How to Start a Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

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Opening path

How long does it take to open a Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchise?

About 210 days
Typical FDD-disclosed period from signing or first payment to opening

The 2026 FDD describes about 210 days as the typical period, not a guaranteed schedule. The actual path runs through candidate qualification, federal disclosure review, franchise award and signing, site and lease approval, permits, design and construction, mandatory training, systems and opening readiness, then Papa Murphy's written authorization to open.

Data basis. Legal franchisor: Papa Murphy's International LLC. FDD: 2026 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026. Applicable paths: one Franchised Store and, for qualified candidates, a Multiple Store Commitment; the current build-cost basis references the Kitchen Delite store format. Timeline evidence mode: official total timeline because Item 11 states a typical signing-or-first-payment-to-opening period of about 210 days. Primary evidence: FDD Items 5–12 and 15–17, Franchise Agreement Sections 2, 3, 6.1, 7.2 and 9.3, and the Multiple Store Commitment Letter/Amendment. Public process pages were checked July 17, 2026.
1 year
Required opening deadline
Measured from the Franchise Agreement Effective Date.
14 days
Federal FDD review period
Calendar days before signing or covered payment.
25 days
In-store training maximum
Up to 250 hours at a designated training store.
20 days
Site decision window
After receipt of a complete Site Submission Package.
30 days
Construction completion notice
Notice due before the scheduled completion date.
Qualification

What must a candidate qualify for before Papa Murphy's considers a franchise award?

The current official franchise FAQ states that consideration for a new store requires at least $125,000 in liquid capital and $350,000 in net worth. Those figures are published screening thresholds, not a promise of approval; the 2026 FDD does not convert them into a contractual right to receive a franchise.

The official franchise application asks each person signing to submit a separate application and authorizes investigation of application and background information, including a possible consumer report. The form asks about access to funds, financing plans, litigation and bankruptcy history, among other information. It also asks citizenship status, but the published materials reviewed do not state that U.S. citizenship is itself a minimum franchise qualification.

Financial screeningVerify the published liquid-capital and net-worth thresholds and whether they apply to your ownership group or proposed structure.
Application completenessEach signing person should expect to provide personal, financial and background information accurately and separately.
Owner-role fitThe official FAQ describes full-time day-to-day operations management as an ideal-owner attribute; the FDD requires the owner or approved operations personnel to oversee the store.
Entity and guaranty reviewIf the franchisee is an entity, each owner must sign the Owner Agreement and Guaranty attached to the Franchise Agreement.

Papa Murphy's public qualification FAQ lists business acumen, team leadership, service orientation, community relationship-building and commitment to the system as desired attributes. These should be treated as selection preferences unless the FDD or signed agreements make a particular condition mandatory.

Application to opening

What is the verified sequence from initial inquiry to opening?

The public candidate process describes inquiry, interviews, disclosure, franchisee due diligence, education, financial verification, final interview, agreement signing and training. The contractual opening path then adds site, lease, permitting, design, construction and written opening authorization requirements.

1
Inquiry and introductory qualification call
Action: Submit an inquiry and discuss market availability, timing and owner qualifications.
Actor: Applicant and Papa Murphy's qualification team.
Timing: No contractual duration disclosed.
Blocker: Market fit or basic qualification concerns can stop progression.
2
Director interview and application review
Action: Discuss intentions and finances; complete requested application and background authorization materials.
Actor: Applicant; franchisor evaluates.
Timing: Not fixed in the FDD.
Next dependency: Franchisor agrees to continue considering the candidate.
3
Receive and review the FDD
Action: Review the FDD, Franchise Agreement and attachments before signing or covered payment.
Actor: Applicant; franchisor delivers disclosure.
Timing: At least 14 calendar days under the FTC rule.
Blocker: The waiting period cannot be replaced by an accelerated sales timetable.
4
Due diligence, education and final approval review
Action: Speak with franchise owners, attend education sessions, complete financial asset verification and present the final operations plan.
Actor: Applicant and franchisor teams.
Timing: No total duration disclosed.
Blocker: Meeting screening criteria does not guarantee an award.
5
Execute the governing agreements
Action: If awarded, sign the Franchise Agreement and pay the applicable franchise fee; entity owners sign the Owner Agreement and Guaranty.
Actor: Approved franchise owner and Papa Murphy's International LLC.
Timing: Starts the one-year required opening window.
Next dependency: Site, lease and development work must satisfy the agreement.
6
Select and secure an approved site
Action: Locate a site in the Site Selection Area, submit the Site Submission Package, obtain written site approval, then complete lease or purchase review.
Actor: Franchisee leads; franchisor reviews and approves.
Timing: Package at least 20 days before lease; decision window 20 days after complete submission.
Blocker: Site approval is required before a binding site commitment.
7
Permits, insurance, design and construction
Action: Obtain required local approvals and insurance, use approved plans and standards, construct or remodel, correct deficiencies and provide progress information.
Actor: Franchisee, landlord, contractor and government authorities; franchisor reviews standards.
Timing: Local and third-party durations vary.
Blocker: Required approvals and insurance documentation must precede construction.
8
Complete mandatory training and store setup
Action: Complete required training; install approved POS, Internet and security systems; arrange suppliers, inventory, staffing and opening marketing.
Actor: Franchisee and required attendees, approved vendors and trainers.
Timing: Training is typically scheduled after lease execution.
Blocker: Failure to complete mandatory training satisfactorily can lead to termination.
9
Final readiness and written authorization to open
Action: Provide the certificate of occupancy, complete required corrections and satisfy the Franchise Agreement before opening.
Actor: Franchisee completes readiness; franchisor controls opening authorization.
Timing: Must occur by the Required Opening Date unless an extension is approved.
Blocker: The store cannot open without Papa Murphy's written authorization.
Buyer verification

