Mountain Mike's Pizza vs Rosati's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza vs Rosati's Pizza: Mountain Mike's Pizza costs $477K to $983K to open; Rosati's Pizza costs $147K to $1.5M. Mountain Mike's Pizza has 299 units, Rosati's Pizza has 83. SBA loan history: Mountain Mike's Pizza = 150 loans (8.0% default); Rosati's Pizza = 120 loans (10.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Mountain Mike's Pizza vs Rosati's Pizza: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Rosati's Pizza requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($147K vs $477K for Mountain Mike's Pizza), a 224% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Mountain Mike's Pizza versus $35K for Rosati's Pizza, Mountain Mike's Pizza has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Mountain Mike's Pizza and 5% for Rosati's Pizza, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Mountain Mike's Pizza operates 299 units to Rosati's Pizza's 83, roughly 4× the system size. Rosati's Pizza has been operating 62 years (founded 1964) versus 48 for Mountain Mike's Pizza (founded 1978), a 14-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Mountain Mike's Pizza has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 150 7(a) approvals compared with 120 for Rosati's Pizza. Mountain Mike's Pizza's peak SBA year was 2025 (17 loans); Rosati's Pizza's peak was 2017 (17 loans). Mountain Mike's Pizza's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Mountain Mike's Pizza has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 121. Rosati's Pizza leads in IL, with 35. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Mountain Mike's Pizza deals is $403K vs $311K for Rosati's Pizza, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.0% for Mountain Mike's Pizza and 10.8% for Rosati's Pizza, Mountain Mike's Pizza has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 75 (Strong) for Mountain Mike's Pizza and 54 (Moderate) for Rosati's Pizza, giving Mountain Mike's Pizza the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 75/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 150 | 120 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.0% | 10.8% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $477K to $983K | $147K to $1.5M |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $400K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 299 | 83 |
Franchised Units | 299 | 83 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1978 | 1964 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 1978 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 48 yrs |
Headquarters | Newport Beach, CA | Elgin, IL |
Category | Pizza Restaurants | Pizza Restaurants |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Mountain Mike's Pizza or Rosati's Pizza?
Lower upfront capital required
Rosati's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza: $477K starting · Rosati's Pizza: $147K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Mountain Mike's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza: 150 SBA loans · Rosati's Pizza: 120 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Mountain Mike's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza: 8.0% · Rosati's Pizza: 10.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Mountain Mike's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza: 299 units · Rosati's Pizza: 83 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Mountain Mike's Pizza: 5% · Rosati's Pizza: 5%
More lender financing options
Mountain Mike's Pizza
Mountain Mike's Pizza: 61 unique lenders · Rosati's Pizza: 60 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Mountain Mike's Pizza vs Rosati's Pizza: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Mountain Mike's Pizza and Rosati's Pizza is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $147K to $1.5M.
Mountain Mike's Pizza has 150 SBA loans on record and Rosati's Pizza has 120. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Mountain Mike's Pizza vs Rosati's Pizza, Frequently Asked Questions
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman