Happy Joe's vs Boston Pizza Canada Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Boston Pizza Canada Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$1,145,000 - $3,017,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%3%
Year Founded 19721963
Year Franchised 19731968
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K20% of current fee


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Boston Pizza Canada Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Boston Pizza Canada Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Boston Pizza Canada 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)

    10-20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 70

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Boston Pizza Canada Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    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 Boston Pizza Canada

    Boston - The Gourmet Pizza has a long and eventful history ...that dates all the way back to 1964. It started with Gus Agiortis, a Greek immigrant who had jumped ship in Vancouver, and then opened the first Boston Pizza in Edmonton, Alberta in 1964. He worked tirelessly to make pizza a household name in Western Canada. Gus' first restaurant was known as "Boston Pizza and Spaghetti House." The company started franchising in 1968 and has since evolved from a "pizza joint" into a full service casual dining restaurant and sports bar. Six years after opening, Gus had 17 locations (two corporate and 15 franchised) in operation across Western Canada. Gus believed that a potential franchisee didn't need a restaurant background, but needed strong people skills, a passion for hard work and new horizons. This philosophy still stands true today.

    "Top

    #20 in Canada's Top franchises.