Opens in a new tab

FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Shakey’s Franchise

Shakey’s is a sit-down pizza-parlor franchise founded in 1954 in Sacramento, California by Sherwood “Shakey” Johnson, and is recognised as the first franchised pizza chain in the United States. The menu centres on its original thin-crust pizza, crispy fried chicken and signature Mojo® Potatoes, alongside beer on tap and the all-you-can-eat “Bunch of Lunch” buffet.

The model is full-service family dining built around dine-in, takeout and catering, with arcade “Fun Zone” game rooms, big-screen TVs and community tables that make units a destination for birthdays, team parties and group celebrations. US and Americas franchising is overseen by Shakey’s USA, a separate entity from the international operation; the heaviest US presence is regional, concentrated in California and Washington, while a much larger store network operates internationally, centred on the Philippines.

Shakey’s has recently refreshed its identity as “The People’s Pizza Parlor,” leaning into a 1980s retro aesthetic that pairs seven decades of heritage with an updated look aimed at today’s families.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Shakey’s resales available
Register your interest

Why buy a Shakey’s Franchise?

To buy a Shakey’s franchise is to take on one of the most established names in American pizza, a brand with seven decades of equity and a nostalgia-led identity that sets it apart from generic corporate chains. Its signature products — thin-crust pizza, fried chicken and Mojo® Potatoes — and family-entertainment format give units a recognisable hook and a multigenerational customer base that can be hard for newcomers to replicate.

The ownership case rests on a refined operating model: established supply chains, structured operations and several revenue streams across dine-in, takeout, catering and the “Bunch of Lunch” buffet, which spread sales across multiple dayparts. The recent rebrand is designed to drive fresh traffic while building on existing recognition, and the brand sits within a pizza category that has stayed resilient across economic cycles.

Shakey’s Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $35,000

    • Initial Investment

      $624,000 – $2,204,500

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

  • Training & Support

    • Comprehensive initial training

    • Ongoing training

    • Marketing support

Shakey’s – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Shakey's USA supports franchisees with operational training and ongoing operational guidance aimed at maintaining consistency across the system, plus national and local marketing campaigns, menu development and the established supply-chain relationships units draw on. The franchisor states it provides training and support to both franchisees and their teams. Because no public hour breakdown or named training platform is listed, resale buyers should confirm with Shakey's USA what initial and transfer training is provided to incoming owners and existing staff, and what ongoing operational and marketing support carries over after a sale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Shakey's is geared toward experienced, multi-unit restaurant operators rather than first-time owners. The franchisor looks for hands-on managers with proven operational track records, strong restaurant or hospitality expertise, and the appetite to develop multiple units over time. Deep community ties and genuine local engagement matter, since the family-dining format depends on becoming a neighbourhood gathering spot. The strongest fit is a process-driven operator comfortable running kitchen and front-of-house teams, controlling food and labour costs, and championing the brand's family-friendly culture.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Shakey's strongest recognition is historical: it is widely credited as the first franchised pizza chain in the United States, a distinction it has carried since 1954 and built into more than seven decades of brand heritage. Its signature thin-crust pizza, fried chicken and Mojo® Potatoes have sustained a loyal, multigenerational following, and the recent "People's Pizza Parlor" rebrand aims to extend that recognition to new audiences. For resale buyers, brand-level standing should be weighed alongside the specific territory's reputation, including local reviews, repeat customers and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US pizza restaurant market is large and well-established, estimated at roughly $49.5 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld), supported by steady demand and pizza's role as an everyday, family-friendly meal. Recent growth has been modest and competition is intense across delivery, fast-casual and dine-in formats, so local execution and differentiation matter. Shakey's family-entertainment dine-in model, paired with takeout and catering, lets units capture multiple occasions and dayparts. For resale buyers, local demand and the strength of the surrounding trade area are key to a unit's performance.

Learn more about
how to own a Shakey’s franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.