Cottage Inn Franchise
Cottage Inn is a pizza restaurant franchise offering specialty and custom pizzas, subs, salads, wings, and sides with delivery, carryout, and dine-in service.
$75,000
$20,000
63
1986
Ann Arbor,MI
-
About Cottage Inn
Cottage Inn is a pizza restaurant franchise specializing in specialty and build-your-own pizzas, subs, salads, wings, breadsticks, and sides served through delivery, carryout, and dine-in channels. With over 30 locations operating primarily in Michigan and expanding to surrounding states, Cottage Inn has built a loyal following through quality ingredients, generous toppings, and reliable service. Each location offers an extensive menu featuring signature specialty pizzas with creative topping combinations, customizable pizzas allowing unlimited ingredient choices, and complementary items that round out the dining experience. The brand serves college communities, families, and pizza lovers seeking quality alternatives to national chains with delivery and carryout convenience. Cottage Inn emphasizes fresh dough made daily, premium toppings, and customer service that builds neighborhood loyalty and repeat orders.
Franchise Unit Trends & Revenue
63
6
$975,838
* in 2024
Franchise Fees
$20,000
5.0%
Gross Revenues
4.0%
Gross Revenues
Why Choose Cottage Inn?
Cottage Inn offers franchisees a proven pizza business model with over 50 years of operational history and established brand recognition in its core Michigan markets. The brand provides proprietary pizza recipes and dough formulations, comprehensive training on pizza preparation and restaurant operations, vendor relationships for ingredients and supplies, and operational systems supporting delivery, carryout, and dine-in service models. Franchisees benefit from Cottage Inn's positioning as a quality-focused alternative to national pizza chains, strong performance in college towns and family neighborhoods, and multiple revenue channels generating income throughout lunch, dinner, and late-night dayparts. The pizza category remains resilient with consistent consumer demand across economic conditions, while Cottage Inn's established recipes and operational simplicity make it accessible for both experienced restaurant operators and first-time franchisees. With relatively modest investment requirements, proven unit economics, established supply chain, and ongoing support, Cottage Inn provides franchisees with resources to build profitable pizza restaurants serving their local communities.
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$250,000 - $500,000
$300,000
$75,000
Training & Support
Cottage Inn provides franchisees with comprehensive training covering pizza preparation, restaurant operations, delivery management, and business fundamentals. New franchisees and their management teams attend intensive training at corporate headquarters covering Cottage Inn pizza dough preparation and handling, specialty pizza recipes and topping applications, custom pizza assembly procedures, sub and salad preparation, quality control standards, kitchen equipment operation, food safety protocols, delivery coordination and driver management, customer service excellence, point-of-sale systems, inventory management and ordering, staff hiring and training, and daily restaurant operations. Training combines classroom instruction with hands-on kitchen practice to ensure franchisees can execute recipes and manage operations before opening. Beyond initial training, franchisees receive ongoing support including site selection assistance, restaurant design and equipment specifications, equipment procurement, vendor relationships for ingredients and supplies, technology platform implementation, and pre-opening marketing. Cottage Inn provides operational manuals, proprietary recipes, marketing materials and promotional campaigns, ongoing field support from experienced restaurant professionals, and access to supply chain resources to help franchisees maintain food quality, optimize delivery operations, control costs, and build successful neighborhood pizza restaurants serving their communities with the quality and service that have defined Cottage Inn for over seven decades.
History
Cottage Inn was founded in 1948 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, beginning as a small neighborhood pizzeria serving the University of Michigan community and local residents. The restaurant built its reputation on quality ingredients, generous portions, and reliable delivery service that made it a favorite among students and families. Over decades, Cottage Inn refined its recipes, expanded its menu, and perfected operational systems while maintaining the neighborhood restaurant character that earned customer loyalty. The brand expanded throughout Michigan, opening locations in college towns and communities that valued quality pizza alternatives to national chains. Cottage Inn began franchising to accelerate growth and bring its proven concept to new markets while maintaining local ownership and community connection. The brand has remained true to its founding commitment to quality ingredients, fresh dough, and customer service while adapting to evolving consumer preferences and operational technologies. Today, with over 30 locations operating and continued expansion, Cottage Inn maintains its Michigan heritage and neighborhood pizza restaurant roots while serving new communities with the same quality and service that built the brand over 75 years.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Cottage Inn franchisee is community-oriented, customer-focused, and committed to quality food preparation and reliable service that builds neighborhood loyalty. Candidates should be hands-on, willing to actively manage or closely oversee daily restaurant operations, and capable of maintaining the food quality and service standards that define the Cottage Inn brand. Prior pizza or restaurant experience is helpful but not required—franchisees receive comprehensive training on pizza making, operational procedures, and business management. The brand seeks individuals who understand their local market, can build relationships with customers and community organizations, and appreciate the importance of consistency in food quality and delivery service. Cottage Inn franchisees should be prepared to manage restaurant operations including food preparation oversight, delivery coordination, staff hiring and training, inventory management, customer service, local marketing, and financial controls. Financially qualified candidates with $75,000 in liquid capital and $300,000 net worth who want to operate a neighborhood pizza restaurant with established brand recognition are encouraged to explore opportunities.
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