegan pizza shop in town!
• Fresh, fantastic pizza made with only local ingredients
• From curry to tacos — our pizzas satisfy global tastes

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain but your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a pizza shop business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in pizza for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in pizza shops. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a pizza shop business include:

• Wait staff — taking orders, serving customers
• Pizza chefs — preparing pizzas and other food items
• Delivery drivers — delivering pizzas
• General manager — ordering, scheduling, accounting
• Marketing lead — SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Pizza Shop — Start Making Money!

Are you ready to share pizza joy with your community? If you can make great pizza, you’ll be pleasing many palates and joining a growing $50 billion market while making good money and having fun whipping up tasty creations. You can become the go-to pizza shop in your area, and eventually expand into a chain of pizza shops.

You’ve learned what you need to know about pizza entrepreneurship, so now it’s time to get tossing and launch your successful pizza shop!

• Pizza Shop Business FAQs

Yes, pizza shops have a higher profit margin on average than other types of restaurants. If you have great pizza and unique flavors, you can stand out from the competition and be successful.

The first pizzeria in the United States is generally believed to be Lombardi’s, which was opened in New York City in 1905. Lombardi’s was founded by Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi, who had previously worked as a baker in Naples, Italy.

Popular pizza toppings in the United States include spicy beef and pork pepperoni, fresh or canned mushrooms, ground meat sausage, diced or sliced white or red onions, fresh sliced or diced green peppers, black or green olives, small pieces of bacon, divisive pineapple, extra mozzarella or other cheeses, and fresh or canned sliced or diced tomatoes.

To attract customers to your pizza shop, focus on using high-quality ingredients, creating delicious pizzas with unique flavor combinations, and offering a variety of toppings. Provide prompt and efficient service, establish a strong online presence, and offer convenient online ordering and delivery options. 

To differentiate your pizza shop from competitors, develop signature pizzas with distinct flavors and innovative crust options. Provide exceptional customer service, create a compelling brand story, and utilize creative marketing techniques. Consider offering specialized menu items like gourmet appetizers, fresh salads, or unique desserts. Emphasize the use of local and sustainable ingredients to attract customers who value supporting local businesses and sustainable food practices.

Common favorites include cheese pizza , pepperoni pizza , margherita pizza , BBQ chicken pizza , and supreme pizza with various toppings. 

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Pizza Shop Name
• Create a Pizza Shop Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund Your Business
• Apply for Pizza Shop Business Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Pizza Shop — Start Making Money!

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How to Open a Pizza Shop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jan Lundvik

August 25, 2023

Opening and running a successful pizza shop requires careful planning and hard work. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the key steps involved in starting your own pizza business within the lucrative $65 billion dollar pizza restaurant industry.

With over 100,000 pizza restaurants operating in the U.S. and employing nearly 900,000 people, competition is fierce ( Source ). This makes proper planning and execution essential to stand out.

I will cover crucial steps like deciding on your pizza shop concept and menu, writing a solid business plan, obtaining funding and licenses, hiring employees, choosing a point-of-sale system, establishing an online presence, and managing ongoing operations.

1: Decide on a Concept and Menu

The first and most important step when starting your pizza shop is deciding on an overall restaurant concept and menu. This will be the foundation that guides your entire business strategy and all subsequent decisions.

Take time to thoughtfully research and analyze different pizza shop concepts before landing on the vision for your own restaurant.

Research pizza shop concepts and trends

Start by thoroughly exploring the menus and styles of successful local and national pizza chains to get inspiration. Study the ingredients they use, the types of pizzas and other offerings on their menus, as well as their dine-in ambiance and operational format.

Read reviews online and in local publications to get insight into what potential customers rave about. Stay on top of food industry predictions and reports to understand the latest popular styles and ingredients. Pizza trends are always evolving so you want your shop to feel fresh and current.

Decide on the type of pizza you want to make

Next, decide whether you will specialize in a specific regional pizza style like New York, Chicago, or Neapolitan, or create your own unique hybrid style. Factor in your own culinary strengths, passions, and preferences.

New York-style pizza is known for its hand-tossed thin crust with a pliable edge, while Chicago deep dish involves a thick, buttery crust with heaps of cheese. The Neapolitan style uses wood-fired ovens and is characterized by a soft and chewy crust with fresh mozzarella and basil.

Determining a specialty sets you apart while informing your recipes.

Create a menu with a variety of pizza options

Craft a menu with a wide variety of festive pizza options beyond just cheese and pepperoni. Have different sizes, diverse toppings, and creative flavor combinations to appeal to the broadest customer base. Incorporate seasonal ingredients that play to customers’ cravings.

Beyond pizza, add complementary Italian dishes like subs, salads, garlic knots, wings, and desserts. A robust menu gives customers lots of options for a complete meal.

Consider specialty dietary pizzas

Also, consider featuring gluten-free or vegan pizzas to accommodate growing dietary restrictions. Catering to specialty diets makes your shop more inclusive. Have a plan for clear labeling and precautions to avoid cross-contamination for food allergies.

Plan for different service formats

Finally, decide whether your shop will focus on takeout and delivery, a dine-in experience, or a combination. This factors into your space requirements. If doing significant takeout and delivery business, ensure you have a plan for seamless online ordering and delivery logistics integrated into your operations.

The concept and menu you land on will dictate all subsequent decisions from kitchen layout, equipment needs, hiring staff with relevant culinary backgrounds, purchasing ingredients, and all aspects of operations.

Take time upfront to thoroughly research and refine your vision. Your thoughtful concept and menu will set the direction for your whole pizzeria.

Create a Catchy Pizza Business Name

Coming up with a great name for your pizzeria requires thoughtful brainstorming and research. The name you choose needs to create an impression, communicate your brand identity, and resonate with customers.

Start by thinking of names that are unique and memorable, avoiding generic names like “Joe’s Pizza”. You want something catchy that comes to mind easily and stands out from competitors. Just make sure phrases are easy to say and spell to avoid confusion.

Also, ensure the name fits the concept and personality of your pizzeria. Let it reflect character, whether you aim for traditional Italian charm or quirky modern ambiance. Names can also reference your specialty or values, such as using terms like “artisan” or “brick oven”.

Be sure to check domain name availability to secure a matching website URL. And take the time to get objective feedback by having friends or advisers weigh in on potential names you’re debating between.

Ultimately the priority is picking a name that effectively sticks in customers’ minds and communicates what your pizzeria is all about.

You might also like: 325 Catchy & Creative Pizza Restaurant Names

2: Develop a Business Plan

After deciding on your pizza restaurant concept, the next critical step is developing a comprehensive business plan. This is an in-depth strategic document that will analyze every aspect of your business and serve as an actionable guide for launch.

Executive Summary

The executive summary briefly outlines your business goals and summarizes the key points from your entire plan. It should provide a high-level overview of your concept, financial projections, and competitive advantages.

Company Overview and Objectives

Provide background on your vision and objectives for the pizza restaurant. Include details on ownership structure, proposed location, facilities, start-up timeline, and any partnerships or outside support.

Market Analysis

Research your local area and analyze pizza industry trends more broadly. Assess direct and indirect competition. Evaluate demand and demographic factors shaping your customer base. This will demonstrate a need for your business.

Marketing Plan

Outline how you will promote and attract customers. Detail any pre-opening events or promotions. Describe ongoing strategies like social media, loyalty programs, and community outreach. Calculate associated costs.

Operations Plan

Explain the day-to-day running of your pizza shop. Include an overview of food preparation, supplies, and equipment, staffing, online ordering capabilities, and projected sales volume.

Management Team and Organization

Introduce key players involved and their qualifications. Outline the legal structure and organizational chart showing staff hierarchy and responsibilities.

Financial Plan and Projections

Provide projected start-up costs and capital needed. Estimate operating expenses and forecast sales and revenue month-by-month for the first year. Include profit/loss, cash flow, and balance sheet projections.

Having a solid business plan is crucial for securing funding, applying for loans, attracting investors, and opening your doors with a blueprint for ongoing success.

3: Get Funding

Determining startup costs and capital needed.

The first step in securing funding for your pizza shop is to thoroughly research and estimate your expected startup costs. Typical expenses will include:

• Rent deposits, lease, and renovations for your restaurant space
• Ovens, refrigerators, kitchen equipment, counters, registers, and furnishings
• Licensing and permits required by your city and state
• Initial ingredients and inventory
• Staff wages, benefits, and training for the first few months
• Marketing and promotional activities like print ads, website, signage
• Insurance policies like general liability and workers’ comp
• Professional fees for lawyers, accountants, consultants
• Contingency funds and reserves

Create a detailed spreadsheet with cost estimates for each category above. Budget for 3-6 months of operating expenses in addition to these initial startup costs to have a cushion.