Federal disclosure timing is a pre-signing protection, not an estimate of the full opening process. The FTC says a prospect must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before signing a binding agreement with, or making a payment to, the franchisor or an affiliate in connection with the franchise sale. Review the FTC consumer guide and the FTC Franchise Rule page for the federal rule; state-specific laws may add requirements.

Site approval

How do site approval, lease review, permits and construction fit together?

The franchisee is responsible for locating, securing and developing the site, while Papa Murphy's has contractual approval rights over the site and related lease. The agreement does not grant an exclusive territory: Attachment A identifies either the specific location or a Site Selection Area, and the final address is memorialized when determined.

Site-to-opening dependency flow
Each gate is distinct; approval at one stage does not automatically satisfy the next.
Site Selection AreaFranchisee searches within the designated area; no exclusive rights attach to it.
Site Submission PackageSubmitted at least 20 days before executing a lease, with required site and deal information.
Written site approvalPapa Murphy's reviews the complete package; unresolved objections can block the location.
Lease or purchase reviewProposed documents go to the franchisor before signing; leased sites use the required lease addendum form.
Permits and insuranceRequired permits, clearances and insurance documentation must be provided before construction begins.
Approved designConstruction follows Papa Murphy's standards; modified plans are subject to objection and resubmission procedures.
Construction and correctionFranchisee pursues buildout, reports progress and corrects deficiencies identified by the franchisor.
Occupancy and authorizationCertificate of occupancy plus contractual compliance precede written authorization to open.
Source: 2026 FDD, Items 11–12; Franchise Agreement Sections 3.1–3.9. The official training and development overview also describes real-estate, design and construction guidance, but the Franchise Agreement controls contractual obligations.
Development review and notice periods
Verified day-based process periods in the Franchise Agreement. They have different triggers and should not be added together as a total timeline.
Lease or purchase document review
10 days
Resubmitted modified-plan response
10 days
Initial modified-plan objection window
15 days
Site package lead time before lease
20 days
Complete site package decision window
20 days
Notice before scheduled construction completion
30 days
Interpretation: Site and buildout management contains several formal notice and review windows, but landlord negotiations, government approvals, construction and vendor work can run on separate timelines. Source: 2026 FDD, Franchise Agreement Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.7 and 3.8.
Site approval is not territory protection

A written site approval confirms that Papa Murphy's accepts the proposed location under its site process. It does not create an exclusive territory or prevent competition from other franchised or company-owned operations or other reserved distribution channels.

Training and readiness

What must be completed before the store is ready for opening authorization?

Operations In-Store Training, Enterprise Solution Training and Foundations Class are mandatory before operations commence. At least one individual who signed the Franchise Agreement must complete the training program, and all stores must be managed by a trained franchise owner or a Certified Manager. The FDD lists in-store training at up to 25 days or 250 hours, with approximately 50–75 hours of Enterprise Solution Training completed within that in-store period.

Foundations Class is virtual under the current FDD and includes business, marketing, human resources, operations, food safety, technology and related topics. The FDD also states that Foundations Class includes completion of ServSafe Manager certification or an equivalent state-specific food-safety certification. The official training and support page provides supplemental descriptions; the 2026 FDD and signed agreement control mandatory attendance and completion standards.

