Domino’s Pizza began franchising in 1967, when its first franchise location opened in Michigan. The move transformed a small regional pizza business into a scalable delivery-focused chain.
The company began in 1960, when Tom Monaghan and his brother James acquired a small Ypsilanti, Michigan, shop called DomiNick’s. Tom Monaghan later became the sole owner, renamed the business Domino’s Pizza in 1965, and concentrated on delivery. Franchising then provided a way to expand beyond the original stores without the company financing and operating every location itself.
Domino’s first franchise opened in 1967, and the system grew quickly. By 1969, the chain had 44 stores. The company’s relatively focused menu, standardized preparation, and emphasis on delivery made its operations easier to reproduce across different markets than a full-service restaurant concept might have been.
The year is sometimes mixed up with 1960, the company’s founding date, or 1965, the year the Domino’s name was adopted. Those are important milestones, but 1967 specifically marks the start of franchising. Domino’s later expanded internationally, opening its first international store in 1983.