With your expected revenues and costs, build a startup budget and projected profit/loss statement for the first year. This will determine how much capital you need to launch and sustain the business until you turn a profit.

Exploring Financing and Funding Options

With your capital requirements determined, explore potential funding sources:

• Personal savings and assets that can be invested
• Small business loans from banks and credit unions
• SBA loans, like the 7(a) and 504 programs with favorable terms
• Loans or investments from friends, relatives, and connections
• Angel investors or venture capital for larger financing needs

A prudent approach is to combine sources, like using your own savings and taking a bank loan for the rest. Compare interest rates and repayment terms for any borrowed amounts.

Applying for Small Business Loans

To qualify for SBA or bank small business loans, you’ll need to submit:

• A business plan with financial projections
• Collateral like equipment, property, or inventory
• Personal credit scores and financial history
• Previous tax returns and financial statements

Meet with loan officers from several banks to compare interest rates, fees, and eligibility criteria before selecting a lender.

Seeking Equity Investors if Needed

If loans don’t fully cover your capital needs, you may need to sell equity in your business to private investors. Prepare a pitch deck summarizing your business plan’s key details and growth opportunities.

Use your network and local pitch events to connect with individual, angel, and venture capital investors. Offer equity at a valuation tied to your projected profit margins and growth.

By thoroughly planning your costs, exploring all funding options, and allowing room for surprises, you can secure the capital necessary to successfully launch your pizzeria.

4: Obtain Licenses and Permits

Researching required licenses and permits.

Opening a pizzeria requires obtaining a variety of legal licenses and permits from federal, state, and local government agencies. Thoroughly research all requirements in your city and state early in the planning process. Key licenses and permits may include:

Local Business License

Apply for a business license with your city or county clerk by submitting your business plan, zoning confirmations, and paying a licensing fee. This certifies your business with the municipality.

Food Service Permit

The health department must inspect your restaurant’s kitchen and facilities to issue a food service permit. Apply after signing your restaurant lease and completing build-out renovations.

Liquor License

If serving beer or wine, apply for a liquor license which can take months for approval. Conditional use permits may also be required if near schools or churches.

Sales Tax ID Number

Register with your state revenue department for a tax ID number to collect and properly remit sales tax on retail purchases. This ID number is also needed for buying ingredients and supplies wholesale without paying sales tax.

Food Handlers Certificates

Employees involved in food preparation and service must complete an approved food safety training course and obtain food handlers certificates indicating they are trained on safe food handling practices. Ensure certificates stay current per state requirements.

Outdoor Seating Permit

If planning sidewalk or patio seating, confirm if an outdoor seating permit is required and any associated fees. A layout plan indicating ADA accessibility may need approval.

Delivery Driver Permits

Many cities require individual delivery driver permits for each driver delivering orders, to ensure they meet insurance and driver safety requirements.

Third-Party Delivery Agreements

Contract with third-party delivery services like UberEats and DoorDash to assist with order delivery. Negotiate optimal terms for fees charged, delivery radius, and any tablets or devices they may provide.

Applying for Licenses and Permits on Schedule

Compile all documentation required for each license/permit application well in advance of your target opening date. Partner with contractors familiar with local regulations. Passing inspections and securing permits on schedule is crucial for opening on time.

Here are some tips to ensure you have all the necessary documentation compiled for license and permit applications for your pizza restaurant:

• Make a checklist of every license and permit you need with application requirements. Check local, state, and federal levels.
• For each one, note the specific forms, documents, drawings, fees, and information required. Examples: floor plans, menu, proof of insurance, financial statements, etc.
• Leave plenty of time to gather everything. Documents like financials, insurance, and inspections take time.
• If a certain document doesn’t apply to your business, get written confirmation from the licensing agency.
• Create folders both digital and physical to store all documents for each license application.
• Consult lawyers, contractors, or advisors who are familiar with local requirements. Ask what caught others by surprise.
• When submitting, include a cover letter listing every enclosed document. Double check to make sure nothing is missing.
• Follow up frequently with licensing departments for status updates on applications. Be ready to quickly provide any missing information.
• Don’t assume you know all the requirements – call each department to discuss what they need and ask questions.
• Automate reminders for renewals and expiration dates so licenses don’t lapse.

Staying organized, thorough, and proactive when compiling application documentation will prevent delays in getting your pizza shop licensed and opened. Allow plenty of time in your timeline.

Here are a couple of template examples you could use as a starting point for cover letters when submitting license applications for opening your pizza restaurant:

Dear [Name of Licensing Department/Agency],

Please find enclosed all documents for my application for a [name of license] to open my pizzeria, [Restaurant Name], located at [address].

Enclosed you will find the following:

• Completed [Name of License] Application Form
• Local Business License Certificate
• Proof of Property Zoning & Commercial Use
• Proposed Menu & Floor Plans
• Kitchen Equipment List & Spec Sheets
• Food Safety Manager Certificates
• Proof of Insurance & Inspection
• Personal Financial Statements
• Application Fee of [$Amount]

Please review my application and let me know if you need any additional information. I look forward to receiving approval to move forward with opening my restaurant. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Contact Info]

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is [Your Name] and I am excited to open my pizzeria, [Restaurant Name], pending approval of my applications for a Food Service Permit and Liquor License.

Attached you will find the complete documentation required, including:

• Food Service Permit Application
• Liquor License Application
• Business Plan Executive Summary
• Kitchen Equipment Specifications
• Contractor Inspection & Build-Out Approval
• Proof of Insurance Coverage
• Personal Financial History & Projections
• Check for $500 Application Fee

Please let me know if you need any additional documentation or clarification. I am happy to provide more details. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application.

Sincerely, [Your Signature]

5: Find a Location

Researching ideal locations.

Start your location search by defining the geographic area or neighborhood you want to be in based on your target demographic and competitive analysis. Drive around to get a feel for availability, foot traffic, parking, and visibility.

Make notes on spaces for lease that fit your size and budget. Search commercial real estate listings to map out costs per square foot in desirable areas and buildings.

Prioritizing Spaces with Existing Kitchens

Look for spaces already zoned for restaurant use that have some existing kitchen facilities in place. This saves significantly on build-out costs compared to a raw, undeveloped space. Carefully evaluate the kitchen layout, proximity to utilities and plumbing, ventilation, and any changes needed to meet your equipment needs.

Evaluating Accessibility, Visibility, and Parking

The ideal location will be easily seen from the street with signage opportunities. Check for heavy foot traffic and parking lots or garages nearby. There should be convenient pickup and delivery access without congested entries or exits.

Ensure the building and parking are ADA compliant with disability access to the entrance, restrooms, and interior layout. High visibility spots in shopping centers or downtown districts often offset higher rents.

Negotiating the Lease

Thoroughly review lease terms before signing and negotiate the most favorable rates and conditions. Look for a longer initial term like 5+ years to secure lower rents and recoup renovation costs.

Control operating expenses by capping increases and understanding each fee. Limit personal liability if the business fails. Build in repair obligations and fair renewal increases.

Designing and Renovating the Space

With a lease secured, design an inviting storefront and interior that aligns with your pizza brand. Plan your renovation timeline around equipment installations and permitting inspections to meet your opening date. Select durable, easy-to-clean finishes.

Conducting due diligence and prioritizing the right location for visibility, accessibility, and customer convenience will give your pizzeria the best chance of success.

Here are some common pitfalls to avoid when negotiating a commercial lease for a pizza shop location:

• Not understanding operating expenses – Get clarity on what monthly fees cover (CAM, property taxes, maintenance, etc). These can add significant costs.
• Shorter lease terms – Longer initial terms like 5+ years are often better to secure favorable rates and recoup build-out costs.
• Unfavorable renewal terms – Negotiate fair renewal rent increases and option periods so you aren’t stuck overpaying.
• Restrictive use clauses – Make sure the lease permits operating a restaurant/pizza shop specifically. Avoid limits on hours or offerings.
• Unfavorable exit clauses – Limit penalties and liability for breaking the lease if the business fails.
• Ignoring needed repairs – Ensure landlord will cover any repairs for issues like faulty plumbing or HVAC before signing.
• Rushing negotiations – Don’t feel pressured into signing before thoroughly reviewing all terms with a commercial real estate lawyer.
• Lack of personal guarantee – Leases often require a personal guarantee from the business owner, which provides landlord recourse if the business can’t pay.

