What Pizza Guys does

Pizza Guys is a privately held, family-owned pizza franchise founded by Shahpour Nejad in Sacramento, California in 1986, now operating more than 100 franchise locations across California, Nevada, and Texas under the legal entity Pizza Guys Franchises, Inc., headquartered in Rancho Cordova, CA. The company sells handcrafted pizzas — including 25+ specialty varieties, customizable Create-Your-Own builds, and stuffed-crust options — alongside wings, flatbreads, pasta, salads, appetizers (Cheezee breads/rolls), and desserts, available for delivery and pickup. The core technology stack comprises a proprietary e-commerce ordering website, native iOS and Android mobile applications (launched June 2024), a points-based PG Rewards loyalty program with 350-point new-member bonus, gift cards, a Pizza Party Calculator, and a fundraising platform, all built to support direct-to-consumer ordering and franchisee operations.

The company monetizes through two primary streams: ongoing royalty and franchise-fee payments from independently owned and operated franchisees, and direct consumer food sales via website, mobile app, and in-store transactions. Distribution is exclusively through the franchise network — there is no indication of company-owned retail stores — with go-to-market focused on Western US density, Sacramento-rooted community marketing (Sacramento Kings partnership, Malik Monk brand ambassador, school fundraisers, American Cancer Society donations exceeding $41,000), and limited-time menu innovation. Customer segments span individual consumers and families (primary), corporate/event catering, and community organizations using the fundraising program, with the franchisee base itself forming a secondary business-to-business customer cohort served by the franchising program at pizzaguysfranchising.com.

Name

Pizza Guys

Legal name

Pizza Guys Franchises, Inc.

Website

https://pizzaguys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Pizza Guys is a family-owned pizza franchise founded in 1986 in Sacramento, CA, operating 100+ locations across California, Nevada, and Texas. It sells handcrafted specialty pizzas, wings, pasta, and sides via direct delivery and pickup through a website, mobile app, and franchise network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick-Service Pizza Restaurants

NAICS

Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Pizza QSR (THAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pizza Fast Casual (THAFABAB)

Keywords

• Pizza franchise
• Pizza delivery
• Restaurant menu
• Pizza catering
• Online food ordering

Headquarters

HQ city

Vacaville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Sales and Royalty Revenue: Pizza Guys generates revenue through franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments from independently owned and operated franchise locations. Each franchisee pays initial franchise fees and continues to contribute a percentage of sales to the parent company.
2. Direct Consumer Food Sales: Revenue from pizza, pasta, salads, wings, and other food items sold directly to consumers through delivery and pickup orders placed online, via mobile app, or in-store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pizza Guys is a multi-state pizza franchise that sells handcrafted pizzas (signature specialties, build-your-own, and stuffed crust varieties), wings, pasta, salads, appetizers, and desserts directly to consumers through delivery, pickup, and in-store service at 100+ locally owned franchise locations in California, Nevada, and Texas. The brand extends its reach through the Calzone Life virtual brand, the PG Rewards loyalty program, gift cards, catering, fundraising, and a Pizza Party Calculator planning tool.

Product overview

Pizza Guys is a family-owned pizza franchise offering a diverse menu centered around handcrafted specialty pizzas, customizable Create Your Own pizzas, and stuffed crust varieties. The core offering is complemented by flatbreads, wings, appetizers (Cheezee bread/rolls), pasta dishes, salads, and desserts. Additional services include a PG Rewards loyalty program, gift cards, catering, a Pizza Party Calculator tool, and a fundraising program. The company operates through its website and native iOS/Android mobile apps, with over 100 franchise locations across California, Nevada, and Texas. Pizza Guys also maintains a franchising program for expansion and launched a virtual brand called Calzone Life in 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calzone Life: Virtual brand launched in 2021 offering calzone products

