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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Valentino’s Franchise

Valentino’s is a regional Italian-American restaurant chain founded in 1957 by Val and Zena Weiler in Lincoln, Nebraska. What began as a small neighborhood pizzeria has grown into an established Midwestern institution of roughly three dozen locations, concentrated in Nebraska with a presence in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The brand began franchising in 1979.

The menu centers on the brand’s pizza and an extensive pasta line, built around proprietary mozzarella cheese and a sauce recipe carried down from the founders. Valentino’s operates through several formats: full-service restaurants and Italian buffets, To-Go units focused on carryout, delivery and pizza by the slice, and Express units that add the Valentino’s menu to existing businesses such as convenience stores, bars, hotels and grocery sites.

The system is owned by Valentino’s of America and led by president Tony Messineo. Its franchising territory is currently defined as closed areas across Nebraska, meaning new units are not being awarded in markets already covered. That regional density and decades of local recognition set Valentino’s apart from national pizza chains in the same states.

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Why buy a Valentino’s Franchise?

Buying a Valentino’s franchise means stepping into one of Nebraska’s most recognized restaurant names, a brand with deep local loyalty built over more than six decades. In a regional market where Valentino’s is a household name, that established awareness can give an operator a head start an independent or unproven concept would have to earn from scratch.

The model offers flexibility across investment levels: a To-Go unit suits operators wanting a focused carryout and delivery business, while an Express format lets existing business owners add a known pizza brand with a smaller commitment. Proprietary ingredients, set recipes and corporate supplier and vendor contracts give franchisees consistent product and purchasing support.

Valentino’s Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1957

    • Franchising Since

      1975

    • New Startup Cost

      $434,600 – $779,150

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $15,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $3,500

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      32

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Valentino’s – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Valentino's supports franchisees through a corporate team of restaurant professionals covering operations and marketing. New owners receive extensive training tools and manuals plus hands-on instruction, and food-service experience is not required to start. Ongoing support includes operational guidance from veteran staff, marketing materials, and contract negotiations with suppliers and vendors to aid purchasing. Resale buyers should confirm with Valentino's what onboarding and transfer training the franchisor provides to incoming owners and existing staff when a unit changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits hands-on, community-minded operators comfortable running a food-service business day to day, managing staff, controlling food quality and engaging a local customer base. Prior restaurant experience is helpful but not required, as the franchisor provides training. To-Go operators should be sales- and service-oriented and comfortable with carryout and delivery, while the Express format fits existing business owners, such as convenience store or hotel operators, wanting to add a recognized pizza brand to an established location.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Valentino's has built recognition over more than 60 years as one of Nebraska's best-known Italian restaurant brands, earning a loyal multigenerational following for its pizza, pasta and buffet offerings. Its reputation rests on consistent quality, proprietary recipes and a strong community presence across the state rather than national franchise rankings. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the reputation of the specific unit, including local reviews, repeat customers and visibility within its territory.

  4. Industry / Market

    Valentino's competes in the US pizza restaurant market, estimated at roughly $49.5 billion in 2025 (IBISWorld). Pizza is one of the more resilient restaurant categories, supported by steady off-premise demand for carryout and delivery, broad family appeal and consistent repeat purchasing. Within that national picture, Valentino's holds strong regional share in Nebraska and the surrounding Midwest, where brand familiarity and community ties matter more than national advertising. For resale buyers, local demographics, competition and a unit's established customer base are the key demand factors to assess.

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