6: Source Ingredients and Suppliers

Finding suppliers for quality ingredients.

Research and vet suppliers that can consistently provide the fresh ingredients integral to your menu and recipes. For dough, cheese, sauce, and toppings, prioritize suppliers with high-quality, authentic Italian offerings.

Look for local farms or vendors for fresh, seasonal produce. Don’t forget specialty items like vegan cheese, gluten-free dough, or proprietary spices. Getting samples of ingredients helps evaluate quality.

Securing Wholesale Food Distribution

Partner with one or two restaurant food distributors like US Foods or Sysco to source the bulk of your ingredients, kitchen disposables, cleaning supplies, and other restaurant materials at wholesale prices.

Negotiate your account pricing and minimum order quantities based on projected menu volumes. Compare overall pricing, delivery fees, ordering systems, and customer service across distributors before selecting one as your primary partner.

Locking in Favorable Terms

Clearly communicate your projected order volumes, menu items, and purchasing needs so your distributor can assign wholesale rates and delivery days that meet your budget and kitchen prep schedules.

Agree on regular delivery days/times to maintain consistent inventory. Get clarity on lead times for specialty imports or custom orders. Confirm order minimums and payment terms as well.

Ordering Equipment and Supplies

Research quality commercial pizza ovens and other essential equipment like refrigerators, freezers, ventilation, pizza peels, and dough rollers. Don’t forget smallwares like baking pans, utensils, and containers.

Compare options across restaurant supply retailers to find the right balance of quality and value. Order early to ensure availability and account for shipping or installation delays.

Allow plenty of time to thoughtfully source all ingredients, materials, and equipment needed to craft high-quality pizzas. Building relationships with the right suppliers is invaluable.

7: Choose a Pizza POS System

Investing in an intuitive yet powerful pizza POS system will provide convenience, speed, and accuracy in managing all transactions.

Choosing a POS system is one of the most crucial technology decisions for operating a smooth and efficient pizza shop. The POS serves as the central hub for processing and managing all customer orders and financial transactions that are the lifeblood of your business.

Determining Your Needs and Budget

Consider the number of POS terminals you need at the counter, bar, kitchen, and takeout areas. Determine must-have POS features aligned with your operations like online ordering integrations, loyalty programs, reservation management, liquor controls etc.

Factor in existing hardware like tablets and computers or if you need an all-in-one standalone POS terminal. Set a realistic budget for both hardware and monthly software costs.

Comparing Pizza POS Systems

Research specialized restaurant POS systems like Toast, Slice, TouchBistro, and Square tailored for food businesses. For pizza shops specifically, prioritize systems efficient at order entry, menu customizations, splitting checks, and time-based reminders for delivery.

Assess reporting features, e-commerce integrations, payment processing capabilities, data security, and hardware options. Consider scalability to support your growth.

Selecting the Best POS

Choose the POS system that most affordably meets your feature needs, integrates with other platforms you use, and offers top-notch support. Simplicity, flexibility, and ease of use are key for staff adoption. Opt for month-to-month contracts when available to pivot if needed.

Read more: 7 Best Pizza POS Systems

Setting Up and Configuring the System

Once selected, set up your menu with sections, modifiers, combos, and ingredients mapped to inventory management. Enter customer relationship contacts, create manager permissions, and configure settings to match your workflows for accepting orders, routing to the kitchen, processing payments, tipping, and reporting.

Training Staff for Adoption

Thoroughly train staff on using the POS system through videos, manuals, and hands-on guidance. Have managers monitor use to ensure employees are comfortable processing orders and payments accurately and efficiently. Continue refining your setup and training until the POS platform is second nature.

A quality pizza POS maximizes order accuracy, speed of service, and provides robust reporting to make data-driven decisions. The investment pays dividends in optimizing operations.

• Streamlining order taking whether orders are placed in-person, online, over the phone, or through delivery apps
• Integrating seamlessly with your website and delivery platforms
• Increasing order accuracy by automatically applying promotional pricing, discounts, customize orders, etc.
• Reducing ordering errors and speeding up service by clearly conveying order details to the kitchen
• Accepting multiple payment types and securely processing transactions
• Seamlessly splitting/combining checks for improved customer experience
• Generating invaluable sales, inventory, and labor reports to optimize operations
• Providing loyalty and CRM capabilities to cultivate customer relationships
• Scaling capabilities to grow with your business over time

In short, the right POS maximizes efficiency, accuracy, security, and provides the robust functionality needed to run a high-volume pizza operation. That’s why carefully evaluating your needs and selecting a POS that excels in areas like order management, reporting, and integration is a pivotal business decision.

8: Hire and Train Staff

Employing talented, caring staff is one of the most important investments you can make when opening a pizzeria. The quality of your team directly impacts everything from food preparation and service speed to cleanliness, customer satisfaction and company culture.

That’s why it’s crucial to approach hiring deliberately – screen applicants thoroughly for required skills, hospitality mindset, and fit with your brand. Look for pizza makers with an eye for detail and chefs with creativity and efficiency.

Hire servers who can juggle busy rushes with care and friendliness. Your managers should have leadership skills to rally the team. Once hired, comprehensive training across company policies, systems, menus and service philosophy is vital, even for experienced hires.

Determine Hiring Needs and Create Job Postings

• Project staffing requirements by position based on anticipated volume.
• Write clear, appealing job posts highlighting skills needed and company culture.

Interview Potential Candidates for Front and Back of House

• Look for people with a passion for food and hospitality experience.
• Assess technical skills, strengths, and fit with your restaurant’s vision.
• Check references to confirm qualifications.

Conduct Background Checks Before Hiring

• Run criminal history and reference checks to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits.
• Review past employment and education history.

Set Up Payroll and Employment Paperwork

• Have new hires complete tax forms, confidentiality agreements, and direct deposit info.
• Set up payroll schedule, withholding, and overtime pay in compliance with labor laws.

Train Staff on Menu, Systems, and Customer Service

• Cover menu details including ingredients, prep methods, and inventory practices.
• Review POS system, online ordering, safety procedures, and opening/closing duties.
• Set clear expectations for friendly, prompt customer service.

Investing the time to properly onboard staff and nurture their growth allows you to deliver high standards and amazing experiences that keep customers coming back. Your team represents your brand, so developing a stellar crew through careful hiring and training creates immense value as you work to build a beloved pizzeria.

Here are some mistakes to avoid when hiring staff for a pizzeria:

• Rushing the process – Take time to thoughtfully screen and interview multiple candidates per role. Don’t hire in desperation.
• Neglecting background checks – Thoroughly verify work history and check criminal records to avoid liability.
• Not checking references – Speak to previous employers to get candid insight into work ethic and reliability.
• Disorganized interview process – Have a structured interview approach assessing both hard and soft skills. Take detailed notes.
• Unclear job expectations – Ensure candidates understand exact duties, hours, pay rate and policies upfront.
• Lack of training plan – Have a detailed training schedule and materials ready before new hires start.
• Skipping employment paperwork – Fully complete I-9s, W-4s, and employment contracts to comply with regulations.
• No trial period – Consider a 30-60 day probationary period in case the hire is not a fit.
• Ignoring company culture – Look for candidates that align with your values and work style.
• Skimping on compensation – Offer fair pay and benefits to attract and retain quality staff long-term.

9: Craft Your Pizzeria’s Brand and Marketing Strategy

Opening a new pizzeria is an exciting venture, but promoting your restaurant and attracting customers takes thoughtful planning and execution.

In an increasingly competitive food industry, creating compelling branding and running strategic marketing campaigns are critical for spreading awareness about your new entrant pizzeria and driving customer traffic continually.

Taking the time upfront to establish your pizzeria’s visual identity through logo , graphic design, messaging, and packaging is invaluable. This builds recognition and an emotional connection with patrons. Likewise, designing high-quality menus , website , signage and branded merchandise allows customers to interact with your brand anywhere.

You need to lay the groundwork for attracting an initial customer base through advertising and promotions touting your opening. But just as importantly, you need a strategy for sustaining awareness and engagement after those launch promotions end.

Ongoing social media content , community events, email marketing , and loyalty programs are key to retaining customers and catalyzing vital word-of-mouth referrals.

