What is a franchise fee?

May 18, 2018

The money that franchisees invest in the proprietary franchising system is what is known as the franchise fee. The fee essentially grants entrepreneurs the rights to operate an independent location of that franchise at a certain location under the brand name. Paying the upfront franchise fee unlocks the door to the franchisors’ proprietary business systems and more.

Franchising fees in the fast casual and casual dining segment vary widely and can range from around $25K to upwards of $50K. Russo’s New York Pizzeria franchise fee is $39,500 for a single unit or discounted to $29,500 per location in an area development. Or in some cases, a franchisor may offer a Master Franchise or Area Development, which allows a franchisee to license more than one location. Franchisees typically pay an initial franchising fee to cover upfront transfer of proprietary materials and to get the business started. Once the business is launched, franchisees may also pay an ongoing royalty fee which is payment to the franchisor for continued use of proprietary materials, the investment in research and development, new business strategies, and continued national and regional marketing materials.

The franchise fee amount even within one casual dining segment can vary depending on the kind of model the entrepreneur is looking to buy from a low footprint model to a higher end experience.

A few franchisors might dangle the promise of decreased franchise fees as way of luring franchisees into signing on the dotted line but in franchising, as in everything else, you get what you pay for. Russo’s franchise fee is $49,500 and in turn franchisees get to a part of the best restaurant franchise.

The Russo’s franchise fee, which varies between $29,500 and $39,500, covers a whole assortment of valuable services that help businesses get on the right track. Russo’s franchise fees includes help with site selection, access to marketing materials and proprietary recipes, extensive training onsite and off, front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) operations and staffing and additional valuable business strategies.

Russo’s is leading the Italian dining category by creating a business model that offers:
A smaller footprint (1,500-3,500 sq. ft.) for less overhead
A low-cost entry into the restaurant business with an initial investment starting around $454,350 in select markets
Average food costs and labor costs are 20.7% and 25.2% respectively*
Average sales volume per franchised unit is $ $988,401*

You get what you pay for when it comes to franchising

The Italian restaurant franchise has been tweaking its recipes and procedures for more than 30 years. Additionally, Russo’s franchisees are our partners and are like family, and by buying into the system, they bring an additional degree of commitment to building the brand from the ground up.

  • The Russo’s franchise fee includes:
  • Access to marketing materials, recipes, handboooks
  • Help with site selection and lease negotiation
  • Business advice
  • Architect consultant for buildout
  • Lists for furnishing, decor, lighting, kitchen ordering, and inventory
  • Help with developing soft and grand opening timelines
  • Extensive training at home office and on-location training for two weeks once the new restaurant is built
  • Training in 100+ year old recipes, the “secret sauce” of Russo’s product
  • FOH & BOH operations and staffing
  • Assistance with benchmarking and consultation on business plan
  • Help with grand opening marketing and PR plan

Investing into a ground-floor opportunities is one of the most exciting aspects being a Russo’s franchisees. The owners are investing in great food, and also in the potential to have a prominent seat at the table as the restaurant franchise makes rapid inroads into new territories in the near future. Being a part of an emerging brand like Russo’s is a great way for passionate entrepreneurs to channel their expertise into a venture that’s slated for rapid growth.

Franchise fees that go above and beyond

With the franchise fees, franchisees access extensive suite of marketing materials, recipes and handbooks. Site selection is an important component of business success and Russo’s experienced real estate team goes out, tours the area, reviews and approves the franchisee’s site. Because the Italian restaurant franchise has decades of experience with these procedures, Russo’s helps franchisees hone their business specifically for their market.. Russo’s also helps with lease negotiation and analyzes demographic trends in the area so franchisees can fine tune their business strategies.

With Russo’s, franchisees also get training on every aspect of the restaurant business from front-of-house to back-of-house operations to marketing and public relations. The Italian restaurant franchise supports its franchise partners with every kind of material and training and ongoing support needed to truly build a successful location. Given that the cost of consultants for each aspect of routine business operations is extremely steep, the Russo’s franchise fee is a true bargain as it gives franchisees a proven formula and access to consulting and strategies to make the system work.

Hot concept in demand

Equally important, the demand for a pizza franchise like Russo’s is skyrocketing. The fast-casual concept that Russo’s is based on is growing at a steady clip. A  Technomic report  showed that the industry grew by 8.1 percent in 2016. Of that, pizza is currently the largest sector at 37 percent.

The Russo’s Italian restaurant franchise is spearheaded by  experienced team members  who know what it takes to win a significant slice of the industry. Rex Street, Director of Operations, Kyle Dennis, Sous Chef Trainer, and Lynn Zeller-Aldana, Sr. Director of Training and Development, are just few of Russo’s staff who routinely share their expertise for franchisee success.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for when it comes to franchising. Russo’s franchising fees cover every aspect of the fast-casual restaurant business and gives its franchisee partners a comprehensive arsenal of tools to ensure long-lasting success in a market where demand for quality food continues unabated.

