How to Finance a 2 Guys and a Pie Franchise: Pizzeria Startup
By Anthony Cornella
A 2 Guys and a Pie franchise loan funds a full-menu neighborhood pizzeria: ovens, prep line, dining room and the working capital to carry a new restaurant until it finds its rhythm. Because the brand is small and does not publish its franchise costs, the financing work starts with the disclosure document and a careful look at the site.
This article explains what is known about the brand, how to read its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for financing purposes, what the SBA Franchise Directory listing and its lease note mean, and which loan types can fit a new or existing pizzeria.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by 2 Guys and a Pie; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice; review the current FDD and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
2 Guys and a Pie Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a full-service pizzeria with custom and signature pizzas, wings, calzones and strombolis, burgers, hoagies, baked pastas and catering trays.
- Home market: the brand operates a pizzeria in Bonaire, Georgia.
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment: not published; they appear in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD.
- Franchisor requirements: not published; ask the franchisor directly.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed (code S8411), with a note about the lease rider when real estate secures the loan.
What Is 2 Guys and a Pie?
2 Guys and a Pie is a pizzeria brand based in middle Georgia. Its menu goes well beyond pizza: custom pies in several sizes, signature pizzas such as a margherita and buffalo chicken, wings by the dozen, calzones and strombolis, Angus beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and tender platters, hoagies, baked pastas like lasagna and baked ziti, salads and desserts. Full and half catering trays add a group-order revenue stream.
Why the menu matters to a lender. A broad menu supports dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering sales, which can smooth out weekly volume. It also means a larger kitchen and more equipment than a pizza-only takeout shop, so the build-out and equipment budget deserve close attention.
How lenders view the brand. Pizza is one of the most familiar restaurant categories in lending. With a small franchise system, though, lenders will rely less on brand history and more on the buyer’s restaurant experience, the site, the lease and personal liquidity.
2 Guys and a Pie Franchise Costs
The franchisor does not publish its cost figures, so build your budget from the current FDD. Here is what to look for in each category.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 lists the fee, when it is paid and any refund terms. Check whether reduced fees apply to additional restaurants.
Real estate and build-out. Most pizzerias lease a storefront in a strip center or a freestanding building. Hood and ventilation systems, fire suppression, gas and electrical service for ovens, plumbing, restrooms and dining room finishes typically make build-out one of the largest costs. A second-generation restaurant space can lower that figure considerably.
Equipment. Pizza ovens, dough mixers and dough-handling equipment, prep tables, fryers and grills for wings and burgers, walk-in refrigeration, point-of-sale and online ordering systems, and dining furniture make up the package.
Opening costs and working capital. Initial food and paper inventory, training, insurance, deposits, licenses, grand opening marketing and additional funds for the first months complete the picture.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD gives a low-to-high range for each category and a total. The categories to look for include:
- Initial franchise fee
- Rent, security and utility deposits
- Leasehold improvements, architecture and permits
- Kitchen equipment, furniture, fixtures and signage
- Point-of-sale and technology
- Opening inventory, training and grand opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
The notes beneath the table describe the restaurant size, seating and assumptions behind each range, and lenders compare those assumptions with your actual site.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any advertising or brand fund contribution, technology fees, transfer and renewal fees and remodel obligations. Sales-based fees come off the top before food, labor and rent, so they directly reduce the cash flow available to repay a loan.
Pizzerias also carry costs that lenders scrutinize: food cost swings on cheese and wings, delivery driver expenses or third-party delivery commissions, and the labor needed for weekend and evening peaks. A projection that models these realistically will hold up better in underwriting.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor’s minimum net worth, liquid capital and experience expectations are not published. Ask for them at your first conversation and confirm whether the franchisor expects owners to work in the restaurant full time.
Lenders will want to see that you meet the franchisor’s thresholds and still have reserves after your equity injection. Restaurant management experience, especially in pizza or high-volume takeout, will strengthen your application.
Ways to Own a 2 Guys and a Pie
A new pizzeria. Opening a new location means financing the full build-out, equipment and opening costs on projections. Our page on franchise start-up financing explains how these loans are typically structured.
Buying an existing pizzeria. If an existing franchised location becomes available, the buyer gets a track record to show a lender. The transfer requires franchisor approval, and a lender will review historical sales and the remaining franchise and lease terms. Our page on franchise restaurant acquisition financing covers these purchases, and our guide to buying a franchise resale explains the transfer process.
Additional locations. Ask whether the franchisor offers development rights for more than one restaurant and on what schedule.
Financing Options for a 2 Guys and a Pie Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand appears on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can typically finance the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, inventory and working capital for a new pizzeria, or the purchase price of an existing one.
SBA 504 loans. Buyers who purchase the building for their restaurant can look at the SBA 504 program, which is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment.
Conventional term loans. Experienced restaurant owners with strong credit and collateral may prefer a conventional business loan, especially when they already operate other restaurants.