Design Your Brand Identity and Assets

• Work with a professional graphic designer to bring your logo vision to life with multiple design options to choose from. Opt for a memorable, distinctive logo that will look great on signage, uniforms, marketing materials etc.
• Select branded colors that reflect your concept – warm reds and yellows for a traditional pizza look or sleek black and grey for an upscale vibe.
• Ensure your graphic assets like custom fonts, patterns and decorative illustrations visually reinforce your pizzeria’s unique personality and style.

Craft Your Messaging and Value Proposition

• Determine the key messages you want to convey about your pizzeria’s differentiators.
• Highlight your specialty styles, high-quality ingredients, excellent service, atmosphere, etc.
• Summarize in a clear value proposition e.g. “Authentic, artisanal pizzas made with passion using the freshest ingredients”.
• Craft short but compelling slogans or taglines that encapsulate your pizzeria’s culinary mission – for example “NYC-style pizza made with heart” or “Pizza crafted to perfection since 2022”.
• Share your pizzeria’s origin story and emphasis on quality ingredients and family recipes to connect with customers.
• Clearly communicate your dining experience whether it’s a lively neighborhood spot or a refined upscale ambiance so customers know what to expect.

Build Your Digital Presence

• Invest in a professionally designed, mobile-friendly website that promotes online ordering and menus. Allow customization of pizzas.
• Populate the site with tempting food photography and include menus with ingredient information for transparency.
• Share testimonials from happy customers and feature local publicity like newspaper articles your pizzeria was mentioned in.
• Secure branded social media accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• Design an inviting, mobile-responsive website that enables online ordering.
• Register your business on review sites and local business directories.

Create Launch Marketing Materials and Advertising

• Develop brochures, direct mail pieces, posters, and flyers to promote your opening.
• Take out ads in local publications and on radio stations targeting your clientele.
• Leverage social media and PR outreach to generate buzz leading up to launch.

Plan Ongoing Promotions to Draw Customers

• Offer weekly specials, loyalty programs, contests, and holiday offers after opening.
• Sponsor local teams and events to build community connections.
• Utilize social media and email marketing to continually engage patrons.

In essence, thoughtful brand building and strategic marketing create familiarity and preference for your pizzeria, while continually communicating what makes your concept unique. This ultimately drives new visits and repeat business, catalyzing long-term success.

That’s why new pizzerias need to make their visual identity, messaging, and coordinated marketing plan a top priority right from the start.

Leverage social media – Create content highlighting your offerings and engage followers with giveaways, polls and hashtags. Boost key posts for targeted reach.

Partner with local businesses – Cross-promote through co-branded packages or offers. Trade gift cards to expand reach.

Focus on retention – Send birthday/loyalty emails. Offer free add-ons or dessert with purchase. Build advocacy through amazing service.

Foster community connections – Support local schools, charities and teams. Gets your name out there while giving back.

Take advantage of free listings – Get on Google Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, food delivery apps. Keep info updated.

Offer soft openings – Give sneak previews to influencers, food bloggers and local media for organic publicity.

Leverage guerilla marketing – Use sidewalk signs, car toppers, flyers in creative eye-catching ways on a tight budget.

Partner with vendors – Ask suppliers about co-op advertising support or product trial placements.

Budget-friendly options exist! Get creative with grassroots and community-focused tactics.

10: Develop Online Ordering Capabilities

In today’s digital-focused world, creating a robust online presence and leveraging technology across operations is absolutely essential for any new pizzeria hoping to effectively reach customers and facilitate orders.

Customers expect to be able to easily access menus, place orders, and engage with restaurants through websites and apps.

This means new pizzerias need to dedicate time upfront to building well-designed websites with integrated ordering capabilities, partnering with popular delivery apps, launching social media profiles, and potentially even developing their own branded apps.

Build a Website for Menus, Online Ordering, Reservations etc.

• Invest in a modern, mobile-friendly website that engages customers.
• Feature menus, order online capabilities, hours, contact information and testimonials.
• Allow reservations or waitlist signups online.

Partner with Delivery Services like UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub etc.

• Integrate with leading third-party delivery apps to expand your reach.
• Negotiate favorable commission rates based on projected order volumes.
• Ensure branding and menus are displayed properly on delivery sites.

Enable Online Ordering through Your Website or Apps

• Add seamless online ordering directly through your website.
• Develop your own branded app for mobile orders and loyalty program.
• Sync with your POS system for smooth order processing.

Create Social Media Accounts for Marketing and Promotions

• Launch branded profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to engage customers.
• Share photos of dishes, events and specials to attract new followers.
• Respond promptly to comments, feedback and inquiries.

Using technology to create convenience and connect with patrons online enables new restaurants to keep up with competitors, maximize their reach, provide desired digital options, and operate efficiently across both online and in-store channels.

In essence, tech capabilities are no longer nice-to-haves but fundamental necessities for launching a thriving pizzeria in the modern digital era.

11: Launch and Promote Your Pizza Business

The launch period is a crucial window for showcasing your pizzeria to the public and generating buzz, so it’s important to execute a strategic marketing plan. Your grand opening is your chance to make a great first impression and get residents excited about your arrival.

This requires dedicating time and budget to spreading awareness through advertising and PR in the weeks leading up. You also want to incentivize customers to visit early on through tantalizing opening promotions and offers.

Additionally, hosting soft opening events for media and select guests allows you to test systems and get constructive feedback before the official launch.

Host Soft Opening / VIP Preview Event – Invite select guests like media, food influencers , and investors to test operations and collect feedback before the official opening.

Spread Awareness through Print, Digital Ads, and PR – Take out ads in local publications. Pitch stories to reporters. Promote across social media.

Promote the Grand Opening Event through Promotions – Offer discounts, freebies, and contests leading up to launch to create buzz.

Offer Opening Discounts or Deals to Attract Customers – Run promotions like 25% off for the first 2 weeks to incentivize initial visits.

Collect Feedback and Reviews from Early Customers – Survey early patrons and address any areas needed for improvement immediately and encourage sharing reviews on Google, Yelp, and social media. Respond promptly.

Your marketing efforts need to convey your unique concept, high-quality food and service, and celebration of the community you’re joining. Nailing your pizzeria’s launch with compelling messaging and strategic promotions lays the foundation for building ongoing awareness and customer loyalty in your market.

12: Manage Ongoing Operations

Once the excitement of your opening has passed, careful management and measurement of day-to-day operations becomes vital for your pizzeria’s ongoing success.

It’s crucial to constantly monitor your sales performance, cost efficiency, online order volumes, customer satisfaction, and marketing effectiveness after launch.

Analyzing various performance indicators and metrics will reveal opportunities to fine-tune your menu, adjust staffing schedules, improve online platforms, rationalize costs or boost specific dayparts and channels. Just as importantly, you need to keep delighting customers through great service and food quality.

Track Sales, Costs, Inventory to Monitor Performance – Analyze sales reports, invoices, and POS system data regularly to inform decisions.

Maintain Quality Control and High Customer Service Standards – Conduct staff training refreshers on food prep, taking orders, and satisfaction practices.

Schedule Staff Appropriately During Busy and Slow Periods – Forecast labor needs based on guest volume patterns and local events.

Manage Online Orders, Delivery Logistics, and Customer Service – Monitor order volumes by channel and delivery zone. Address issues promptly.

Run Promotions and Advertise on Website and Social Media – Highlight new menu items, events, and specials. Share positive reviews.

Track Online Sales and Marketing Metrics – Review website traffic, social engagement, and online conversion rates.

Plan New Menu Rollouts, Promotions, and Events – Develop seasonal offerings and special events to continually attract customers.

Set Goals and Budgets for Future Growth – Outline goals for sales, labor costs, expansion plans and set budgets.

With intense competition, you can’t afford complacency after opening. Savvy pizzeria owners continually track operational data, find ways to optimize processes, rollout enticing promotions, and invest in strategic improvements to nurture growth and adapt to evolving customer preferences.

Hands-on, data-driven management using analytics and reports in your POS enables you to build on early momentum for long-term profitability and success.

Launching a successful pizza business takes passion, planning, and hard work. But the rewards of owning a beloved community dining destination are immense. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can turn your pizza dreams into reality.

