I've been thinking a lot...

What makes a profitable pizzeria?

Over the last 12–24 months, I’ve visited a ton of pizzerias—either for a podcast interview or for our Pizzeria Insider series on YouTube. And there’s one thing that keeps standing out.

The most profitable ones? Almost all of them have small footprints and tiny dining rooms.

I’m not saying this is the only way to be successful, but if you’re trying to build a highly profitable pizzeria—or just getting started—this setup makes a big difference.

We even ran a poll recently asking pizzeria owners their profit margins:
5–10%, 10–15%, 20%+.

And guess what? The majority of those reporting 20%+ profit had shops between 1,000–2,000 square feet.
Minimal dining. No wait staff.
Mostly takeout, delivery, and simple menus focused on pizza.

Something to think about before you sign that lease for 3,000–4,000 square feet or load up your space with tables and overhead that’s hard to scale back.

Just some food for thought on this Thursday afternoon.

👇 Check out some of the shops I’ve visited and the full interviews over on YouTube and the podcast.

And if you’ve noticed the same thing—or have a totally different setup that’s working—hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.

This Week’s Content

🎙️ Podcast of the Week
👉 The #1 Marketing Mistake Killing Pizza Shops in 2025 (And What to Do Instead)
Whether you’re opening your first shop or scaling locations, this episode is a must-watch for restaurant owners who want real-world strategies and behind-the-scenes insight into what makes top-performing pizzerias tick.

🎥 Youtube video of the Week
👉 Thinking of Opening a Pizza Shop? WATCH THIS FIRST
Before you open a pizza shop, watch this. Bruce shares hard-won insights from visiting 75+ pizza shops and interviewing over 500 owners. He dives into what makes a pizza shop actually successful—not just busy, but profitable and fulfilling to run. Learn the real reasons why some pizza shops thrive while others crash and burn.

Meme of the week

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Thanks for reading the first issue of The Smart Slice! Got feedback or ideas? Hit reply and let’s chat. See you next time!