How to Evaluate a Local Market for Your Pizza Franchise

Finding the right location for your franchise puts you in the best possible position to thrive. If you’re new to franchising, you might not know where to start. The franchisor should offer some guidance with this process; however, it’s never a bad idea to do your own evaluation, as well.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind as you think about bringing Hungry Howie’s to your local market.

Understanding Site Selection for a Pizza Restaurant Franchise

A franchise’s success is reliant on many factors, including the needs of the community. The best way to determine whether or not your local market will support franchise pizza chain expansion is to do market research. In a nutshell, market research is the process of collecting information about demographics, consumer behaviors, and trends. Thorough market research should help you understand:

The potential size of your customer base
Income levels
Population growth
Competitive pricing for similar products and services in your area
Demand for the products and services will be offering, including various dayparts
How many establishments already offer those products and services

The last factor, generally referred to as market saturation, is particularly important. While some level of competition is inevitable, entering a market with a good understanding of the competitive landscape is helpful in evaluating a trade area’s potential.

Once you’ve performed your market analysis, you and the franchise development team should be able to drill down into your market to find a neighborhood that meets your needs. Before moving forward, you’ll want to do additional research to learn more about things like consumer spending habits and lifestyle preferences. This will help you narrow down your options and choose the franchise that’s best suited for your community.

What QSR franchise location criteria should I be aware of?

During the site selection process, your franchisor will share their location criteria with you. You can expect it to cover many different attributes, including square footage, visibility from the roads, accessibility, and proximity to other businesses. Usually, franchisors like to build new stores in locations with high foot and/or vehicle traffic, busy intersections or areas with a strong retail draw.

Because of the focus on carryout and delivery, Hungry Howie’s stores have a small operational footprint to optimize efficiency. For many franchisees, this makes itit much easier to find the right spot for their new pizza franchise.

There’s a lot of competition in my market – how do I stand out?

This is another area where owning a franchise can help. Not only can your franchisor’s brand reputation and loyalty help grow your customer base faster; you’ll also have access to both national and local marketing initiatives that help you get the word out efficiently and effectively. Hungry Howie’s provides local marketing resources and guidance that allows you to tailor your approach to your community.

Of course, there are steps you can – and should – take on your own to distinguish your pizza franchise. Performing a competitive analysis will give you insight into your competitors’ strengths, weaknesses, and differentiators. Although franchising is a strong differentiator in its own right, having this information at your disposal can help you optimize ways to attract customers and rise above the pack.

How Franchising Simplifies Site Selection

One of the many benefits of franchising is that franchisors will aid in the site selection process. In many cases, they’ve done market research of their own before making your market available. If site selection and development is something you can see yourself needing additional help with, be sure to ask about the kind of resources your potential franchisor provides during the franchise process.

Hungry Howie’s has pizza franchises for sale across the country. Depending on your goals, you can own a single location or an entire market. Whichever option you choose, the research has been done, so you can focus on building and growing your business.

Hungry Howie’s Puts You in the Right Place to Succeed

When you partner with Hungry Howie’s, you’ll be guided through the market planning and site selection process. If you’re ready to bring Hungry Howie’s to an available market near you, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us today to get started on your franchise journey.

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*Based on Gross Sales of the top performing 25% (or 68 units) of Hungry Howie’s Franchised Units that were open for the entire 52-week period from January 1, 2024 through December 29, 2024. Franchised Units means all Hungry Howie’s Units that were open and reported sales for the entire fiscal year, and excludes units in the State of Florida (see footnote***), affiliated units, units which opened or closed during the above fiscal year, units which are not obligated to and do not report sales to us, and units closed for more than ten consecutive days during the above fiscal year due to a force majeure event.  The Franchised Units are in 20 states and have reasonably similar operations as those being offered for sale. See Item 19 of Hungry Howie’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information.

**Based on Gross Sales of the top performing 50% (or 136 units) of Hungry Howie’s Franchised Units that were open for the entire 52-week period from January 1, 2024 through December 29, 2024. Franchised Units means all Hungry Howie’s Units that were open and reported sales for the entire fiscal year, and excludes units in the State of Florida (see footnote***), affiliated units, units which opened or closed during the above fiscal year, units which are not obligated to and do not report sales to us, and units closed for more than ten consecutive days during the above fiscal year due to a force majeure event.  The Franchised Units are in 20 states and have reasonably similar operations as those being offered for sale. See Item 19 of Hungry Howie’s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information.

***Locations in Florida are franchised to independent owners and operators by HH Pizza, Inc.   

This website is for informational purposes only. Any statements or information contained herein is not intended as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. 

Hungry Howie’s locations are franchised to independent owners and operators by Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, Inc. located at 30300 Stephenson Highway, Suite 200, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071 248-414-3300. However, stores located in the state of Florida are franchised by HH Pizza, Inc. located at 2109-D Main Street, Dunedin, Florida, 34698 727-734-8800.. Inquiries received for development opportunities in Florida by Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, Inc. will be forwarded to HH Pizza, Inc. which is solely responsible for the offer or sale of any franchises in the State of Florida. 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA: THESE FRANCHISES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE FRANCHISE INVESTMENT LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.  SUCH REGISTRATION DOES NOT CONSTITUE APPROVAL, RECOMMENDATION, OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORPORATIONS NOR A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERIN IS TRUE, COMPLETE, AND NOT MISLEADING. 

If you are having trouble using this website with a screen ready or other device due to a disability, email: franchising@hungryhowies.com for assistance. 

 ©2025 Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Hungry Howie’s and its related marks are trademarks of Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, Inc. Use of the trademarks in the State of Florida are under license to HH Pizza, Inc. Pepsi, the Pepsi logo and related marks are trademarks of PepsiCo. 