AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company vs Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company vs Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Investment $490,000 - $865,000$295,000 - $750,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$49,500
Royalty Fee 4%7%
Advertising Fee -2%
Year Founded 19961992
Year Franchised 20021998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years+5
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years+5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Retail experience
  • No Restaurant experience necessary but helpful Minimum financials are $175K to $400K in investment capital and a $600K to $1.0MM net worth

    Financing Options

     
    AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/Yes
    Equipment No/Yes-/Yes
    Inventory No/Yes-/Yes
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
    Training -8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification
    Support Meetings, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    On site pre and post opening training and operational support with quarterly QA Visits.

    Expansion Plans

     
    AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
    Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About AZPCO Arizona Pizza Company

    Arizona Pizza is a full-service, casual dining restaurant and bar with a Southwestern theme. We offer eat-in and take out service. The wood-fired pizza oven is housed in a giant stone chimney and emits a tantalizing aroma, which captures the customers’ attention the minute they enter the restaurant. Our menu features gourmet and traditional wood-fired pizzas, appetizers, over-sized pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps, salads and other items prepared using the freshest ingredients. The food is serviced in an entertaining, relaxing, fun filled atmosphere. The intimate bar is beautifully crafted and features wood and brushed copper accents. Customers seated at the bar are able to watch the cooks prepare their dinners. Kokopelli (the flute player that is a symbol of good luck) is integrated into the theme. There are individual television sets strategically placed at various tables and booths throughout the dining areas. Arizona Pizza is a fun, yet cozy environment where individuals of all lifestyles feel welcome and comfortable.

    About Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen

    Using the family recipe for hand-tossed dough, the sauce made from fresh-crushed California tomatoes, and imported Italian cheese blends, Anthony became the sole owner and chef of his first restaurant Russo’s Pizza in the early 80’s. "It was 800 square feet. I had a pizza oven, a dough mixer and two tables. That's it. I could only sit eight people.” A few years later, he created Anthony’s Pizzeria, located in Clear Lake, Texas, and soon moved to Houston.

    For almost a decade, Anthony refined his menu using classic Italian family recipes and zeroed in on the perfect New York-style pizza. In 1992, Russo’s New York Pizzeria opened in downtown Houston, Texas and proved to be a success.

     
    Russo's Restaurants is a national and international franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russo's Restaurants are composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russo's has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. There are an additional 20-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.