Key Takeaways
- Many Pizza Factory franchises are owned and operated by families who are deeply connected to their communities.
- Family business franchise ownership helps create the welcoming, community-first culture that has defined Pizza Factory for more than 40 years.
- From multi-generational operators to first-time franchisees, Pizza Factory supports owners through every stage of their journey.
When looking for a restaurant franchise, many owner-operator franchisees are seeking an opportunity that they can extend beyond a business into a family legacy. Restaurants, whether fast-casual, full-service, or quick-service, create opportunities for spouses to work together, children to learn valuable life skills, and multiple generations to build something meaningful side by side. The best family business franchises are the ones that are built with plenty of support, community connection, and the opportunity to scale for generations to come.
At Pizza Factory, we’ve seen that story play out time and time again. For more than 40 years, our restaurants have become gathering places for families throughout the West. It’s only natural that many of our pizza franchise owners have built those same family values into the way they operate their businesses.
Whether it’s parents and children working together, siblings managing day-to-day operations, or longtime employees eventually becoming owners themselves, Pizza Factory franchise owners are just as invested in people as they are in pizza. Here are three examples of families who have entered business ownership in the Pizza Factory franchise system.
Celebrating 10 Years in Merced
This September, Pizza Factory’s Merced restaurant celebrates 10 years serving the community. The last three of those years have been under the ownership of Mike and Karen Hausmann and their family.
When the opportunity to purchase the restaurant arose in 2023, the Hausmanns turned years of conversations about collective restaurant ownership into reality. Today, multiple family members help operate the business while continuing the restaurant’s long tradition of serving local schools, youth sports organizations, and community groups.
Rather than changing what made the original Pizza Factory franchise location a hometown favorite, the family focused on strengthening those relationships. They’ve expanded school partnerships, hosted community events in their party rooms, and continued creating the welcoming atmosphere that Pizza Factory guests have come to expect. The Pizza Factory Merced story is a reminder that restaurant ownership can be a team effort, and always relies on community connections.
A Legacy That Started in Dunsmuir
Few stories better represent the Pizza Factory franchise than Gary and Jean Rogers in Dunsmuir. After opening their restaurant in 1986, they spent the next four decades building their business. Along the way, they mentored hundreds of employees, inspired future franchise owners, and helped create what many affectionately refer to as the “Pizza Factory family.”
That legacy continues today. Their son Matt and daughter-in-law Marlee both began working at the Dunsmuir Pizza Factory as teenagers. After more than 20 years learning the business together, they opened their own Pizza Factory in nearby Mt. Shasta, carrying the family’s passion for community into the next generation.
The Dunsmuir story shows that family business franchises can create a true opportunity to scale. When families spend this many years in the restaurant business with a franchisor who supports their growth, the possibilities expand.
Keeping a Community Tradition Alive in Taft
Sometimes, family ownership means stepping in as a group to preserve a community legacy, which is exactly what happened with Pizza Factory Taft. After more than 40 years as a customer at the hometown favorite, longtime resident Josh Bryant stepped in to purchase the local Pizza Factory, ensuring the pizza franchise would remain locally owned and operated.
Josh has spent more than four decades living in Taft, coaching football at his alma mater, and working for the local school district. Today, his son Drew serves as general manager, while his wife Alicia and two other sons all play important roles in the business.
For the Bryant family, owning Pizza Factory is an extension of the community they’ve already spent years serving, which exemplifies why Pizza Factory is one of the best franchises for families. Each family member plays a key role in a business that has meant something to them for over four decades.
Why Pizza Factory Works for Family Franchisees
No two franchise owners look exactly alike, but many of our family-owned franchises share something in common: they build their businesses alongside the people they trust most.
At Pizza Factory, we support family ownership by providing:
- Comprehensive training that helps new owners build confidence together
- Hands-on operational support throughout the life of the business
- Flexible opportunities for spouses, parents, children, and siblings to contribute in different roles
- A community-first business model that naturally aligns with family values
- A franchise system built around long-term relationships rather than short-term transactions
Whether you’re an experienced operator hoping to build something your children can one day lead or a family looking to own your first business together, Pizza Factory provides the support and community needed to grow with confidence.
The stories of the Hausmanns, the Rogers family, and the Bryants all look a little different. Some inherited a passion for Pizza Factory through years of experience, while others found an opportunity to serve the communities they already loved. However, all of them chose to invest in their family’s futures.
If you’re looking for a Pizza Factory franchise where family, community, and long-term support come together, we’d love to start the conversation. Fill out our franchise inquiry form today and learn how you can build your own legacy with Pizza Factory.