<P> Franchise owners pay a one - off franchise fee of $25,000 per restaurant , then a royalty fee of 5 % of net sales , plus a charge for advertising of 8 % of net sales . The company requires franchisees to have net worth of at least $250,000 , the approximate amount of investment needed . Corporate operations look over franchisees to ensure brand consistency . As of January 2016 there were over 4,700 Papa John 's restaurants in all 50 U.S. states and in 37 other countries and territories . Papa John 's International is a publicly traded company , with 25 % of its shares owned by John Schnatter . </P>
<P> Franchise owners pay a one - off franchise fee of $25,000 per restaurant , then a royalty fee of 5 % of net sales , plus a charge for advertising of 8 % of net sales . The company requires franchisees to have net worth of at least $250,000 , the approximate amount of investment needed . Corporate operations look over franchisees to ensure brand consistency . As of January 2016 there were over 4,700 Papa John 's restaurants in all 50 U.S. states and in 37 other countries and territories . Papa John 's International is a publicly traded company , with 25 % of its shares owned by John Schnatter . </P>
who owns the majority of papa john 's
who owns the majority of papa john 's
John Schnatter
John Schnatter