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Mr. Gatti's

Mr. Gatti's

The total investment to open a Mr. Gatti's franchise ranges from $90,500 to $571,000. Ongoing royalties are 4%.

What is the Mr. Gatti's franchise?

Franchise investment requires careful review of the business model, market, operating structure, and financial commitment. For buyers considering the pizza segment, Mr. Gatti's has a family centered dining identity and a focus on quality pizza, although specific founding year details are not available. The brand currently has 19 total units, including 18 franchised units and zero company owned locations. Its structure relies on entrepreneurial operators and a corporate organization focused on franchisee support. Mr. Gatti's operates in the full service restaurant category, within a global restaurant market estimated to exceed $2.5 trillion annually. The United States market contributed approximately $898 billion in 2023. The United States pizza segment is valued at roughly $47 billion and has typically grown 3% to 4% each year. Headquartered in Bay City, TX, Mr. Gatti's combines traditional dine in service with a pizza buffet and game room concept. That format appeals to families and other customers seeking value, food, and entertainment in one visit. With 18 active franchised locations, the brand is an established regional operator with room to expand into additional territories.

The full service restaurant industry benefits from continued consumer demand for convenience, quality, and social experiences. United States food service is projected to surpass $1.1 trillion by 2024, with an approximate recent CAGR of 4.5%. The global pizza market is projected to approach $230 billion by 2029, growing at an annual rate between 3.5% and 4.0%. Pizza remains popular because it is customizable and serves a wide range of customers. Consumers also continue to seek dining experiences that include entertainment or social activity, which aligns with Mr. Gatti's buffet and game room model. Value remains a significant consideration, particularly in casual dining, as customers look for quality food and a worthwhile overall experience. Population growth, increasing urbanization, and the cultural role of dining out support demand for food service. The sector has also shown resilience during economic fluctuations. Franchising can provide access to an established brand, a developed supply chain, operating guidance, and a defined business model when compared with starting an independent restaurant. Competition remains intense, with local independent restaurants, regional chains, and national brands serving the full service pizza market. Results depend on brand differentiation, efficient operations, and consistent customer service.

The total initial investment for a Mr. Gatti's franchise ranges from $90,500 to $571,000. Specific information about the initial franchise fee is not available. In the broader full service restaurant category, franchise fees commonly range from $25,000 to $50,000 and may cover initial training, site selection assistance, proprietary systems, brand trademark use, and operating methods. The Mr. Gatti's investment range can include leasehold improvements, restaurant construction, kitchen equipment, dining furniture, opening inventory, working capital, employee wages during the ramp up period, training, grand opening marketing, business licenses, and permits. Costs can vary based on the size and format of the location, including a smaller express model or a full scale buffet and entertainment center. Real estate conditions also matter, such as new construction compared with renovating an existing space, along with regional labor and material costs. Mr. Gatti's specific liquid capital and net worth requirements are not disclosed. For a comparable full service restaurant investment, liquid capital requirements can fall between $100,000 and $250,000, while net worth requirements often range from $300,000 to $750,000. Specific Mr. Gatti's royalty and advertising fees are also not available. Industry benchmarks commonly include royalties of 4% to 8% of gross sales and advertising fees of 1% to 3% of gross sales. Buyers should include these continuing costs when evaluating the total cost of ownership and the long term financial needs of the business.

Daily operations center on a family friendly dining experience built around pizza, a buffet, and entertainment such as game rooms. The restaurant must coordinate food preparation, customer service, cleanliness, facility management, and game area oversight. A typical day includes preparing fresh ingredients, dough, and sauces before lunch and dinner periods. During service, employees maintain buffet freshness, clean the dining and game areas, and assist guests. A full service restaurant like Mr. Gatti's typically requires 15 to 30 employees, depending on unit size and hours. Personnel can include a general manager, assistant managers, pizza makers, cooks, preparation staff, servers, buffet attendants, cashiers, and game room attendants. The $90,500 to $571,000 investment range indicates flexibility among possible formats, including traditional full service dine in restaurants, smaller express units focused on carry out and delivery, and larger entertainment focused locations. Franchisees may therefore match the format to local demographics and available real estate. Specific Mr. Gatti's training details are not available, but a typical full service restaurant program includes multi week classroom sessions and on the job training. Topics generally include food preparation, safety, customer service, point of sale systems, local marketing, inventory, and human resources. Continuing corporate support may include operating audits, marketing campaigns, supply chain assistance, and development of menu items and technology. Franchise agreements typically define a protected geographic territory to reduce internal competition. Multi unit development may also allow experienced operators to open several locations within a larger designated area.

Gatti's Franchise Disclosure Document. Buyers must use broader industry benchmarks when forming financial expectations. Labor commonly represents 25% to 35% of sales, while rent and occupancy range from 5% to 10%. Utilities, insurance, and other administrative expenses can account for another 5% to 10%. Growth opportunities in the category can involve new menu offerings, digital ordering, and catering. Specific Mr. Gatti's performance figures are unavailable, but the PeerSense database includes 18 active Mr. Gatti's locations, all with Google ratings. That presence may indicate an established customer base and operating footprint.

