Happy Joe's vs Uno Chicago Grill Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Happy Joe's vs Uno Chicago Grill including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Uno Chicago Grill Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$1,168,000 - $2,410,500
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%-
Year Founded 19721943
Year Franchised 19731980
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Uno Chicago Grill Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • Restaurant/hospitality experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Uno Chicago Grill Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Uno Chicago Grill Franchise
    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 Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    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)

    		 Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 60 - 80

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (65% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Uno Chicago Grill Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Happy Joe's

    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:

     Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Wisconsin

    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Full Size Restaurant or Happy Joe’s PizzaGrille Restaurant is $279,750 to $1,030,625. This includes $0 to $16,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s DELCO Facility is $164,500 to $423,000. This includes the $0 to $16,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Satellite ranges from $24,470 to $132,340. This includes the $0 to $16,500 paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Area Developer business ranges from $17,625 to $94,100. This includes the development fee ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.


    About Uno Chicago Grill

    Ike Sewell combined old Italian recipes with meats, vegetables, spices and cheese and created the first deep dish pizza in 1943. He opened Pizzeria Uno to serve his creation to pizza lovers throughout Chicago. The new restaurant became so popular that Sewell opened Pizzeria Due on an opposite corner from his original restaurant to handle customer demand. Over 60 years later, the restaurant is now called Uno Chicago Grill and has evolved to offer a variety of grill items like steak, ribs, seafood and pastas in addition to its famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

    The initial investment necessary to begin operation of a Pizzeria Uno Restaurant ranges from $545,500 to $1,405,500. This includes $43,100 to $59,300 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    The initial investment necessary to begin operation of an Uno Pizzeria & Grill Restaurant ranges from $1,168,000 to $2,410,500. This includes $57,100 to $99,300 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    The franchisor offers development rights for Uno Restaurants. When you enter into a Development Agreement, you must pay the franchisor a Territory Reservation Fee equal to $5,000 times the number of Uno Restaurants you will own and operate. In addition to the Territory Reservation Fee, you must pay the franchisor an Initial Franchise Fee of $30,000 for each Pizzeria Uno Restaurant and $40,000 for each Uno Pizzeria & Grill Restaurant that you will own and operate.