Franchise opportunities compared
Little Caesars vs Papa John’s Pizza
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
Little Caesars
$376,500 – $1,769,200
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29Papa John’s Pizza
$125,000 – $890,267
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Little Caesars
$20,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15Papa John’s Pizza
$5,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Royalty · Item 6
Little Caesars
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18Papa John’s Pizza
5%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Papa John’s Pizza discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Papa John’s Pizza has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Little Caesars
Papa John’s PizzaLittle Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
System scale & health
Little CaesarsPapa John’s PizzaLittle Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Little Caesars
Papa John’s Pizza
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Little CaesarsNot disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation
Papa John’s PizzaItem 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.
Little Caesars vs Papa John’s Pizza: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Little Caesars or Papa John’s Pizza?
- Little Caesars: $376,500 – $1,769,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29); Papa John’s Pizza: $125,000 – $890,267 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Papa John’s Pizza. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Little Caesars and Papa John’s Pizza royalties compare?
- Little Caesars: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18); Papa John’s Pizza: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Little Caesars or Papa John’s Pizza?
- Little Caesars: 4,374 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74); Papa John’s Pizza: 3,291 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Little Caesars and Papa John’s Pizza disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Little Caesars makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Papa John’s Pizza has reviewed Item 19 figures for 15 location groups. 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 Little Caesars report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Papa John’s Pizza report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