Visit Russo’s Restaurants  to learn more about what it means to become a franchisee.

* These figures represent the average restaurant revenue of six (6) U.S. domestic Company-operated Russo’s New York Pizzeria locations of various designs and sizes for fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, along with average Food Costs and Net Income for the six (6) U.S. domestic Company-operated Russo’s New York Pizzeria outlets only. Actual results could vary substantially from unit to unit and Franchisor cannot estimate the results of any particular franchise

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Why Russo’s Is a Healthier Pizza Chain and Italian Restaurant Choice

May 28, 2026
Today’s guests are paying closer attention to what they eat. They still want pizza, pasta, and classic Italian food, but they also want better ingredients, fresh preparation, lighter choices, and meals that do not feel overly processed. That is why Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is becoming a stronger choice for guests searching for a healthier pizza chain, healthy pizza options, and fresh Italian food made with real ingredients. We operate in the United States and internationally, but the kitchen philosophy has stayed simple. Fresh dough, scratch made sauces, premium ingredients, family recipes, and made to order Italian food come first. Founded by Chef Anthony Russo, the brand was built on authentic New York style pizza and Italian cooking inspired by recipes passed through generations. Instead of relying on frozen shortcuts, Russo’s focuses on fresh daily prep, clean ingredient choices, and real flavor. A Healthier Pizza Chain Starts With Better Ingredients A healthier pizza does not mean removing everything people love about pizza. It starts with how the food is made. At Russo’s, the pizza starts with house made dough prepared fresh daily using premium all natural flour. The sauce is made in house. Fresh mozzarella, fresh garlic, herbs, vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil are used throughout the kitchen. That matters because many guests today are reading labels and asking better questions. They want to know what is in their food, how it is prepared, and whether the restaurant uses fresh ingredients or heavily processed shortcuts. Russo’s gives guests a better way to enjoy New York style pizza without losing the taste, comfort, or quality they expect. Fresh Pizza, Pasta, and Italian Food Made Daily Russo’s menu is built around fresh preparation. The kitchen uses scratch made marinara sauce, slow simmered meat sauce, house made dressings, fresh salads, premium beef, all natural chicken, seafood, and brick oven pizza made fresh to order. The menu also includes pasta dishes, chicken entrées, seafood pasta, salads, calzones, and Italian classics prepared with traditional cooking methods. This gives guests more than one way to enjoy a meal. They can choose a fresh pizza, a salad with protein, grilled salmon, chicken, seafood, pasta, or a lighter Italian entrée based on what fits their appetite. Healthier Pizza Options Without Losing Flavor For guests looking for healthy pizza options, Russo’s focuses on freshness, quality, and customization. Guests can enjoy hand stretched New York style pizza with fresh toppings, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and brick oven baking. They can also choose gluten free options, lighter toppings, fresh vegetables, salads, or protein focused menu items when available by location. The goal is not to turn pizza into diet food. The goal is to serve pizza made with better ingredients and fewer shortcuts. That is what makes Russo’s different from many large chain pizza restaurants. Better Choices for GLP 1 and Wellness Focused Guests More guests are now thinking about portion control, protein intake, fresh vegetables, and balanced meals. This has become even more common as GLP 1 lifestyle habits and wellness focused dining continue to grow. Russo’s menu naturally gives guests more flexibility. A guest may want a smaller portion, a salad, grilled chicken, seafood, fresh vegetables, or a protein balanced Italian meal. Another guest may want authentic brick oven pizza made with fresh dough and real ingredients. Both guests can find something that works for them. That is why Russo’s can be positioned as a healthier pizza and Italian restaurant choice for modern diners who still want comfort food made better. Authentic Italian Food With Family Recipes Russo’s is not only a pizza restaurant. It is an Italian restaurant built around Chef Anthony Russo’s family recipes, fresh ingredients, and scratch cooking. The menu includes New York style pizza, fresh pasta, seafood dishes, chicken entrées, salads, calzones, and Italian comfort food made with care. Many of these recipes come from Italian family traditions. That gives the food a more personal story and helps guests understand why Russo’s focuses on fresh preparation instead of mass produced shortcuts. A Healthier Pizza and Italian Restaurant Choice Across the USA and Beyond Russo’s serves guests across the United States and internationally. Even with national and global operations, the brand continues to focus on fresh dough, made to order pizza, scratch made sauces, and authentic Italian recipes. For guests searching for the healthiest pizza choice, a healthy pizza chain, fresh Italian food, or a family friendly Italian restaurant, Russo’s offers a menu built around better ingredients and more flexible choices. Guests can dine in, order takeout, schedule pizza delivery, plan catering, enjoy lunch specials, or visit their nearest Russo’s location for fresh New York style pizza and Italian food. Fresh Choices Guests Can Order at Russo’s Russo’s menu gives guests several fresh and balanced options, including brick oven New York style pizza, fresh salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, salmon, chicken Saltimbocca, burrata salads, pasta dishes, calzones, and classic Italian entrées. Guests can also customize many menu items based on appetite, preference, and lifestyle. This helps make Russo’s a strong choice for families, office lunches, group meals, takeout nights, and guests who want Italian food made with fresh ingredients. Find your nearest Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen location and enjoy fresh New York style pizza, scratch made pasta, salads, seafood, and authentic Italian entrées made with better ingredients. Frequently Asked Questions Why is Russo’s considered a healthier pizza chain? Russo’s focuses on fresh ingredients, house made pizza dough, scratch made sauces, premium olive oil, fresh vegetables, and made to order Italian food instead of relying heavily on frozen or overly processed ingredients. Does Russo’s serve healthy pizza options? Yes. Guests can choose fresh vegetable toppings, lighter pizza options, salads, grilled chicken dishes, seafood entrées, gluten free options at select locations, and customizable menu items based on their preferences. What type of pizza does Russo’s serve? Russo’s is known for authentic New York style pizza baked in a brick oven using hand stretched dough, premium mozzarella, scratch made sauce, and fresh toppings. Is Russo’s only a pizza restaurant? No. Russo’s is also an Italian restaurant serving fresh pasta, seafood dishes, salads, calzones, chicken entrées, catering options, lunch specials, and family style Italian meals. Does Russo’s operate outside the United States? Yes. Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen operates across the United States and internationally while continuing to focus on fresh ingredients, scratch cooking, and authentic Italian family recipes.

