Marco's Pizza Recognized as Most Lender-Friendly Franchise by FRANdata

Marco's Pizza Shines with FRANdata's 2025 TopScore FUND Award

In a remarkable achievement, Marco's Pizza, one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 TopScore FUND Award by FRANdata in the food category. This accolade was announced at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) in Las Vegas, showcasing Marco's Pizza as a leader in creating favorable conditions for franchisees through excellent access to financing options.

The TopScore FUND Award recognizes Marco's Pizza's unwavering dedication to making franchise ownership achievable for a broader audience. The brand, known for its quality offerings and exceptional franchisee support, operates over 1,200 locations across 35 states and has extended its reach into Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Mexico. This strong foundation has enabled the company to prioritize financial guidance as a core aspect of its growth strategy, resulting in amplified expansion and an expanding network of franchisees.

The FUND score, which assesses franchise credit risk across twelve essential financial metrics, illustrates Marco's Pizza's strength in several key areas such as unit profitability, historical success rates, and robust support systems. This scoring mechanism is employed by financial institutions managing over $5 trillion in assets, aiding lenders in determining loan conditions for potential franchisees.

Darrell Johnson, the CEO of FRANdata, stated, "Marco's Pizza has established a highly effective franchise structure that consistently earns a top credit risk rating within the food sector. Their ongoing growth, thorough franchisee backing, and seasoned leadership team reveal why they have captured the TopScore FUND Award. This brand shows a commitment to a principled approach, offering assurance to both franchisees and lenders."

Understanding the complexities entrepreneurs face when seeking funding, Marco's Pizza has formed advantageous partnerships with seven trusted banks and lending institutions. The finance team at Marco's holds quarterly meetings to keep these partners updated on business health, growth trajectories, and performance metrics, which enables favorable lending conditions for individual franchisees.

Gerardo Flores, the Chief Development Officer of Marco's Pizza, expressed, "Ensuring that franchise ownership remains an aspirational goal rather than a daunting financial obstacle is fundamental to our mission. Receiving the 2025 TopScore FUND Award reaffirms our steadfast commitment to assisting our franchisees with unmatched financial guidance and resources. We have been diligent in fostering strong lender relationships and developing innovative incentive programs to dismantle barriers, allowing aspiring entrepreneurs a clear path to ownership."

Moreover, Marco's is taking significant measures to empower prospective franchise owners. They have launched a new Franchise Development Incentive Program which offers early-stage royalty incentives starting at a remarkable 0%. This program, alongside a comprehensive development support system—which includes resources for technology, territory identification, real estate, construction management, and operational support—ensures franchisees have unparalleled tools at their disposal.

The response from prospective franchise owners has been enthusiastic, with recent documents revealing that the top 50% of Marco's franchised stores achieved average net royalty sales of $1,208,653 during the previous fiscal year.

For those considering entering the franchise world, Marco's Pizza presents an enticing opportunity. The company’s approach continues to set industry standards, as recently highlighted by their designation as America’s Favorite Restaurant in the Limited-Service Pizza category by Nation's Restaurant News. Additionally, Marco's attained a commendable 48th place on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2024 Franchise 500 list, emphasizing its competitive stature within the sector.

About Marco's Pizza

Founded in 1978 in Toledo, Ohio, by Italian-born Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco, Marco's Pizza is celebrated for its high-quality pizza crafted from fresh ingredients, notably its made-from-scratch dough and three signature cheeses. Established initially as a local favorite, Marco's has rapidly grown to become a prominent player in the fast-food industry. The company's recognition as one of the fastest-growing pizza chains continues to solidify Marco's position as a significant competitor in the restaurant landscape.

To explore Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit Marco's Franchising or reach out to Jamie Cecil at [email protected] or call 866-731-8209.