Some of the key takeaways include:

• Research your market thoroughly and develop a unique concept that fills a need. Offer high-quality ingredients and excellent customer service.
• Secure financing and create a detailed business plan. Find the ideal restaurant space.
• Invest in the right specialty equipment and technology like ovens, POS systems, and website capabilities.
• Comply with all licensing, permits, and legal requirements. Develop operations workflows and hire/train staff.
• Craft a brand identity and execute buzz-building launch marketing. Promote online ordering and delivery options.
• Manage costs, monitor data, and continuously improve after opening. Delight customers through great food, service, and hospitality.

Resources for Starting a Small Pizza Shop Business

These resources can provide valuable information, guidance, and support for small businesses, including those starting a pizza shop business. They cover various aspects of business planning, marketing, financing, and operations.

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) – SBDCs provide free consulting services, training programs, and resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – The SBA offers a wide range of resources for small businesses, including business planning guides, loan programs, and educational resources.

SCORE – SCORE is a nonprofit organization that provides free mentoring services and resources for small business owners. They offer guidance on various aspects of starting and running a business, including business planning, marketing, and financial management.

GSA – The GSA provides resources to help small businesses learn more about doing business with the government, government contracting opportunities, and marketing their contracts.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides resources for small business owners, including information on small business lending and access to credit. They aim to increase awareness and support for small businesses in the lending marketplace.

Pizza Industry Organizations

Pizza Industry Council – The Pizza Industry Council is a group modeled after the National Restaurant Association’s Fast Casual Industry Council, aimed at addressing issues specific to pizza operators

American Pizza Community – The American Pizza Community is a coalition of pizza industry leaders that advocates for policies that support the pizza industry and its customers

Related Posts:

• How to Open a Coffee Shop: The Complete Guide
• How to Write a Ghost Kitchen Business Plan (With Examples)
• How to Start a Ghost Kitchen Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jan is a writer and content creator at KitchenBusiness.com with a focus on the restaurant and food service industry. Drawing from his background in tech and UX design, Jan breaks down complex systems into digestible, actionable insights.

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Pizzeria Business Plan PDF Example

• February 28, 2024
• Business Plan

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful pizzeria. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your pizzeria’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of an pizzeria business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the food&beverage industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your pizzeria concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our pizzeria business plan is structured to cover all essential aspects needed for a comprehensive strategy. It outlines the pizzeria’s operations, marketing strategy , market environment, competitors, management team, and financial forecasts.

• Executive Summary : Offers an overview of the pizzeria’s business concept, market analysis , management, and financial strategy.
• Restaurant & Location: Describes the pizzeria’s design, amenities, and why its location is appealing to potential customers.
• Supply & Operations: Lists the sourcing of ingredients, kitchen operations, and the service model of the pizzeria.
• Key Stats: Shares industry size , growth trends, and relevant statistics for the pizza market.
• Key Trends: Highlights recent trends affecting the pizza sector, such as consumer preferences for artisanal and craft pizzas.
• Key Competitors : Analyzes main competitors in the vicinity and how the pizzeria differentiates from them.
• SWOT: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.
• Marketing Plan : Strategies for attracting and retaining customers.
• Timeline : Key milestones and objectives from start-up through the first year of operation.
• Management: Information on who manages the pizzeria and their roles.
• Financial Plan: Projects the pizzeria’s financial performance, including revenue, profits, and expected expenses.

Pizzeria Business Plan

Fully editable 30+ slides Powerpoint presentation business plan template.

Download an expert-built 30+ slides Powerpoint business plan template

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary introduces your pizzeria’s business plan, offering a concise overview of your restaurant and its offerings. It should detail your market positioning, the variety of pizza and related Italian cuisine you offer, its location, size, and an outline of day-to-day operations.

This section should also explore how your pizzeria will integrate into the local market, including the number of direct competitors within the area, identifying who they are, along with your restaurant’s unique selling points that differentiate it from these competitors.

Furthermore, you should include information about the management and co-founding team, detailing their roles and contributions to the pizzeria’s success.

Additionally, a summary of your financial projections, including revenue and profits over the next five years, should be presented here to provide a clear picture of your restaurant’s financial plan.

Make sure to cover here _ Business Overview _ Market Overview _ Management Team _ Financial Plan

Dive deeper into Executive Summary

Business Overview

For a Pizzeria, the Business Overview section can be effectively divided into 2 main categories:

Restaurant & Location

Briefly describe the pizzeria’s physical environment, focusing on its design, ambiance, and the welcoming atmosphere it creates for customers. Mention the restaurant’s location, highlighting its accessibility and the convenience it offers to customers, such as proximity to entertainment venues or ease of parking. Explain why this location is advantageous in attracting your target clientele.

Menu & Pricing

Detail the range of pizzas and related Italian cuisine offered, from classic Margheritas to innovative gourmet options, as well as any side dishes, desserts, and beverages. Outline your pricing strategy , ensuring it reflects the quality of ingredients used and matches the market you’re targeting. Highlight any specials, combo deals, or loyalty programs that provide added value to your customers, encouraging repeat visits and customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Restaurant & Location _ Supply & Operations

Market Overview

Industry size & growth.

In the Market Overview of your pizzeria business plan, begin by exploring the size of the restaurant and fast-food industry, particularly focusing on the pizza sector, and its growth potential. This analysis is vital for understanding the market’s breadth and identifying opportunities for expansion.

Key Market Trends

Continue by discussing recent trends in the pizza industry, such as the growing consumer interest in artisanal and gourmet pizzas, the demand for gluten-free and vegan options, and the importance of sourcing local and organic ingredients. Highlight the trend towards fast-casual dining experiences where quality meets convenience, and the rise of technology in enhancing customer ordering and delivery services.

Key Competitors

Next, evaluate the competitive landscape, which encompasses a variety of pizza establishments from high-end pizzerias to budget-friendly takeaways, as well as the surge in DIY pizza kits and frozen pizza options. Focus on what sets your pizzeria apart, whether it’s through unparalleled customer experiences, a distinctive menu that offers unique pizza varieties, or a commitment to sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. This section will help outline the demand for pizza and related cuisine, the competitive setting, and how your pizzeria is positioned to succeed in this vibrant market.

Make sure to cover here _ Industry size & growth _ Key market trends _ Key competitors

Dive deeper into Key competitors

First, conduct a SWOT analysis for the pizzeria, highlighting Strengths (such as a diverse menu with high-quality ingredients and unique pizza recipes), Weaknesses (including potential high operational costs or stiff competition in the area), Opportunities (for instance, a growing demand for gourmet and artisanal pizzas), and Threats (such as fluctuations in food commodity prices that can affect cost margins or economic downturns that may impact discretionary spending on dining out).

Marketing Plan

Next, develop a marketing strategy that outlines how to attract and retain customers through targeted advertising, promotional offers, a strong social media presence, and engagement with the local community. Consider loyalty programs, special pizza nights, or collaborations with local businesses and events to increase visibility and customer base.

Finally, create a detailed timeline that outlines critical milestones for the pizzeria’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base development, and potential expansion goals, ensuring the business progresses with clear direction and purpose. Include key dates for menu updates, seasonal promotions, and community events participation to keep the momentum going and attract a steady flow of customers.

Make sure to cover here _ SWOT _ Marketing Plan _ Timeline

Dive deeper into SWOT

Dive deeper into Marketing Plan

The Management section focuses on the pizzeria’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the pizzeria towards its financial and operational goals.

For your pizzeria business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your pizzeria’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your pizzeria business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

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How to Start a Small Business in 10 Steps

Learn how to start a small business from scratch with expert guidance. Get essential tips and steps for launching your dream journey successfully.

Brett Grossfeld

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Do you have a killer idea that you think would be perfect for launching a small business? If you believe what you see on TikTok, becoming an entrepreneur is just about as easy as posting a 30-second video. But in the real world, launching a small business can be a bit more challenging.

Starting a small business may seem daunting, but if you ask those same business owners if it’s worth the risk — few would trade the opportunity to shape their own destiny.

But where to start? Thankfully, you don’t need to have everything figured out before going out on your own. Successful small business owners are constantly learning from their mistakes — and improving their ideas and dreams along the way.

If you’re ready to take the leap and become a small business owner, keep reading.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

What is a small business, how much does it cost to start a small business, how to start a small business in 10 steps, what do you need to start a small business, start small — but think big.

Small businesses are generally defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as independent operations having fewer than 200 employees. And the majority of small businesses in the United States have fewer than five employees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau . 

But the number — or lack — of employees doesn’t necessarily define a “small business.” A business’s size can also be determined by the number of sales, the range of individual business locations, and other factors.