Russo’s Quietly Opens Anthony’s New York Italian, an Elevated Houston Dining Experience

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria has long been known in Houston for New York-style pizza, casual Italian favorites, and a welcoming dining experience. According to a CultureMap Houston article, the Russo name is now connected to a new restaurant concept called Anthony’s New York Italian, which quietly opened with a more refined approach to Italian dining. While Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a go-to spot for pizza, pasta, calzones, and family meals, Anthony’s introduces a more elevated side of the brand. Anthony’s New York Italian appears to offer a more elegant and personal restaurant experience compared to the fast casual style Russo’s is best known for. Instead of focusing primarily on quick, casual New York-style pies, the new restaurant creates a setting better suited for date nights, special occasions, and guests looking for a more polished Italian dining atmosphere. The concept gives the Russo brand a chance to showcase a more upscale interpretation of New York Italian food while still staying connected to the recipes and hospitality that made Russo’s recognizable. For fans of Russo’s NY Pizzeria, the quiet opening of Anthony’s New York Italian is an exciting step forward. It shows how the brand continues to grow beyond its well-known pizzeria roots while still honoring classic Italian flavors. With a more elevated and elegant dining experience, Anthony’s New York Italian adds another layer to the Russo story and gives Houston diners a new way to enjoy the flavors of New York Italian cuisine.  Source: CultureMap Houston https://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/popular-stories-betelgeuse-betelgeuse-arrest/

Russo’s NY Pizzeria Calzones Earn Attention for Big Flavor and Classic Italian Comfort

May 25, 2026
Russo’s NY Pizzeria is getting attention for one of its most satisfying Italian favorites: the calzone. A recent Chowhound article highlighting impressive chain restaurant calzones points to the continued popularity of this classic folded pizza-style dish, and Russo’s NY Pizzeria is a natural fit for the conversation. Known for New York-style pizza, fresh ingredients, and hearty Italian menu options, Russo’s offers calzones that deliver the kind of comfort food experience guests expect from an authentic neighborhood pizzeria. A great calzone starts with the right balance of dough, cheese, fillings, and flavor. At Russo’s NY Pizzeria, calzones are made with the same Italian-inspired approach that has helped the brand become recognized for its pizza and pasta. Each calzone gives guests a warm, baked, handheld meal filled with rich cheese and savory ingredients, making it a great choice for lunch, dinner, takeout, or a casual family meal. For customers who love pizza but want something a little different, a calzone offers the perfect mix of crispy crust, melted cheese, and classic Italian flavor. As more diners search for flavorful alternatives to traditional pizza, Russo’s NY Pizzeria calzones continue to stand out as a filling and memorable menu option. Whether ordered on their own or paired with other Italian favorites, they reflect what Russo’s does best: serving approachable, satisfying New York-style Italian food with quality and consistency. For anyone craving a hearty calzone from a trusted pizzeria, Russo’s NY Pizzeria remains a delicious place to start. Source: Chowhound https://www.chowhound.com/2173521/impressive-chain-calzones/
Show More