Mr. Gatti's current growth position is based on 19 total units, including 18 franchised units and zero company owned locations. Historical unit counts by year and specific net new unit figures are not available. The existing franchised network provides a base for future expansion and reflects a strategy centered on independent operators and local market knowledge. Typical brand development could include menu changes, technology for digital ordering and loyalty programs, and new store formats suited to consumer preferences and real estate conditions. Mr. Gatti's distinction in the full service restaurant market comes from its family friendly setting, all you can eat pizza buffet, and game room entertainment. The format offers a complete outing for families and groups rather than a meal alone. It also gives the brand a dine in position while many pizza businesses emphasize delivery or quick service. Specific founding details are unavailable, but the brand's history in pizza reflects experience with customer preferences and restaurant operations. Continued attention to quality and value supports that position. Modern technology remains relevant to the concept. Online ordering, loyalty programs, social media for local engagement and promotions, and data analytics can improve convenience, repeat business, customer insight, and operating decisions.

The prospective Mr. Gatti's franchisee should bring entrepreneurial motivation, business judgment, and leadership ability. Restaurant management or multi unit experience is useful because the business involves food preparation, staffing, service, and customer relations. A commitment to the brand's family friendly values, strong communication skills, customer service focus, and local marketing ability are also relevant. The buyer must have the financial capacity to handle the initial investment and continuing operating costs, along with a practical plan for growth. With 18 franchised units already operating, the brand may be suited to multi unit operators with the capital and organization needed to develop several locations. Such operators can apply shared teams and operating experience across units. Available territories change over time and would be addressed during the discovery process. Target markets would generally include suburban areas, growing communities, and retail corridors with high foot traffic, serving families, groups, and customers seeking value and an experiential meal. The period from franchise agreement signing to opening typically lasts 9 to 18 months. It can include site selection, lease negotiation, design, permits, construction or renovation, equipment purchasing, franchisee training, staffing, and opening marketing. The specific Mr. Gatti's agreement term is not available. Comparable full service restaurant franchise agreements commonly have an initial term of 10 years, often with renewal options.

Mr. Gatti's operates in a growing pizza and full service restaurant market and offers a family buffet and entertainment format that differs from delivery focused and quick service concepts. The total initial investment ranges from $90,500 to $571,000. The broader pizza market has been growing at 3% to 4% annually in the United States, while comparable industry measures provide context for revenue, expense, and margin expectations. The buffet, game room, and dine in format may appeal to customers looking for value and a shared activity. Franchisee support, the existing network, and the potential for additional locations are relevant factors for an entrepreneur evaluating the concept. PeerSense provides franchise research and introduces buyers to SBA and conventional lenders for financing discussions. PeerSense is not a lender and does not fund or approve loans.

Loan Activity Score

19/100

SBA Default Rate

32.1%

Active Lenders

20

According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Mr. Gatti's has 18 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 20 lenders made 28 loans to franchisees of Mr. Gatti's. PeerSense calculates Mr. Gatti's's score as 19 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.

18 locations

Investment

$90,500 to $571,000

Total Units

18

18 franchised

Loan Activity Score
High
19
SBA Lending
0
Lender Quality
7
Transparency
4
Reach
5
Momentum
3

Proprietary PeerSense metric

Limited
Capital Sources
20SBA lenders

Distinct lenders in public SBA records for Mr. Gatti's

28

Total SBA loans

$376K

Average loan size

Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025

Referral fee at closing

SBA Lending Activity for Mr. Gatti's

Loan Activity Score Breakdown

Established (25 to 99 loans)

High Confidence
19out of 100
Limited
Market Momentum3/35

Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.

Loan Safety0/25

Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.

Lender Confidence7/15

Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.

Transparency4/15

FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.

Footprint5/10

Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.

SBA Lending Performance

SBA Default Rate

32.1%

vs 10.3% peer avg

SBA Loans

28

Total Volume

$10.5M

Active Lenders

20

3 selective

States

7

vs. SBA Sector Average

-21.8%higher default rate

SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors

Key Highlights

Data Insights

Key performance metrics for Mr. Gatti's based on SBA lending data

SBA Default Rate

32.1%

21.8% above peer avg

SBA Loan Volume

28 loans

Across 20 lenders

Lender Diversity

20 lenders

Avg 1.4 loans per lender

Investment Tier

Significant investment

$90,500 to $571,000 total

Mr. Gatti's: Deep SBA Data

Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.

Peak SBA Year

1994

4 approvals. The best year on record for Mr. Gatti's.

Top SBA State

Texas

19 SBA financed Mr. Gatti's locations, the densest operator footprint.

Average Loan Size

$376K

Median $311K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Mr. Gatti's unit.

Lender Concentration

35.7%

Moderately Spread

Share of Mr. Gatti's approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.

Mr. Gatti's's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 1994 (4 approvals). Operator density is highest in Texas with 19 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $376K, with the median at $311K. Lender mix is moderately spread: the top three SBA lenders account for 35.7% of approvals. Meaningful choice exists, but specific lenders carry the brand.

Payment Estimator

Loan Amount$72K
Interest Rate9.5%
Term (Years)10 yr

Estimated Monthly Payment

$937

Principal & Interest only

Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.

Locations

Mr. Gatti's, unit breakdown

Total Units
N/A
Franchisee Owned
n/a
System Owned
n/a
Closed
n/a

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Mr. Gatti's

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