Franchise opportunities compared
Black Bear Diner vs California Pizza Kitchen
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Black Bear Diner
$1,546,200 – $2,349,000
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19California Pizza Kitchen
$28,000 – $5,377,500
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Black Bear Diner
$55,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 13California Pizza Kitchen
$50,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Royalty · Item 6
Black Bear Diner
4.5%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14California Pizza Kitchen
5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Before you compare
- Black Bear Diner figures come from its 2025 FDD and California Pizza Kitchen figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
- California Pizza Kitchen discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Black Bear Diner has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza KitchenBlack Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
System scale & health
Black Bear DinerCalifornia Pizza KitchenBlack Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Black Bear Diner
California Pizza Kitchen
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Black Bear DinerCalifornia Pizza KitchenNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Black Bear Diner vs California Pizza Kitchen: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Black Bear Diner or California Pizza Kitchen?
- Black Bear Diner: $1,546,200 – $2,349,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 19); California Pizza Kitchen: $28,000 – $5,377,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for California Pizza Kitchen. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Black Bear Diner and California Pizza Kitchen royalties compare?
- Black Bear Diner: 4.5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); California Pizza Kitchen: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Black Bear Diner or California Pizza Kitchen?
- Black Bear Diner: 162 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 52); California Pizza Kitchen: 121 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 50). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Black Bear Diner and California Pizza Kitchen disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Black Bear Diner has reviewed Item 19 figures for 27 location groups; California Pizza Kitchen makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full Black Bear Diner report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full California Pizza Kitchen report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
