Gourmet New York-style pizza
Premium flour and extra virgin olive oil go into dough made fresh in-house. Scratch-made sauce and chef-created toppings complete a pizza built around texture, flavor and a thin, foldable New York-style crust.
Chef Anthony Russo's pizza & Italian kitchen franchise
A Chef-Driven Pizza Franchise.
A Full Italian Kitchen.
Searching for the best pizza franchise for your goals? Explore Russo's: gourmet New York-style pizza, fresh homemade pasta and family recipes.
Meet the chef. Explore our ingredients →$1.164M*Top 50% average net sales, FY2025
$35,000Initial franchise fee
$250KLiquid capital required
*Based on Item 19 of the Russo's Franchise Disclosure Document, fiscal year 2025. The top 50% of U.S. franchised stores averaged $1,164,000 in net sales; 67% of franchised stores in this category met or exceeded this average. Individual results may vary. See the FDD for complete details.
Houston flagship since 1992. 31 restaurants listed across Texas, California, Arizona and Oklahoma, plus international locations. Latest opening: Tempe, Arizona (September 2026).
A personal invitation from Chef Anthony Russo
Meet the chef behind the franchise.
Italian roots. New York soul.
Meet the chef whose family recipes shape the menu, from handcrafted pizza to a full Italian meal.
Hear his invitation to future owners, then talk with our team about your market and ownership goals.
Read the video transcript
Chef Anthony here at Russo's New York Pizzeria. Today is a great time to franchise. We're looking for franchisees all over the U.S. We want to expand retail locations, whether you're in Texas, Arizona, California or Oklahoma. We're looking for franchise partners who want to start doing business.
Russo's is a unique franchise brand. There's nothing like it in the marketplace, and we serve quality pizza. Look at these amazing pizzas. Handmade from scratch. It's a fresh scratch kitchen. Our sausage is house-made, our dough is house-made, our sauce is house-made. This pie is beautiful. We're known for New York-style pizza, all made from scratch.
Thank you for your interest. If you'd like to learn more about our franchise opportunity, fill out the form. Contact me today. I can tell you how to get started as soon as possible. Ciao.
Transcript lightly edited for readability. Availability, qualification, required disclosure and franchise approval apply; the video is not a promise of performance or an offer to sell a franchise.
The chef's standard
Family recipes. Fresh preparation.
Premium flour, dough made fresh in-house and scratch-made sauces put preparation at the center of the Russo's kitchen.
Discover our chef & ingredient standards →Our cooking-oil promise
Extra virgin olive oil.
No seed oils in our cooking.
We use extra virgin olive oil instead of seed oils for kitchen cooking. This describes our cooking-oil standard, not a certification that every purchased ingredient is seed-oil-free.
What sets us apart
A chef's kitchen.
Not just another pizza franchise.
Gourmet New York-style pizza and fresh homemade pasta share one Italian kitchen. Dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering give guests four ways to enjoy the food.
Fresh homemade pasta
Homemade pasta and Italian specialties bring the family kitchen to the menu. House-made gnocchi, lasagna, marinara and pesto give guests a reason to choose Russo's for more than pizza. Menu availability varies by restaurant.
Four revenue streams from one restaurant
Dine-in
A welcoming sit-down restaurant for families, date nights and groups.
Takeout
Fresh pizza and pasta ready for the lunch rush or a family dinner on the way home.
Delivery
Phone and online ordering that brings a full Italian menu to homes and offices.
Catering
Trays and buffet options for corporate lunches, parties and events.
Descriptions of recipes, ingredients and operations reflect Russo's brand standards. Franchisee obligations, supplier requirements and results are set out in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Read the Russo's storyReal owners. Real experiences.
Meet the people behind Russo's restaurants
From Qatar to Texas, hear owners talk about the food, training and the experience of running a Russo's.
International owner experience at Doha Oasis.
What he values about being part of Russo's.
From Russo's customer to restaurant owner.
Historical individual experiences, not a promise of sales or profit. Current programs and obligations are defined by the applicable franchise documents.
See all six owner videosThe restaurant
A full-service restaurant built for the neighborhood
Full-service restaurant
- Ideal size
- 1,800–3,500+ sq. ft.
- Best for
- Suburban markets, lifestyle centers, corporate catering
- Opportunities
- Single-unit, multi-unit, area development, international
Investment
What it takes to own a Russo's
| Total investment range | $439,350 – $1,490,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $35,000 |
| Liquid capital | $250,000 |
| Net worth | $550,000 |
| Financing qualification | Subject to lender review |
The total depends on site, market, size and buildout, and includes the franchise fee, real estate buildout, equipment and FF&E, opening inventory, training, grand opening marketing, technology and working capital. Financing approval is subject to lender review. See FDD Item 7 for the complete investment table.
Full investment details Check territory availabilityExplore
Everything a candidate needs to review
Pizza franchise opportunities
Explore the concept and ownership qualifications.
Italian restaurant franchise
Discover the full kitchen and operating model.
Multi-unit development
Explore owning more than one restaurant.
International opportunities
Review country-specific development requirements.
Kitchen stories
See the food and preparation in action.
Franchise FAQ
Find answers about fees, qualifications and getting started.
From first call to opening day
Support that starts before you open
Start with your goals, qualifications and FDD review. Explore site-selection guidance, Houston culinary training and opening preparation. The current FDD and franchise agreement define the program.
Markets
Where Russo's is growing
Operating
Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Texas
Franchise inquiry markets
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee
Everywhere else
Other states, Puerto Rico and international. Contact us for availability.
Territory availability is subject to confirmation, candidate qualification, required disclosure, applicable law and franchise development approval.
See all marketsTalk to Franchise Development
Chef Anthony Russo's team will walk you through the opportunity and the FDD.
Talk through your next step
Book a 15-minute call with our franchise team.
Choose a time that works for you, Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM Central. Bring your questions about markets, ownership, financing or investor visa plans.
Prefer that we contact you? Ask about financing or ask about investor visa plans.
The booking calendar opens in Google Calendar in a new tab. Financing is subject to independent lender review. Investor visa eligibility and strategy require advice from qualified immigration counsel. No financing or visa approval is guaranteed.