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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Happy Joe's vs Chicago's Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $24,470 - $1,030,625 | $87,300 - $173,100 |
Franchise Fee | $15,000 - $17,000 | $12,000 |
Royalty Fee | 4.5%-5% | 4% |
Advertising Fee | 1.5% | - |
Year Founded | 1972 | 1979 |
Year Franchised | 1973 | 1981 |
Term Of Agreement | 15 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 15 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | 10% of fee or $2K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | ||
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | No/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
Receivables | No/Yes | No/No |
Payroll | No/Yes | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours | - |
Support | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software | Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks |
Operations |
33% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 45 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | Yes | No |
Lawrence Joseph Whitty had worked in the bakery business for years before becoming an assistant manager at a Shakey's pizzeria. He decided to combine his baking skills with the experience he had gained from working at a pizza restaurant, where he would often hear families decide to go out for ice cream for dessert. Combining pizza and ice cream, Whitty opened the first Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor in East Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. His signature item was the Happy Joe's Special, a pizza with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut that Whitty created from leftovers in his mother's kitchen. After a franchisee suggested adding tacos to the menu, Whitty created the restaurant's best-selling product, the Taco Pizza.
Seeking new franchisees in the following regions/states:
Robert McDonald enjoyed working in the pizza business. When he was suddenly terminated from his job with an Indiana pizza restaurant, he decided to start his own pizza chain. When Ron Epple, who had worked with McDonald as director of franchise training, heard what his old co-worker was up to, he asked to be part of it.
In 1979, the two founded Chicago's Pizza. At lunchtime, restaurants serve pizzas by the slice or in seven-inch rounds from counters and drive-thru windows. In the evening, customers can use the drive-thru window to pick up phone orders. Most of the locations also have dining rooms where customers can enjoy Chicago's 29-inch pizza.
The company has franchises in Indiana and Ohio. There is also a Chicago's Pizza location in Seville, Spain.