Panda Express vs Papa John's Pizza
Franchise Comparison 2026
Panda Express is a quick-service restaurants franchise, while Papa John's Pizza operates in full-service restaurants. Panda Express requires an investment of $515K – $3.3M while Papa John's Pizza requires $281K – $890K. In terms of revenue, Panda Express reports higher average unit revenue at $1.6M. Papa John's Pizza has SBA lending data on file with a 19.6% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Panda Express A (Strongest tier) and Papa John's Pizza A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Panda Express | Papa John's Pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $515K – $3.3M | $281K – $890K |
| Franchise Fee | $25K | $25K |
| Royalty Rate | 8.0% | 5.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $1.6M | $1.1MIncl. company outlets |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | Limited data | 19.6% (190 loans) |
| Total Units | 2,502 | 3,294 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1995 | 2021 |
| FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Investment Range
$515K – $3.3M
$281K – $890K
Franchise Fee
$25K
$25K
Royalty Rate
8.0%
5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$1.6M
$1.1MIncl. company outlets
SBA Charge-Off Rate
Limited data
19.6% (190 loans)
Total Units
2,502
3,294
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1995
2021
FDD Year
2025
2026