Along with size requirements, the SBA considers a company to be small if it’s:

• Independently owned and operated
• Not dominant in its field
• Physically located and operated in the U.S. (or a U.S. territory)

If your company meets the SBA’s definition of a small business, many government programs offer resources and local assistance for you to turn your dreams into reality.

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If you’re skilled in a certain trade — say, bookkeeping — you can launch a business with almost no money . But if your idea needs to be fleshed out and developed by researchers, scientists, and engineers, your startup costs can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and beyond. But most startup costs fall somewhere in the middle. 

Factors that influence cost

A sole proprietor working from home is going to have very different startup costs than a Silicon Valley startup flush with venture capital funds. But it doesn’t matter if you have $1,000 or $1 million to launch your small business — you’ll need to have a budget.

Are you moving the clutter out of your garage to make room for a desk? Or are you going to hire an architect to remodel a warehouse space in a trendy neighborhood? Obviously, both businesses are going to have wildly different expenses.

Think about your budget and what you can afford to get started. And it’s good to assume that unexpected expenses will pop up along the way — especially in your first year of business.

What kinds of costs to expect

The SBA has a worksheet that will help you calculate typical expenses for a small business, including one-time expenses such as:

• Rent : This includes security deposit, first month’s rent and utilities. If you’re working from home, you can deduct a percentage of your rent or mortgage on your taxes .
• Improvement costs: Anything that you might spend on your physical place of business to make it suitable for work.
• Inventory : If you’re selling a product, you’ll need goods to keep up with customer demand.
• Employees : This includes payroll, payroll taxes, and health insurance.
• Professional services: Accountants, lawyers, and consultants will all need to be paid
• Supplies : Think office supplies, such as paper and pencils, and operating supplies, like computers and printers.
• Marketing: Business cards, stationery, flyers, and advertising all fall under this category.
• Miscellaneous : This includes licenses, permits, legal fees, signage, technology, and accounting software. Everything else — liability insurance, repairs, maintenance, and dues.

The most difficult part of starting a small business is committing to your vision. It’s easier if you break down the process into small, achievable goals. Here are 10 steps that will get you on your way:

1. Do your research

If you don’t do basic market research before you launch your business, you may be down for the count before you even get started. Ask neighbors, friends, and even your barista if they would be interested in your product or service — and ask how much they’d be willing to pay for it. 

Conduct competitor research, local and global searches, and even offer surveys to consumers to see what the need versus want ratio is. 

2. Write a business plan

A business plan is your roadmap; it helps guide you as you start and grow your company. If you need capital to get started, most investors will want to review a business plan before they commit to any financing. 

To organize your ideas, download and fill out a business plan template . A well-written business plan provides clarity, confirms the math, and helps you establish goals so your business has the best chance of success.

3. Choose a business name

Finding the perfect brand name is a vital step in launching a new business. But hiring a professional naming company doesn’t come cheap — it can cost as much as $100,000 , according to Fast Company. 

If that’s outside your budget, there are countless AI-powered business name generators available online, and Fiverr has entrepreneurs who will help brainstorm business names for three figures or less.

4. Decide on your location

Take a look at the taxes, zoning laws, and regulations in your location. You may find that operating your business in a different location could offer financial advantages. Review the fees, costs, and tax benefits of each state to see which location makes the most sense for your business . A strategic move may put you ahead of the game before you even open the doors.

5. Get your finances in order

Startup costs discourage many would-be entrepreneurs, but the reality is that many successful businesses got started with little more than a vision, discipline, and hard work. However, if you really need cash for that newly opened business bank account, here are four ways of getting that money:

• Self-funding: If you have the means, you may use your own earnings to kickstart your business or see out financial counsel to work it into your budget.
• Outside investors: For a stake in your company, relatives or venture capitalists may be willing to invest in your business.
• Small business loans: If you want to keep full ownership of your business, a small business loan may be the way to go.
• Crowdfunding: If you’re feeling creative and confident, try sites such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe to generate capital.

6. Take care of the legal stuff

Register your business in the state where it was formed — and make sure that you’re set up to pay state income and unemployment tax. Review whether your local municipality requires filing for a license or permit to operate your business. 

To satisfy Uncle Sam, apply for an EIN from the IRS . Confirm that no one else is using your business name by contacting your state filing office or online database. Some business structures require using a doing business as (DBA) name, and you may be required to open a business bank account.

7. Develop a marketing plan

Once you have a terrific name for your company locked down, you’ll want to create an online presence for your business. Be consistent on your social media channels , ideally creating accounts on the channels — meeting them online where they are. 

Develop a website that’s intuitive and filled with all the information your customers need. Your marketing may also include advertising campaigns and public relations.

8. Set up your CRM software

To enhance your marketing efforts and grow your small business, try customer relationship management ( CRM) for Small Business . This will be your solution for storing and managing prospect and customer information such as contact information, accounts, leads, and sales opportunities — all in one single source of truth. 

With Salesforce’s Starter Suite , you can start in minutes and easily manage your marketing, sales, and customer service as your business scales.

9. Launch your product or service

Congratulations: You’ve done all the hard work and you’re ready to introduce your product to the world. Make sure to announce your launch on social media — and consider throwing a media-friendly bash to celebrate.

10. Keep your customers happy

When you use CRM software, you can keep track and personalize support for all your customers. And happy customers are good for business — 80% of them say the experience a company provides is just as important as its products or services .

The United States has more than 33 million small businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , and that number represents 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. And most of those small businesses started the same way — with an entrepreneur and an idea. But it takes more than just a dream to launch a small business.

So, where to start?

It’s time to take some notes. First, start outlining your business plan. If you’re stuck, ask yourself these four questions when developing your plan :

• Goals : What do you need to accomplish to achieve your vision?
• Methods : What are the steps you need to follow to get you there?
• Measurements : How will you determine when each objective has been met?
• Obstacles : What could throw you off course along the way?

Once you’ve written a business plan and are feeling confident, you’re ready to establish:

A name for your business

A great business name should succinctly identify your company and its audience. Brainstorm and get feedback from friends, family, and potential customers. And before you fall in love with your new company name, make sure that an established business in your industry isn’t already using that name.

A location for your business

Choosing where to conduct business is one of the most important decisions you can make for your small business. While staying close to home may be your first instinct, a change of venue may prove to be financially advantageous.

A business structure

For tax purposes and protection of personal assets, you need to choose a business structure that offers the right balance of legal protections and benefits. Common business structures include sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), corporation, and cooperative.

A legal presence

If you want personal liability protection, legal protection, and tax benefits for your company, you’ll need to register your business with state and local governments.

Federal and state tax ID numbers

Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) works like a personal Social Security number, but for your business. You need an EIN to pay state and federal taxes for your company.

Licenses and permits

Whether your business needs to apply — and pay for — licenses and permits depends on your business activities, location, and government rules. Review regulations from city, state, and federal agencies.

A business bank account

Opening up a bank account exclusively for business use will help keep your personal finances separate, making life easier at tax time. There are several banks that will allow you to open a business checking account with a zero balance, but traditionally banks will require an opening deposit of anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000.

Start-up funds

Even if you open a business checking account with a zero balance, you’re going to want to have some funds to cover basic operating expenses. The SBA offers guidance on obtaining funding for your small business, including loans, grants, and investors.

Starting a new business may feel like a gamble, but business insurance will help you cover your bet. The right insurance policy will help protect you against accidents, natural disasters, and lawsuits.

You should also consider:

Customer relationship management

A CRM platform keeps your customer data organized and provides the foundation to build connected customer experiences (that can be made even better through artificial intelligence). Starting with a suite of sales, service, marketing, and commerce tools is easy.

Invoice and billing software

While it is possible to keep track of your financial records on a traditional paper ledger, modern invoice and billing software makes the process much, much easier.

A graphic designer

A well-designed logo can make or break a business. The Nike “swoosh” was created by a graphic design student — and the $35 Nike initially spent paid for itself many times over.

Many small businesses exist with just a presence on social media, but having a professionally designed website adds legitimacy to your business.

Marketing experts

Like graphic design, marketing expenses are costs that many small business owners initially want to avoid. But strategically investing in a marketing campaign can be a boon for a small business that wants to make noise in a crowded marketplace.

A Human Resources department

Once your business grows to a certain size, it’s time to create a human resources (HR) department — or, at least, to hire an HR professional. This professional can focus on things such as labor law compliance, employee recruitment, employee engagement and development, and compensation and benefits management while you manage your business.

