Franopolis
    CS

    California style

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching California style franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources

    California Pizza Kitchen operates full-service restaurants serving oven-fired California-style pizzas, pastas, salads, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Franchises use the brand’s recipes, service methods, and restaurant operating system in approved traditional or nontraditional locations.

    Headline figures

    California style quick facts

    Is California style a franchise?
    Yes. California style offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 14 franchised and 107 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 50).
    How much does it cost to open a California style franchise?
    The California style Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,582,000–$5,377,500 for new restaurant: total $1,582,000–$5,377,500 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17); $1,125,000–$4,177,500 for non-traditional facility: total $1,125,000–$4,177,500 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 22); $715,000–$4,617,500 for conversion only (conversion restaurant: total $715,000–$4,617,500) (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 19). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What ongoing fees does California style charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 1% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does California style disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    No. The reviewed California style FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
    How many California style locations are there?
    The FDD reports 121 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 50). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is California style a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 makes no financial performance representation, so ask current owners about results; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,582,000 – $5,377,500 (New restaurant: Total $1,582,000–$5,377,500); $1,125,000 – $4,177,500 (Non-Traditional Facility: Total $1,125,000–$4,177,500); $715,000 – $4,617,500 (Conversion restaurant: Total $715,000–$4,617,500); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
    3. 3Outlets declined by 10 in 2025, to 121 (Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    California style head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    CSCalifornia styleVSIHOP
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    CSCalifornia styleVSApplebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar
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    CSCalifornia styleVSOAof Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
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    CSCalifornia styleVSBrinker International Payrollmpany L P
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    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Range across 3 single-unit formats

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.

    • Conversion restaurant: Total $715,000–$4,617,500PDF p. 19$715,000 – $4,617,500
    • Non-Traditional Facility: Total $1,125,000–$4,177,500PDF p. 22$1,125,000 – $4,177,500
    • New restaurant: Total $1,582,000–$5,377,500PDF p. 17$1,582,000 – $5,377,500

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    RoyaltyMain ongoing fee

    16 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    No financial performance representation in Item 19

    The reviewed 2026 FDD for California style has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of Fiscal year end 2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 50

    Net −27 outlets, 2023–2025

    0148202313120241212025−17−10

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($715,000 – $5,377,500) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • California style reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?

    • Reported units decreased from 131 to 121 in 2025. What drove the change?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 50

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.

    Territory & operations

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    Fiscal yearMeasureReported value
    2025cash flowsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$1,808,671
    2025balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$2,005,944
    2025balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$1,771,563
    2025operationsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$3,469,809
    2025operationsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$2,969,086
    2025operationsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$22,544
    2025cash flowsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$1,653,748
    2025balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$1,808,671
    2025balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$3,777,507
    2024cash flowsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$856,016
    2024balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$3,501,066
    2024balance sheetMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$1,050,954

    These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

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    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    IHOPApplebee's Neighborhood Grill + BarOAof Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & BarBrinker International Payrollmpany L PBuffalo Wild WingsGolden Corral

    Head-to-head comparisons

    California style vs IHOPCalifornia style vs Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + BarCalifornia style vs of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & BarCalifornia style vs Brinker International Payrollmpany L PCalifornia style vs Buffalo Wild WingsCalifornia style vs Golden Corral
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.

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