Happy Joe's vs Blaze Pizza Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Blaze Pizza Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$545,500 - $1,210,500
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%2%
Year Founded 19722012
Year Franchised 19732012
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Blaze Pizza Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		•  Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza is seeking multi-unit development partners. To be considered, our franchise candidates will preferably meet the following criteria:
  • You must commit to spending 100% of your time in the day to day operation of your restaurant(s). Alternatively, you may designate an Operating Principal to fill this role. (This person should have at least 10% equity in the franchise).
  • You or your Operating Principal should have a proven track record as a multi-unit owner or operator in QSR, fast-casual or restaurant dining.
  • You or your Operating Principal should have familiarity with the trade area that you plan to develop.
  • You, your Operating Principal and all of your partners must demonstrate the enthusiasm, drive and passion required to operate a Blaze Pizza restaurant to our high standards.
  • Including all your partners, you should have a minimum liquidity of $250k (i.e. cash reserves) per restaurant to be developed.

    • Financing Options
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blaze Pizza Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blaze Pizza Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours On-The-Job Training: 60 hours Classroom Training: 20 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software

    You get access to our brand, recipes & procedures, vendors, training, store build-out & trade dress, website, social media, online ordering, gift card program, etc. Most importantly, you get to be a part of a dynamic organization that is dedicated to serving custom-built, artisanal pizza in a completely new way. Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appAd Templates Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blaze Pizza Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    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 Blaze Pizza

    IT'S A PIZZA JOINT WITH A MORE CURRENT TWIST. The concept is centered around delivering an unbelievably great pizza - crazy fast - and a great deal of attention has been put against speed of service. Menu boards are prominently placed, simple and easy to navigate. Our 8 signature pizzas give customers a suggested starting point for their perfect pie, making ordering even easier. Our goal is for guests to spend their time enjoying their meal - not waiting for it.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Blaze Pizza Restaurant franchised business is between $541,500 and $1,150,500. This includes $20,960 to $30,960 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate(s). The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Blaze Pizza Area Development franchised business ranges from $548,000 and $1,210,500. This includes $26,920 to $84,600 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate(s). The total investment necessary for an Area Development franchised business includes the investment necessary to begin operation of one Restaurant, plus a development fee of $5,000 multiplied by the number of Restaurants (excluding the first Restaurant) which you must open. The high estimate includes the development fee if you elect to open ten Restaurants.

    "Entrepreneur
    #99 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #156 in Franchise 500 for 2021.