What Do You Need to Start a Pizza Shop?
You need a commercial kitchen of 900 to 2,400 sq ft, a build-out budget of $170,000 to $380,000 for ovens, hood, and fit-out, a crew of 5 to 9 staff, a food supply chain running 30% to 32% of revenue in COGS, and about $130,000 in working capital. Revenue Map's pizza-shop presets model a 1,600 sq ft counter-service format with a $280,000 build-out financed by a $210,000 loan, $4,200 monthly rent, and a six-month ramp.
A pizza shop needs four things before the first pie goes out: a location with the right traffic and an existing or installable hood system, a build-out covering deck ovens, dough room, walk-in cooler and the counter, a trained kitchen crew, and enough working capital to survive the months while the neighborhood discovers you. The build-out is mostly financed through a commercial or SBA loan, but the working capital is real cash from the owner.
Format drives everything. Revenue Map's industry presets range from a $170,000 delivery-and-takeout-only build in 1,000 sq ft to a $380,000 sit-down pizzeria in 2,400 sq ft with nine staff. The delivery-only format trades dining-room cost for heavy dependence on third-party apps, which take 15% to 30% of every order and show up as the discount line. The checklist below covers what every format needs, anchored to the default 1,600 sq ft counter-service preset.
Cost Breakdown
Pizza shop startup requirements and their costs
| Item | Typical range | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial kitchen space | 900 to 2,400 sq ft; $2,800 to $4,200+ rent | Delivery-only 1,000 sq ft at $2,800; counter-service 1,600 sq ft at $4,200; sit-down 2,400 sq ft | Revenue Map industry presets |
| Build-out and equipment (ovens, hood, walk-in) | $170,000 to $380,000 | Delivery-only $170,000, counter-service $280,000, sit-down pizzeria $380,000 | Revenue Map model presets |
| Working capital (owner investment) | $130,000 | Cash to cover operating losses during a six-month ramp starting at 50% of phase-one demand | Revenue Map model presets |
| Staff (kitchen crew and counter) | 5 to 9 people; $14,700 to $26,460 per month | Slice shop 5 staff, counter-service 6.5, sit-down 9; at $2,450 each plus 20% payroll tax | Revenue Map model presets |
| Food supply chain (COGS) | 30% to 32% of revenue | Flour, cheese, toppings and boxes; cheese is the most volatile cost line | Revenue Map model presets |
| Loan financing (default) | $210,000 at 9.5% over 10 years | Covers 75% of the default $280,000 build-out; slice shop loan at $140,000, sit-down at $285,000 | Revenue Map model presets |
Sources: Revenue Map model presets (default investment, pricing and funnel assumptions in our industry templates), Revenue Map model templates (vertical research in each financial model), Revenue Map benchmark tables (the thresholds behind our free calculators), and honest industry ranges where our own data is thin. Ranges are planning bands, not guarantees.
What Moves the Number
Format drives the entire cost structure
A delivery-and-takeout-only shop presets at $170,000 capex in 1,000 sq ft with $2,800 rent and six staff. A sit-down pizzeria needs $380,000 in 2,400 sq ft with nine staff. A slice shop sits in between at $190,000 in 900 sq ft with 220 turns per day capacity and a $12 average ticket. The format choice sets the build-out cost, the rent line, the staff count, and the revenue ceiling before any equipment is ordered.
Delivery apps are a cost, not just a channel
Third-party delivery platforms take 15% to 30% of every order they bring. Revenue Map's presets carry a 7% blended discount line for the default counter-service format and 12% for the delivery-only format, reflecting the mix of direct and app orders. A shop that leans on the apps for most volume should budget that commission as a permanent cost of goods line.
Staff is the largest monthly cost after the loan
The default counter-service format runs 6.5 staff at $2,450 per month each plus 20% payroll tax, totaling roughly $19,100 monthly. This grows to $22,050 with 7.5 staff in phase two. Staff cost does not shrink on slow days, so it behaves like a fixed cost and sets the daily order count the kitchen must clear to break even.
Second-generation space can cut the build-out in half
Revenue Map's deep dive notes that a second-generation space with a working hood can dramatically reduce the build-out cost. The hood, ventilation and grease-trap infrastructure is the most expensive single line in a pizza shop build. Finding a former restaurant with that infrastructure already in place can compress the $280,000 default toward the $170,000 delivery-only range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you open a pizza shop for under $200,000?
How many staff does a pizza shop need?
How many orders per day does a pizza shop need?
How much do delivery apps cost a pizza shop?
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