What does it take to open a successful pizzeria?

Brazil is the second largest consumer of pizza in the world, This is second only to the United States. With this in mind, the country has more than 160,000 pizzerias, which together sell around 204 million units a month, almost one pizza per inhabitant, according to Abrasel. So, given this scenario, many entrepreneurs wonder what it takes to open a successful pizzeria and the answer involves much more than mastering recipes.

First of all, you need to structure a business plan, calculate investments, meet legal requirements, choose the right equipment and adopt management solutions to increase agility and reduce errors. In addition, each stage needs to be planned carefully, as a mistake at the start could jeopardize the future of the business.

In this guide, you'll understand what it takes to open a pizzeria from the initial planning until operation, This includes costs, legal requirements, a strategic menu, delivery and, in addition, the role of technology as a competitive differentiator. This will enable you to turn your passion into a profitable and sustainable business.

Market overview and what it takes to open a pizzeria in Brazil

The economic power of pizza

Pizza has established itself as a symbol of taste and economic strength. According to Abrasel, In Brazil, there are more than 160,000 pizzerias, which together sell around 204 million units a month, practically one pizza per inhabitant. Therefore, investing in this segment means participating in one of the strongest sectors in food service. So understanding this market is the first step to knowing what it takes to open a pizzeria with growth potential.

The growth of independent pizzerias

According to Sebrae-SP, The number of independent pizzerias grew by 24.6% between 2021 and 2024, from 27,000 to 33,600 establishments. With this in mind, the forecast is that by 2026 this growth will reach 28.5%. This advance was mainly driven by pizzerias that operate only with delivery or pick-up, In other words, delivery services have shown themselves to be a competitive differentiator, growing by 32%, while those offering complete salon service grew by only 4.7%. In other words, delivery has proved to be a competitive differentiator.

The key to pizzeria success: what it takes to open a pizzeria that stands out

For Helena Andrade, an analyst at Sebrae-SP, “pizza is associated with moments of leisure with family and friends, which encourages its consumption”. She also points out that quality goes beyond taste: it also involves presentation, packaging, service and waiting time. In his words, “to stand out in a competitive market, pizzerias need to offer a complete experience”.

How much does it cost to open a pizzeria and what do you need?

One of the most common doubts is how much it costs to open a pizzeria. Despite this, the amount varies depending on the business model, be it delivery, salon, rodízio or food truck. Even so, it is possible to establish an average based on studies by Sebrae.

Main costs of a pizzeria

• Equipmentwood, gas or electric ovens, pasta makers, freezers, refrigerators and utensils.
• Infrastructure: refurbishment, decoration, furniture (tables, chairs, counters).
• Working capitalPurchase of supplies, payment of staff, fixed bills.
• Marketing and promotiondigital presence, local campaigns and promotions.
• Regularizationopening fees, licenses and permits.

According to Sebrae, the initial investment can vary from R$100,000 to R$300,000, depending on the size of the pizzeria. Consequently, financial planning is essential to avoid surprises and to understand what it takes to open a pizzeria safely.

Documents and legal requirements: what you need to open a pizzeria

Opening a pizzeria requires, first and foremost, complying with legal obligations that guarantee the safety of the business and the trust of the customer. Among the main ones are:

• CNPJ and registration with the Board of Trade.
• City Hall operating license.
• Health surveillance license.
• Registration of state and municipal taxpayers.
• Fire Department report, depending on the size of the business.

These requirements vary according to each municipality. It is therefore advisable to check local legislation before starting.

Equipment and strategic cooking

The equipment that defines quality

As everyone knows, the oven is the heart of the pizzeria. However, it is not the only essential item. You need to invest in:

• Industrial kneadersstandardize the dough and reduce manual effort.
• Refrigerators and freezers: keep supplies fresh.
• Stainless steel worktopsThe new design: guarantees hygiene and durability.
• Preparation utensilsblades, cutters, slicers and containers.

Increasing the agility of a pizzeria with technology

Another crucial point about what it takes to open a pizzeria is to guarantee efficiency. Kitchens need to be efficient to serve an increasingly demanding public. This makes technology indispensable. In addition to KDS (Kitchen Display System) systems, artificial intelligence is already being used in restaurante and pizzeria for:

• Demand forecasting: identify peaks in orders based on historical data.
• Intelligent stock managementautomatic alerts for input purchases.
• Scale of employees with AIAdjust the board according to expected demand.
• Service chatbots: take orders via WhatsApp or your own apps.

In this way, errors are reduced, productivity increases and, consequently, deliveries happen more quickly.

The strategic menu and delivery as pillars

The most requested flavors in Brazil

According to iFood, 103 million pizzas were sold on the platform in the first six months of 2025. The most ordered flavors were:

With this data, you can conclude that a strategic menu doesn't have to be extensive. On the contrary: it's better to offer the classics and, at the same time, explore niches such as sweet pizzas.

Delivery as a sales driver

Today, delivery accounts for a large part of pizzerias' turnover. In addition to integration with apps like iFood, what it takes to open a successful pizzeria includes offering your own ordering channel in order to reduce fees and build customer loyalty.

Today, technology, especially artificial intelligence, allows pizzerias to adopt much more sophisticated strategies. With dynamic digital menus, for example, it's possible to update prices and promotions in real time, according to demand and the busiest times. 

In addition, intelligent systems are already able to suggest personalized combos based on each customer's order history, increasing the average ticket and encouraging repurchases. Another important point is integration with marketplaces, which not only reduces failures, but also helps control fees, while encouraging consumers to order directly through the pizzeria's channel. 

To top it off, AI-based digital loyalty programs become a competitive differentiator. In this way, discounts and automatic rewards strengthen loyalty and increase revenue predictability, being the final component in what it takes to open a customer-focused pizzeria.

The ideal system: the technology you need to open a successful pizzeria

Running a successful pizzeria requires more than good recipes. It is therefore essential to control inputs, integrate sales channels and ensure agility.

O system for pizzerias from Teknisa is a solution developed to support managers of restaurantes, pizzerias and food service chains. Its main features include:

• Stock managementcontrol of pasta, sauces and perishable ingredients.
• Integration with deliverydirect connection to delivery applications.
• Order automationfewer errors and faster service.
• Real-time reportsclear vision of sales, costs and margins.
• Financial and fiscal controlsafety and compliance with legislation.

With this, the manager achieves more efficiency, less waste and, ultimately, greater profitability.

Want to see how technology is already transforming successful pizzerias and is part of what it takes to open a pizzeria? Watch how Pizza Pezzi transformed process control:

Conclusion: What it takes to open a profitable pizzeria

In short, opening a successful pizzeria goes far beyond knowing how to make a good pizza. You need to combine financial planning, compliance with legal requirements, suitable equipment, a strategic menu, efficient delivery and, above all, management technology.

If you're wondering what it takes to open a pizzeria, the answer lies in the combination of taste, experience and management intelligence.

Want to take your pizzeria to the next level? Get to know system for restaurante from Teknisa with special solutions for pizzerias, and discover how to transform your operation into a profitable, agile and innovative business.