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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Chicago's Pizza vs Toppers 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 | $87,300 - $173,100 | $292,146 - $530,652 |
Franchise Fee | $12,000 | $30,000 |
Royalty Fee | 4% | 5.5% |
Advertising Fee | - | 3% |
Year Founded | 1979 | 1991 |
Year Franchised | 1981 | 2000 |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | Single Unit: Liquidity: $150,000 Net Worth: $400,000 Multi-Unit (3-5 units): Liquidity: $300,000-$500,000 Net Worth: $750,000-$1,000,000 To open a Toppers franchise, you must have what it takes to make the initial investment or partner with someone who does. Those who qualify may be eligible for a reduced initial franchise fee through our association with the VetFran program. Average Square Footage: 1,200-1,800 sq ft (1,500 is optimal) Our flexible footprint makes finding a spot to locate extra easy, whether it's an endcap, in-line or freestanding location. |
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Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | -/Yes |
Start-up Costs | No/No | -/Yes |
Equipment | No/No | -/Yes |
Inventory | No/No | -/Yes |
Receivables | No/No | -/Yes |
Payroll | No/No | -/Yes |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | 30 days at a Training Store in person and hands-on Training and Marketing teams on-site prior/during/after opening On-The-Job Training: 188 hours Classroom Training: 18 hours |
Support | Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Franchise Business Leader support Corporate HQ team support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app |
Operations |
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) | We work on an owner/operator franchise system where at least one partner must be involved full-time in day-to-day operations. You won't be able to resist anyway. |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | - |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | No | - |
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.
In 1991, Toppers Pizza began its quest to become the best pizza company in the world by killing it on every detail of the customer experience. Headquartered in Whitewater, Wis., Toppers Pizza takes a unique approach to the crowded pizza segment by cooking up mouthwatering specialty pizzas that start with their fresh, made-from-scratch dough, smothered in real Wisconsin cheese and finished with outrageous toppings such as French fried onions, oven-roasted tomatoes, mac 'n cheese and tater tots. Toppers Pizza's claim to fame comes in the form of Topperstix, arguably the planet's most addictively delicious cheesy breadstix. The Toppers Pizza empire encompasses over 60 restaurants across 10 states and, with its rapid expansion, is in the midst of Midwest and national domination. In 2014, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Toppers Pizza as one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S and QSR Magazine listed the company as one of the year's Best Franchise Deals. In 2013, Nation's Restaurant News declared the Toppers Pizza brand as one of the 50 breakout chains of the year and Toppers Pizza received a No. 58 spot in Pizza Today's top 100 pizza companies.
Seeking new franchise units in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin