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Updated RecentlyFriendly's Restaurants vs Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Friendly's Restaurants vs Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $498,500 - $1,950,000 | $1,332,100 - $1,958,333 |
| Franchise Fee | $30,000 - $35,000 | $50,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% | 5% |
| Advertising Fee | 3.5% | 5% |
| Year Founded | 1935 | 1996 |
| Year Franchised | 1996 | 2009 |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | 10 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 20 years | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | $5K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | * Industry experience * (or must have partner with industry experience.) | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/No | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | - |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations | Field operations/evaluations |
| Marketing | Ad slicks, National media | Co-op advertising, Regional advertising |
| Operations |
Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 62% of all franchisees own more than one unit
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 75 |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | No | - |
Company Overviews
About Friendly's Restaurants
In Springfield, Massachusetts at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, 20 year-old Prestley Blake and his 18 year-old brother Curtis opened an ice cream shop called 'Friendly' that served double-dip cones for 5 cents. The brothers opened a second shop five years later in West Springfield, Massachusetts and added food to the menu. Within a decade, locations opened throughout western Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1988 Donald N. Smith, the company's current CEO, purchased the company and a year later added an 's' to the name, making it 'Friendly's.'
In May 2000, Friendly's introduced a new food and dessert menu featuring colossal burgers, sandwich wraps, splits, sundaes and Cyclones. Friendly's produces 10 million snack cups and 230,000 gallons of fudge every year. In addition to its restaurants and cafes, Friendly's manufactures a complete line of frozen desserts.
About Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge
Faro was, once again, in the restaurant business when he opened Uccello’s Ristorante Pizzeria & Sports Lounge on East Beltline in 1996. Uccello's Ristorante has officially opened up 6 locations in the last 23 years, the most recent being Downtown Grand Rapids across from Rosa Parks Circle.
Faro didn't want to stop there. In 2016, Uccello's Hospitality Group expanded when opening their first fast-casual concept, Herb & Fire Pizzeria, in Grandville. Since then, UHG has opened a second location by Celebration! Cinema North on East Beltline.
Uccello’s Hospitality Group has grown into 8 successful locations, inspired by Faro’s personal philosophy: "Always strive to give your guest more than they would normally expect. Provide people the opportunity to enjoy great food and the hospitality to match. You must always strive to be better in everything, and never compromise on top quality in any area”.