Franchise FAQs

The pizza and pasta categories have been two of the fastest growing food service segments over the last 10 years. The average American eats pizza or pasta two to three times a month. Just over a third of the U.S. population eats pizza or pasta once a week. The unique taste of our products, along with our knowledge and experience in the food service industry, have enabled us to develop an operating system and franchise opportunity that are as carefully planned and harmonious as the ambiance in each Sam & Louie's restaurant. We not only franchise Sam & Louie's restaurants, but also operate one, making us a participating party in the ongoing development of the concept.

Prior restaurant experience is not required to own or operate a Sam & Louie's Franchise. In most cases, it is in your best interest to include in your core team at least one member with some level of prior restaurant experience, but this is not a requirement. The systems, tools, training, and ongoing support needed to successfully operate your Sam & Louie's franchise will be made available to you. Owner/operators or general managers with an equity interest are preferred and recommended.

Securing a location is typically the determining factor. Once a mutually agreed upon site has been secured, constructing and supplying your new business for opening generally takes 12 to 20 weeks. Total time from application to opening is typically 3-4 months.

The first step is submitting a brief application through our franchise inquiry form at samandlouies.com/franchise/application. Once we receive it, our team reviews your background, financial readiness, and geographic interest, then schedules a call to learn more about your goals. If there's a fit on both sides, we send the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for your review and invite you to Discovery Day at our corporate headquarters in Omaha.

Discovery Day is a structured visit to our Omaha headquarters where you meet our leadership team, tour our operations, and get a hands-on look at how a Sam & Louie's runs day-to-day. It's typically a single full day. You'll review the operating system, ask the questions you couldn't get answered over email, and see the corporate culture firsthand. Discovery Day is also where we get to know you personally. Franchising is a two-way fit, and this is the moment both parties decide whether to move forward.

The initial franchise fee is $25,000. The total cost to open for business ranges from $218,200 to $496,900 depending on the size and condition of the space. This includes the franchise fee, leasehold improvements, equipment, initial inventory and supplies, advertising, required working capital, and the training program. Veterans pay a discounted franchise fee of $20,000.

Each Franchise owner is required to pay a weekly Royalty of 5% and Marketing Development fee of 3%.

The initial Franchise term is 10 years with the option for 2 renewals of 5 years each, for a total potential term of 20 years.

The total cost to open a Sam & Louie's ranges from $218,200 to $496,900 depending on the size and condition of the space. Most franchisees finance a portion of the total investment, typically covering 30-40% with their own liquid capital and financing the remainder. As a working guideline, we recommend candidates have at least $75,000 in liquid capital, though qualified buyers with stronger financing arrangements may proceed with less.

Sam & Louie's does not directly finance franchise purchases, but we work with prospective franchisees who pursue SBA loans, conventional bank financing, or third-party franchise lenders. As an established franchise concept with an FDD on file, Sam & Louie's is recognized by most SBA-preferred lenders, which can streamline the approval process. We're happy to introduce qualified candidates to lenders who have financed our franchisees in the past.

Multi-unit ownership is encouraged, but only if a franchisee is on a sound operational and financial base. We have special opportunities for area development with multi-unit franchises.

Yes. Our Franchise Disclosure Document contains Statements of Actual Sales and Earnings that reflect the results of specific company-owned Sam & Louie's restaurants. Future results of any franchise location are dependent upon a number of significant variables including location, competition, overall market conditions, utilities, fluctuations in food costs, availability and cost of labor, cost of other operating expenses, and the operator's expertise and dedication.

In the event you desire to sell your Sam & Louie's restaurant and the franchise rights pertaining to it, you must first disclose the sales terms to Sam & Louie's. We have a right of first refusal to purchase your restaurant. In the event we do not purchase your restaurant, you will be free to seek another buyer, who must be approved by Sam & Louie's.

Break-even timing varies significantly based on local market conditions, location selection, operator engagement, and capital structure. While we cannot guarantee specific results, our Franchise Disclosure Document contains Statements of Actual Sales and Earnings that reflect the historical performance of company-owned locations and provides the most accurate basis for projecting your own timeline. We strongly encourage candidates to model their own scenarios using the FDD data and consult with a financial advisor.