An assistant

For most small businesses starting out, hiring an assistant to perform administrative and clerical duties is something of a luxury. If your budget is tight, consider a virtual assistant .

What are some popular small business ideas?

If you have a unique idea for a small business, great. But some of the best small business ideas build on your strengths and experience. What do you love to do? What lights you up when you are helping the community? Do you have a pull to do something more?

What are the odds that my small business will succeed?

Starting a small business is no guarantee of success. Approximately 80% of small businesses survive their first year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survival rate decreases to 50% after five years and 30% after 10 years.

What are some Fortune 500 companies that started small?

Not all big companies started with millions of dollars in venture capital. Some of America’s biggest brand names had far more modest beginnings . Apple famously got started in a Silicon Valley garage, while Mattel was building dollhouse furniture from picture frame scraps in its early days.

What are the most business-friendly states?

Before setting up shop in New York or California, consider launching your small business in North Dakota, Indiana, Arkansas, South Dakota, or North Carolina. These states offer the best conditions to start a business , according to Forbes Advisor.

What can I deduct for my small business at tax time?

(Almost) everyone knows that you can deduct entertainment and travel expenses as a small business owner. But you can also deduct software subscriptions, office furniture, and interest on small business loans, according to NerdWallet .

Taking the leap to start your own small business is just the first step on your entrepreneurial path. But you’re in good company. Nearly half of all U.S. employees are employed by a small business — and more than 80% of those small businesses are solo ventures , according to Forbes Advisor. There’s no better time than the present to start turning your dreams into reality.

Want to grow your new small business? Sign up for a Salesforce free trial .

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Brett Grossfeld is a Product Marketing Manager supporting Salesforce's CRM, data, and AI tools. He's written for multiple websites across various industries and interests, including tech, wellness, and modern customer experiences.

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Home of the buy one get one free

Pizza Perfection, started in Moscow, Idaho, has went from a small pizza delivery business, started in 1985, into two locally owned stores placed firmly in the communities of Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, WA.

The product that Pizza Perfection provides has a history itself. Through testing and transition, from the wheat fields to the finished product, Pizza Perfection and company have created a quality product that has developed into today’s Pizza Perfection pizza.

As the product evolved, so did the desire for Pizza Perfection to become the best valued pizza store in the Northwest. Born was the idea to offer a true BOGOF ~ “Buy One, Get One Free”, to all of our carry-out customers. Today’s slogan “Two Pizzas, Too Perfect” exemplifies the BOGOF idea. The large pizzas continue to be 16 inches to provide more value for the customer’s dollar. Every pizza is made with the highest quality ingredients and always fresh, never frozen dough.

Pizza Perfection’s Philosophy is to take one of the basic principles of good business: sell a quality product at a good price. Pizza Perfection has incorporated this spirit into their own mission statement: “Sell the perfect pizza at the perfect price - providing the utmost quality and value to our customers!”

A perfect pizza starts from the bottom. The dough made fresh daily and NEVER EVER NEVER frozen allows Pizza Perfection to create a soft flavorful crust. The never frozen, fresh, dough allows the crust to rise to perfection every time. Perfect crust is then topped with our homemade sauce made with Stanislaus tomato products specializing in fresh packing "real Italian tomato products", from fresh tomatoes, not concentrate. To finish off the perfect pizza,we top it with an 80-10-10 mixture of 100% mozzarella, provolone and cheddar.

Pizza Perfection continues to use only the freshest, not vacuum packed vegetables. We dice our produce daily to optimize crispness and flavor on each pizza. Combine this with premium meats, homemade sauce made from non concentrate tomatoes and 100% real cheese. "Perfect Pizza"

We never stop creating and innovating, as Pizza Perfection stives to become the best valued pizza store in the Northwest. Pizza Perfection continues to offer a true "Buy One, Get One FREE," to all its carry out customers. The slogan "Two Pizzas, Too Perfect" exemplities the Buy One, Get One Free idea. the large pizza remains 16 inches to provide more value for the customer's dollar. Pizza Perfection strives to improve PERFECTION!

Recognition

2011 "Best Pizza"

2010 "Best Pizza"

2009 "Best Pizza"

2001 "Winner of the Fastest Pizza Delivery"

Daily News: Best of the Palouse

2011 "Best Pizza Delivery"

Best Pizza in Moscow, ID

Pizza in moscow, establishment type, online options & offers, traveler rating, dietary restrictions, restaurant features.

Man ‘paid it forward’ at a pizza shop after a big order was never picked up

TOLEDO, Ohio ( WTVG /Gray News) - A pizza shop in Ohio was left holding the bag after someone failed to show up for a big order. The story made the rounds on social media, and it caught the eye of another small business owner.

What happened at PizzAroma in Maumee is a great example of how a simple act of kindness can have a profound impact.

PizzAroma has three locations. The Maumee store got a big order last week.

“A lady called and placed an order for 16 pizzas to be picked up the next day. The next day came, and she called right before the order was to be ready. We told her it’s in the oven, and then she never showed up,” Rocky Keefer, the manager said.

The 16 pizzas had to be thrown away, and the restaurant was left with an unpaid bill of $112.

“I can’t see why someone would do that to anybody, let alone a small business,” Keefer said.

Fast forward to this week, and the shop got another call for a big order. It was a man saying he wanted to pay for those 16 pizzas that were never picked up.

“I didn’t believe it at first. I was thinking, ‘Is someone trying to do it again?’ He said he wanted to pay on the phone, so then I knew it was not a scam. People like that, there aren’t many out there anymore. It was like an angel calling and saying, ‘I am going to help you out,’” Keefer said.

Travis Truesdell is the man who made that call. When he heard about what happened, he wanted to help. So he picked up the $112 unpaid tab for the original order and even bought two more pizzas.

“I have a lot of gratitude for people who have helped me out in similar situations where I was in need and they helped me with no strings attached. I was happy to be in a place to pay it back,” Truesdell said.

Truesdell is also a small business owner and an Army veteran. He said he even worked in a pizza shop when he was younger.

“Any time you can right a wrong, when you have the ability or luxury, why not do it?” Truesdell said.

So no matter how you slice it, this story is a great example of the power of reaching out when you can.

“Life is too short, and as much bad as there is going on in this world, why not do something good?” Truesdell said.

Keefer said Truesdell’s generosity didn’t end with the order. He said Truesdell also left a big tip for the staff.

There will be changes at PizzAroma because of what happened. Customers ordering 10 or more pizzas in advance will now have to pay upfront.

Copyright 2024 WTVG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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9 places to nosh on bagels in southern Maine

From old-school spots to foodie favorites, there's a 'hole' lot to try.

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Bread and bagels at The Works Cafe in downtown Portland. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

From New York-style boiled bagels to Montreal-inspired wood-fired ones, there’s lots of great bagels in southern Maine and several shops have the accolades to back that up.

In 2023, Bon Appetit named bagels from Rose Foods and Rover Bagel among the best in the country.

Two years before that,  Food & Wine Magazine put Rover, Forage and Scratch Baking Co. on its list of best bagels in the U.S.

Whether you like yours toasted with cream cheese or as the bread for your breakfast sandwich, you can find plenty of styles and flavors from Biddeford to Brunswick.

BEACH BAGELS

The offerings at Beach Bagels include a French toast and marble bagel, and the cream cheese menu comprises spreads like strawberry, olive and honey walnut. Along with breakfast sandwiches, Beach Bagels has hearty breakfast options like omelets and pancakes. Best of all, you’re steps away from a beach stroll. Just don’t let the seagulls steal your bagel. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily WHERE: 34 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. beachbagels.yolasite.com ______________

Dutchman’s opened in 2022 as a pop-up housed at Nomad pizza in Brunswick’s Fort Andross building. It’s since become a permanent fixture there and uses the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens to bake its bagels. The hand-shaped, honey-boiled bagels come in plain, roasted garlic, poppy and a bagel-of-the-day flavor.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday WHERE: Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. dutchmans.me ______________

FORAGE MARKET

Making bagels at Forage Market involves a two-day aging process. The bagels are naturally leavened with wild yeast starter and baked next to a hardwood fire. There are usually five flavors available, including sesame and garlic. Breakfast sandwiches (including vegan options) are available. Forage also has a location in Lewiston. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 123 Washington Ave., Portland. foragemarket.com _____________

MISTER BAGEL

There are 10 or so Mister Bagel locations in Maine, including South Portland and Falmouth. It all began with the Portland location, which was the first bagel shop to open in Maine. The late Rick Hartglass started Mister Bagel in 1977, and it is still a family business. Music fans will appreciate the breakfast sandwich menu, which includes The David Bowie (bacon, egg and American cheese), the Jimmy Buffett (egg with roast beef and cheddar) and The Lady Gaga (avocado, salt and pepper, with or without egg).

