Papa John's franchise for sale
You buy an operating Papa John's franchise from its owner. Papa John's must approve you before the sale can close.
Buying a Papa John's franchise from its owner
- Fee for transferring
- $4,000 per buyer; affiliated buyers pay $8,000 in all. Item 6, 2026 FDD
- Sales to new owners in 2025
- 125; There were 74 in 2023 and 106 in 2024.; That equals 4.4% out of 2,832 franchised units. Item 20, 2026 FDD
- Papa John's has the option to buy it first
- Yes.It has first refusal rights under the terms your offer sets. Item 17, 2026 FDD
- Signing by you
- The agreement in place now, not the seller's old terms. Item 17, 2026 FDD
- Instead, a new Papa John's
- Opening a new one costs $281,485 to $890,267 in total. Item 7, 2026 FDD
What Papa John's asks before approving a sale
- The seller must remain in full compliance until the transfer date.
- Every amount owed needs to be paid completely.
- Payment of a transfer fee is required. The fee is $4,000, charged for each restaurant when the transfer involves multiple unaffiliated buyers.
- The buyer must complete the background check requirements and meet them.
- Other agreements and the then-current franchise agreement must be signed by the buyer.
- The seller must sign other required documents, a release and any applicable purchase agreement.
- Evidence of every required landlord and government consent must be provided.
Papa John's unit sales to new owners
| Year | Units transferred |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 74 |
| 2024 | 106 |
| 2025 | 125 |
Item 20 of the FDD provides these counts and lists owners who sold or left during the past year, along with their contact details. Phone a few of them before putting in an offer.
Places to look for a Papa John's franchise for sale
No units currently on the market appear in the FDD. Business brokers and listing sites help owners sell. You can also ask Papa John's's franchise team whether a nearby owner is selling.
The price comes from the seller. Request profit and loss statements covering three years. Weigh the price against the opening cost for a new Papa John's: $281,485 to $890,267.
Every figure here comes from Items 6, 17 and 20 in the 2026 Papa John's Franchise Disclosure Document. Papa John's Franchising, LLC submitted that document to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
More franchises available for sale
Buying a Papa John's franchise from its owner?
One franchise attorney can check the transfer terms and the agreement you would take over. Send your details and they will contact you.