Our Average Unit Volume (AUV) is $909,500, based on our 2025 system performance. This places Sam & Louie's competitively within the pizza franchise category, well above the industry average for chain pizza brands. AUV is just one metric. What matters more is the profitability of the unit, which is influenced by your specific operating costs and management approach.

The availability of geographic areas is continually changing. We ask you to list your geographic preference(s) and submit them to us. After we review the information, we will contact you about the specific areas in which you are interested. Sam & Louie's approves locations and sites. We may suggest development in certain areas, and veto areas we feel are not feasible.

Yes, subject to the approval of Sam & Louie's. The typical building for conversion will need to be in the 1,200 - 3,500 square foot range.

Architectural prototype plans and restaurant layout design support is provided by Sam & Louie's and an approved equipment and furniture supplier. You may need to have the plans stamped by an architect at an additional fee.

When you sign a franchise agreement, you're granted a defined protected territory based on the trade area surrounding your location. Sam & Louie's will not place another company-owned or franchised location within that territory during your franchise term. Territory size varies based on market density, population, and demographics, typically defined by a radius or by specific zip codes.

We currently operate locations in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, and we are actively awarding franchises across 36 states. Available states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. We welcome both single-unit and multi-unit development, and we are particularly focused on communities of 5,000 or more residents where the Sam & Louie's concept has proven to thrive. If you don't see your state listed, reach out anyway. Our available territory continues to grow.

Local restaurant advertising is the financial responsibility of the franchisee. We have a marketing development fund to help with the local advertising effort. Cooperative advertising associations may be formed in any market.

No. Sam & Louie's has contracted with an independent supplier to provide purchasing and weekly distribution of all food products, paper products and operating supplies to company and franchise restaurants. Every location, company-owned or franchised, benefits from the volume purchasing power of Sam & Louie's system-wide operations.

You may purchase the equipment from any of the suppliers approved by Sam & Louie's. Currently all supplies are purchased from Sysco.

Staffing varies based on the format (fast casual carry-out vs. casual dining) and the size of the location, but most Sam & Louie's restaurants operate with a team of 12-20 employees including a general manager, shift managers, kitchen staff, and front-of-house staff. Smaller fast-casual formats can run leaner; larger full-service locations need more. Our training program covers hiring, scheduling, and team management as part of standard preparation.

Sam & Louie's permits a range of ownership structures, but we strongly prefer owner-operators or owners with a general manager who has an equity interest in the business. The owner training program is required regardless of whether you plan to work in the restaurant day-to-day, because hands-on understanding of the operation makes a meaningful difference in long-term performance. Pure absentee ownership without an engaged operator on-site rarely produces the best results.

A 4 to 6 week training program (3 or 4 days per week) at the corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska is provided for the owner, the management team, and 2 to 4 additional staff members. The program covers the operations manual, training videos, inventory control, equipment maintenance, quality standards, personnel policies, training techniques, operational techniques, and marketing. During the opening of your Sam & Louie's restaurant, on-site training will be provided at no additional expense for up to 10 days.

Yes. Even if the owner is not going to work in the restaurant, he or she must complete the Sam & Louie's two-week owner training program.

You will be periodically updated and kept current on all new products, suppliers, equipment, inventory control, advertising, and more through our company intranet and regular direct contact from our staff. You will be provided ongoing supervision and support through periodic visits, and you may contact our staff whenever you desire advice.

If a location is underperforming, our team provides hands-on intervention support including site visits, operational audits, marketing assessment, staffing reviews, and direct coaching with the owner and management team. We have a vested interest in every franchisee's success and treat performance challenges as a partnership problem to solve, not a punishment to administer. Most challenges have identifiable, fixable causes, and that's exactly what our field support is built to address.

Absolutely, and we encourage it. The Franchise Disclosure Document includes contact information for current and former franchisees, and you're welcome to reach out directly. Hearing the real experience of someone running a Sam & Louie's today is one of the most valuable parts of due diligence, and we have nothing to hide. We typically encourage candidates to speak with at least two or three operators before making a final decision.