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland. misterbagelforestave.com ______________

At Rose Foods, the menu varies depending on the day, but there are usually six to eight flavors available. For example, should you pop in on a Friday, you’ll find a poppy and onion bialy (a cousin of the bagel that is not boiled). Rose Foods also makes a number of bagel sandwiches, including the Classic Nova with Nova lox and the Classic Whitefish. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland. rosefoods.me

______________

ROVER BAGEL

At Rover Bagel, you’ll find wood-fired plain, poppy, sea salt, sesame and everything bagels available most of the time, and the spread game here is strong with cream cheese options like lemon-thyme-honey cream and chili-garlic.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 10 West Point Lane Suite 10-204, Biddeford (Pepperell Mill). roverbagel.com

______________ Advertisement

SCRATCH BAKING CO.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the line of devoted fans waiting for Scratch Baking Co. to open, especially on weekend mornings. Along with the popular Maine sea salt, plain and other everyday flavors, Scratch has a daily special bagel. There’s honeyed rosemary on Wednesday and jalapeno cheddar on Thursday. Scratch is also famous, at least to locals, for its P-Cheese spread. It’s a pimento cheese recipe made with cheddar, mayo, roasted red peppers and seasoning and was passed down to co-owner and head baker Allison Reid by her grandmother, Mern.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 416 Preble St., South Portland. scratchbakingco.com ___________

THE MAINE BAGEL

The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach. The Maine Bagel really shines with a dozen kinds of cream cheese spreads, including raisin-walnut, lox, strawberry, cranberry-nut and bacon-chive.

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: 117 Route 1, Scarborough. themainebagel.com Advertisement

THE WORKS CAFE

The Works Cafe is an institution on the edge of the Portland’s Old Port. It opened in 1990 as Bagel Works before it changed its name in 2002. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The menu also has bowls, sandwiches and smoothies.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily WHERE: 15 Temple St., Portland. workscafe.com

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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine 'destroys Russian Black Sea minesweeper'

Ukraine's navy says it has destroyed a Russian Black Sea fleet minesweeper. Meanwhile, an attack on a residential area in Kharkiv left six civilians injured - with Ukraine saying it is investigating the bombing as a potential war crime.

Sunday 19 May 2024 15:00, UK

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• Two killed in Russian strikes on Kherson  | Five dead in Kharkiv
• Ukraine investigating 'potential war crime' after civilians wounded
• Ukrainian soldiers reveal how they were secretly moved ahead of Russian invasion
• Russia takes control of village in Kharkiv - defence ministry
• Live reporting by  Josephine Franks  and Jess Sharp  

Finland will propose a law that would see it turn back migrants to Russia without processing their asylum applications - despite this potentially breaching its international human rights commitments.

Finland shut its border with Russia last year to stop a growing number of arrivals from countries including Syria and Somalia.

It accused Moscow of weaponising migration against Finland and the European Union, an assertion the Kremlin denies. 

"As this phenomenon is in Russia's hands - who comes, where from and when, to Finland's border - we cannot permit it," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters.  

"Therefore we have to augment our legislation." 

The bill would allow border authorities to turn back asylum seekers who cross from Russia, with or without using force. But it would not apply to children and disabled people.

The proposal will go to parliament next week, where it will be submitted to the constitutional committee for review. It will need five-sixths of votes cast in parliament to pass - the high bar required for constitutional matters - and success is not certain. 

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces have published their daily operational update... 

It says "intense" fighting is ongoing along almost the entire frontline, with 78 "combat clashes" already today, compared to 110 for the entirety of yesterday. 

The Russian forces became increasingly active on the Kharkiv front, with seven clashes reported so far today.

The situation in Kharkiv is "dynamic", it says, with Russian troops trying to push back the Ukrainian units near Vovchansk, Starytsia and Lyptsi.

Russia said on Saturday its forces had captured the village of Starytsia, bringing the total number of villages it has taken in the Kharkiv region to 13.

Russia has been pushing ahead with a ground offensive in recent days that opened a new front in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region and put further pressure on Kyiv's overstretched military. 

Russian forces have also increased their activity on the Siversk front and are attempting to break through Ukrainian defences in Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamianske and Rozdolivka, the update says. 

Oleksandr Usyk defeated British boxing star Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday night.

But Fury says the outcome was down to the Ukraine war. 

He disputed his loss after the match, saying: "I believe I won that fight. I think he won a few rounds but I won the majority of them.

"His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion."

In response, Ukrainian Usyk said he was "ready for rematch," but later added: "I don't think about rematch now, I want to rest."

After today's attacks President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again called on Western allies to supply Kyiv with additional air defence systems to protect Kharkiv and other cities. 

He said there were reports "every hour" of fresh attacks. 

"Missiles, bombs, artillery are the only things that allow Russia to continue its aggression," he said on Telegram. 

"The world can stop Russian terror - and to do so, the lack of political will among leaders must be overcome."

"Two Patriots for Kharkiv will make a fundamental difference," he said, referring to Patriot missile defence systems. 

Air defence systems for other cities and sufficient support for soldiers on the front line would ensure Russia's defeat, the president added. 

This morning, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the delay in giving aid to Ukraine gave Russia a window of opportunity for its new offensive. 

Five people have died in strikes on two villages in the Kupiansk district in Kharkiv, local officials say. 

It brings the number of people killed in the Kharkiv region today to 10, after five people died in strikes on a recreation area in a northern suburb of the city of Kharkiv.

Local governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces shelled two villages with a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. 

At least nine people were injured in the attacks. 

We're getting photos of the aftermath of strikes on a recreation area just outside Kharkiv which killed five people and left at least 16 injured. 

The pictures show a lakeside resort, where shortly before the attacks local residents were "resting, enjoying a normal way of life", according to a local police inspector (see our 11.54 post).

Parademics and police tend to the wounded, but were also caught up in the second strike, which came about 20 minutes after the first. 

These are known as "double tap" strikes, which kill or injure emergency workers at the scene of strike impacts. 

Here are the latest photos from the scene...

As Russian forces push across Ukraine's northern fringes, footage from the frontline tells us how this new offensive is unfolding.

Sky News has geolocated videos provided by Ukrainian sources that shed light on how fighting unfolded in the early stages of Russia's assault from the north.

OSINT producer Sam Doak maps how a new front has been opened in the north of Ukraine...

A seven-month pregnant woman was among five people killed in strikes on a Kharkiv recreation area, local police said. 

At least 16 people were injured; eight of them are in a serious condition, police said. 

An 8-year-old child received minor injuries and a police officer and paramedic were injured in the second strike, they added. 

You can see some photos from the scene in this Facebook post from Kharkiv police...

President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed a controversial bill which sparked weeks of mass protests Georgia - but it is likely her veto will be overturned by the government majority. 

The "foreign agents" bill passed by parliament earlier this week would force media and non-governmental organisations and other non-profit groups to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of funding from abroad.

The president said the bill, which the US has described as a "Kremlin style law", contradicts Georgia's constitution and "all European standards", adding it "must be abolished".

She is increasingly at odds with the ruling party, Georgian Dream, considered by many as pro-Russian.

Read more about the rule and what the president's veto means below...

The number of people killed in Russian airstrikes in a recreation area just outside Kharkiv has risen to five, and at least 16 are injured. 

Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov gave update on Telegram, saying: "The explosions heard in Kharkiv around noon occurred in a nearby suburb. 

"Two Russian missiles hit a recreation centre where people were relaxing, killing five people and injuring sixteen others." 

Yaroslav Trofimko, an inspector with the local police department, said there "never any soldiers here".

"It was a Sunday, people were supposed to be here to rest, children were supposed to he here, pregnant women, resting, enjoying a normal way of life." 

He arrived on the scene after the first blast, and was there when the second strike hit the same scene around 20 minutes later.

Ukraine has frequently accused Russia of using "double tap" strikes to kill or injure emergency workers at the scene of strike impacts. 

Kharkiv's governor Oleh Syniehubov earlier said a paramedic was among those injured. 

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