Training completedMandatory programs completed to Papa Murphy's satisfaction by the required attendee.
Qualified store managementStore managed by a trained owner or Certified Manager; manager identity changes are reported as required.
Approved systems installedRequired POS, software, payment, Internet, firewall and network-security components are in place.
Approved sourcing readyOpening package, equipment, food products, inventory and other required items come from approved sources or specifications.
Local approvals documentedRequired permits, licenses, clearances, insurance and certificate of occupancy are obtained and provided when required.
Opening marketing arrangedUse the franchisor-provided opening marketing plan and approved materials; required spending can extend into the first 180 operating days.

Papa Murphy's may require a Development Billing Agreement under which it pays selected third-party development, buildout and opening-marketing vendors on the franchisee's behalf using funds the franchisee places in a designated account. That arrangement is an administrative payment mechanism, not a transfer of vendor responsibility or a guarantee of construction timing.

Alternative paths

What changes for a Multiple Store Commitment or the purchase of an existing store?

Multiple Store Commitment

Qualified candidates may sign a Multiple Store Commitment Letter, an Amendment to Franchise Agreements and a separate Franchise Agreement for each store. The first store follows its Franchise Agreement development timing; the form then requires an additional store at least every six months until all committed stores are operating, with a final deadline filled into the signed commitment.

If the franchisee misses the commitment schedule, the form says the right to open remaining unopened stores is forfeited and Papa Murphy's may retain all franchise fees. Initial-training Sections 2.3(a)–(b) are waived for later Targets under the form amendment, but trained-management requirements remain relevant.

Existing-store acquisition

A resale is governed through the Franchise Agreement transfer process rather than the new-site development sequence. The transferee must qualify, complete mandatory training, sign a new then-current Franchise Agreement, pay the applicable transfer fee, and satisfy required refurbishment or upgrade conditions.

The transferring franchisee must submit a written transfer request at least 30 days in advance. The FDD also requires satisfactory evidence of lender, lessor and governmental consents for permits and licenses where applicable. Existing POS or technology may require ownership-transfer services, upgrades or replacement.

Opening deadline

Which contractual deadlines and consequences should a buyer verify before signing?

The Franchise Agreement makes time of the essence and requires opening within one year after its Effective Date, subject to compliance with the development conditions. If the store cannot open by that Required Opening Date, the franchisee may request a written extension; Papa Murphy's may approve a period it chooses, capped at six months, and the request carries a nonrefundable $2,500 extension fee.

Trigger Verified period Meaning Consequence or dependency
FDD receipt 14 calendar days Federal pre-signing/pre-payment review period Signing or covered payment must wait until the rule is satisfied.
Franchise Agreement Effective Date Within 1 year Required Opening Date Failure to begin operations can constitute a default.
Written extension request Up to 6 months Discretionary extension, not an automatic right Papa Murphy's decides the approved period; extension fee applies.
Later stores under multi-store commitment At least every 6 months Form development cadence after the first store Missing the schedule can forfeit rights to unopened stores.
Contractual deadline

Item 17 summarizes failure to begin operations within one year as a breach subject to a 30-day cure period. Do not treat that cure period as an automatic opening extension: Section 3.10 separately requires a written extension request and franchisor approval, and caps an approved extension at six months. Verify the Required Opening Date written into Attachment A and any state addendum that modifies remedies.

Responsibility split

Who controls the main pre-opening dependencies?

The franchisee controls timely application responses, financing arrangements, site search, lease negotiation, permits, contractors, training attendance, staffing and readiness. Papa Murphy's controls candidate award, site and lease approval, required standards, training completion satisfaction and written opening authorization. Landlords, lenders, approved vendors, contractors and government authorities can independently delay site control, funding, equipment, construction, inspections or occupancy approvals.

For process verification, compare the signed documents against the official Papa Murphy's franchise website, but use the current FDD and executed agreements for contractual terms. Buyers can also use the FDD's Item 20 franchisee list to ask current and former owners how long site search, permitting, construction, training and final authorization actually took in markets similar to the proposed location.

Opening synthesis. The verified path is inquiry and qualification, FDD disclosure and due diligence, award and Franchise Agreement signing, site and lease approval, permits/design/construction, mandatory training and systems readiness, then written authorization to open. The FDD gives an official typical timeline of about 210 days, while the contract separately requires opening within one year. The most important applicant-controlled dependency is securing and developing an approved site without missing document and notice requirements. The most important external dependencies are landlord, permitting, contractor/vendor performance and Papa Murphy's approvals. Before signing, verify the Required Opening Date in Attachment A and, for multi-unit deals, the filled-in development schedule and consequences for unopened stores.






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