Products and services

• Specialty Pizzas Handcrafted signature pizzas including Pizza Guys Combo, All Meat, Cup & Crisp Pepperoni Duo, Fireworks Pizza, Hawaiian BBQ, Bacon Chicken Supreme, Serrano Chili, The MVP, and 25+ other varieties built with fresh ingredients and house-made dough. Targeted at consumers ordering for personal meals, family meals, and group gatherings.
• Create Your Own Pizza Customizable pizza builder allowing customers to select crust (Original Signature, Tuscany Thin, Thick, Stuffed, Garlic Parmesan Stuffed), signature sauces, and toppings. Targeted at consumers and families wanting a tailored pie.
• Stuffed Crust Pizzas Specialty stuffed-crust pizza varieties including All-In Stuffed Crust, Five Cheese Stuffed Crust, Hawaiian Luau Stuffed Crust, Pepperoni Trio Stuffed Crust, and the Garlic Parmesan Stuffed Crust option. Targeted at consumers seeking premium crust experiences.
• Wings Classic bone-in wings available in 8, 12, 16, and 24 piece options with various flavors, plus boneless wing alternatives. Targeted at consumers and groups ordering add-ons to complement pizza orders.
• Pasta Dishes Penne pasta dishes including Penne Pollo Rustico, Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta, Penne Cheese Marinara, and Penne Sausage Marinara, each served with garlic bread. Targeted at consumers seeking non-pizza Italian options, families, and catering trays (~10 servings each).
• Salads Fresh salads including Garden Salad, Antipasto Salad, Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad, Crispy Chicken Salad, Mediterranean Salad, and Spinach Tomato Salad, available individually and as catering trays (~10 servings). Targeted at health-conscious consumers and group/event catering.
• Flatbreads Tuscan thin crust flatbreads including Create Your Own Flatbread, Street Taco Flatbread, Grilled Chicken Spinach, Fiery Pepperoni Bacon, Creamy Pesto Artichoke, and Tuscany Pesto Sausage. Targeted at consumers wanting a lighter, shareable flatbread option.
• Appetizers (Cheezee Breads and Rolls) Cheezee Garlic, Pepperoni, Bacon, Jalapeno, Pesto, Cheddar Jalapeno breads and rolls; Cheezee Pepperoni, Bacon, Garlic rolls. Targeted at consumers and groups as shareable sides.
• Desserts Dessert items including Original Cheesecake (from Cheesecake Factory), Big 'n Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie, Dreyer's Ice Cream, and Cinna-Twist churros. Targeted at consumers and families seeking finishing sweets, and redeemable via PG Rewards (Ice Cream at 1,000 pts; Cinna-Twists at 1,500 pts).
• Catering Services Catering trays serving approximately 10 people each, spanning salads (Garden, Mediterranean), pastas (Creamy Pesto Chicken, Penne Cheese Marinara, Penne Pollo Rustico, Penne Sausage Marinara), and pizza. Targeted at corporate event organizers, schools, sports teams, and parties in CA, NV, and TX.
• Pizza Guys Mobile App (iOS/Android) Native mobile applications for iOS and Android offering digital ordering, loyalty rewards access, and exclusive app-only offers, built on Adora POS. Targeted at consumer customers across all Pizza Guys markets.
• PG Rewards Loyalty Program Points-based loyalty program where members earn 350 points on signup and redeem them for menu rewards including Ice Cream (1,000 pts), Cinna-Twists (1,500 pts), Cheezee Garlic Rolls (1,800 pts), Pasta (2,200 pts), Specialty Flatbread (2,500 pts), Medium Specialty Pizza (3,500 pts), and Large Specialty Pizza (4,500 pts). Targeted at repeat individual consumers and families.
• Gift Cards Both physical and e-gift cards available for purchase with minimum $10 and maximum $100 per card, no expiration or fees. Targeted at consumers and gift-givers across all Pizza Guys markets.
• Fundraising Program Community fundraising program enabling schools, sports teams, and community organizations to raise money through Pizza Guys orders. Targeted at school administrators, booster clubs, and nonprofit organizers in CA, NV, and TX.
• Calzone Life (Virtual Brand) Virtual brand launched in 2021 offering calzone products as an alternative menu concept operated out of Pizza Guys kitchens. Targeted at consumers seeking calzone variety via Pizza Guys' digital ordering channels.
• Pizza Guys Franchising Program Franchise opportunity for opening and operating Pizza Guys restaurant locations across the United States, with support for multi-unit franchisees including training, operational systems, and growth opportunities. Targeted at prospective franchisees and multi-unit restaurant operators; delivered via pizzaguysfranchising.com.
• Pizza Guys Website Ordering Full-featured website enabling customers to browse menu, customize pizzas, order online, find locations, view specials/coupons, and manage accounts via pizzaguys.com. Targeted at consumer customers placing delivery or pickup orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #2 on Yelp's Top 25 Pizza Chains in America based on customer reviews and ratings

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Malik MonkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2024NBA player Malik Monk signed as brand ambassador for Pizza Guys. The partnership features Monk as the face of the brand with a limited-time specialty pizza. The collaboration connects Pizza Guys with the Sacramento sports community and drives brand awareness through athlete marketing.
• Sacramento KingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership established in 2012 with the Sacramento Kings and Isaiah Thomas. Historical sports partnership connecting Pizza Guys to the local NBA team and community.
• American Cancer SocietyminorOthersPartnership established in 2014 for October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pizza Guys has donated over $41,000 to the American Cancer Society and continues community charitable initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jet's Pizza: Detroit-origin pizza franchise known for deep-dish specialty pies and delivery-led model with ~400+ locations. Comparable as a multi-state pizza franchise whose system economics and unit growth track closely with Pizza Guys' positioning.
• Round Table Pizza: Long-standing West Coast pizza franchise rooted in California with comparable regional delivery and dine-in footprint. Directly comparable regional franchise peer with similar heritage and unit count range.
• Mountain Mike's Pizza: California-headquartered pizza franchise with ~140+ units concentrated on the West Coast. Closest direct peer to Pizza Guys given similar regional concentration, delivery-led model, and franchise growth trajectory.
• Marco's Pizza: Fast-growing multi-state pizza franchise (~1,100+ units) with delivery focus and similar franchise-fee/royalty model. Comparable growth-stage franchise peer for benchmarking unit economics and franchise sales velocity.

Broad incumbents

• Papa John's: National pizza QSR franchise chain competing aggressively on digital ordering, loyalty, and delivery. Comparable incumbent setting customer expectations for toppings, app UX, and rewards that Pizza Guys competes with in California and Nevada.
• Blaze Pizza: Fast-casual artisanal pizza chain with ~300+ locations emphasizing customization and fresh dough. Relevant comparison for Pizza Guys' handcrafted positioning and stuffed-crust/specialty crust menu extensions.
• Pizza Hut: One of the largest national pizza chains with dine-in, delivery, and carry-out. Comparable as an incumbent defining category pricing, menu architecture, and promo cadence.
• Domino's Pizza: National pizza QSR leader with ~20,000+ locations dominating digital ordering and delivery. Sets the customer expectation baseline for delivery speed and app experience that Pizza Guys must match in its core markets.
• Little Caesars: Value-oriented national pizza QSR with ~5,000+ locations and Hot-N-Ready carryout model. Comparable incumbent competing on price in the same Western US trade areas.

Emerging players

• Pieology Pizza: Fast-casual customizable pizza chain with smaller footprint that competes for the create-your-own and specialty-pizza occasions. Comparable as a tailored-pizza concept targeting similar customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pizzaguys
• Facebookfacebook.com/pizzaguysofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/pizzaguysofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@pizzaguysofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pizza Guys