Equipment financing. Ovens, mixers, refrigeration, fryers and point-of-sale systems can often be financed or leased on their own, which can preserve cash at opening. See our franchise equipment financing and leasing options.
Build-out financing. Kitchen hoods, gas lines and dining room finishes are often the most expensive part of a pizzeria. Read about restaurant build-out financing to understand how construction costs are funded and drawn.
Working capital. A restaurant working capital line can cover payroll, food purchases and marketing while sales ramp up, or a slow stretch between catering seasons.
Seller financing on resales. On an existing pizzeria, a seller may agree to carry part of the price. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the senior lender, and SBA rules may limit their terms.
SBA Loans for 2 Guys and a Pie Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. A listing does not mean any particular buyer will be approved; it allows an SBA lender to move on to evaluating the borrower and the deal.
2 Guys and a Pie is listed under code S8411, with this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Rider to Lease Agreement may not be executed.
In plain English. Franchisors often require a lease rider so they can take over or protect the location if the franchise ends. That makes sense when you rent from a landlord. If instead you own the property and pledge it as collateral for your SBA loan, the note says the lease rider may not be signed, so the franchisor’s lease rights do not compete with the lender’s lien on the real estate. Buyers who lease generally sign the rider as the franchise documents require.
The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. Use our SBA loan calculator for early payment estimates; results are for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a 2 Guys and a Pie Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit reports, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and expect personal guarantees from owners.
Net worth and liquidity. Expect to contribute equity and keep reserves after closing.
Industry and management experience. Pizza or full-service restaurant experience matters, as does a plan for managing kitchen staff and delivery.
Business plan and projections. Base projections on the FDD’s fees and Item 7 assumptions, then layer in your menu mix, catering plans, delivery approach, food costs and labor schedule.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders focus on fees, term, renewal, transfer and the lease rider. Our overview of how lenders read an FDD explains which items matter most.
Site, lease or real estate. Lenders weigh visibility, parking, delivery radius, nearby competition and whether the lease runs at least as long as the loan.
Historical financials for resales. For an existing pizzeria, provide several years of sales reports and profit and loss statements that match the seller’s tax returns.
Real-World Scenarios
A pizza manager becoming an owner. A longtime pizzeria manager leases a former restaurant space with an existing hood and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for the franchise fee, equipment, remodel and opening funds.
A buyer purchasing the building. A buyer acquires a small freestanding building and finances it with SBA real estate financing. Under the directory note, the lease rider may not be executed.
A restaurant owner adding a brand. An owner of a nearby restaurant adds a pizzeria with a conventional loan, supported by the existing business’s cash flow, and finances ovens separately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting before reading the FDD’s Item 7 table and notes
- Underestimating hood, gas and electrical work in a space that was not a restaurant
- Ignoring delivery commissions and driver costs in projections
- Signing a lease that ends before the loan matures
- Opening without enough working capital for the first months
For more pitfalls, read the most common restaurant loan mistakes.
Next Steps to Finance Your 2 Guys and a Pie Franchise
Step 1: Contact the franchisor. Request the current FDD and ask about financial requirements and available markets.
Step 2: Review the FDD. Go through Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 19 and 20 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Speak with a financing specialist. Find out how a lender would size a 2 Guys and a Pie franchise loan before you sign a lease.
Step 4: Choose a site. Compare second-generation spaces, new build-outs and buying a building.
Step 5: Collect quotes and build projections. Get contractor and equipment bids and create monthly projections.
Step 6: Apply and close. Submit your financial statements, tax returns, lease or purchase contract, quotes and franchise documents.
2 Guys and a Pie Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does a 2 Guys and a Pie franchise cost?
The franchisor does not publish its investment range. Item 7 of the FDD lists the estimated initial investment.
What is the franchise fee?
The fee is disclosed in Item 5 of the FDD rather than published.
What royalty does the franchisor charge?
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty and other ongoing fees.
How much cash do I need?
Net worth and liquidity requirements are not published. Ask the franchisor and plan for an equity injection plus reserves.
Can I get an SBA loan for a 2 Guys and a Pie franchise?
Yes, the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8411, so eligible buyers can apply. Approval depends on the borrower and the deal.
What does the SBA directory note mean?
If real estate you own will secure the SBA loan, the franchisor’s Rider to Lease Agreement may not be executed.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses whether the franchisor offers any financing.
Can I finance pizza ovens separately?
Often, yes, through equipment financing or leasing, either at opening or when equipment is replaced.
Can I buy an existing location?
If one is available, yes, with franchisor approval. A 2 Guys and a Pie franchise loan for a resale is underwritten on the location’s historical financials.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Check Item 19 of the current FDD to see whether it includes financial performance representations.
Final Thoughts
A 2 Guys and a Pie franchise loan depends on getting the disclosure document early, choosing a site that keeps build-out costs under control and showing a lender a realistic plan for a full-menu pizzeria. With an SBA directory listing in place, well-prepared buyers have a clear path to financing.
US Professional Funding helps franchise buyers and owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
