Round Table Pizza vs Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Round Table Pizza vs Russo's New York Pizzeria including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Round Table Pizza Franchise
Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise
Investment $327,300 - $1,061,250$400,000 - $1,500,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$49,500
Royalty Fee 4%7%
Advertising Fee 4%2%
Year Founded 19591978
Year Franchised 19621998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years +5
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years +5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Round Table Pizza Franchise
Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise
Experience * Foodservice industry experience as an owner/operator or manager with P & L responsibility * Demonstrated ability to lead and manage people * Customer service skills * Strong business acumen and financial management skills * $200,000 in unleveraged liquid assets * $500,000 net worth 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
 
Round Table Pizza Franchise
Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Round Table Pizza Franchise
Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise
Training Round Table's Skills Training Program (STP) is a comprehensive management training curriculum designed to support the ongoing training needs and requirements of our franchisees. The program encompasses modules for new franchise owners and multi-unit operators, managers and assistant managers, shift managers and crew leaders and general crewmembers. Prior to opening, new franchise owners are required to successfully complete a one-week business planning and leadership class at our Concord, CA headquarters. On-The-Job Training: 180 hours Classroom Training: 16 hours Corporate Store, Houston, TX . 8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification.
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform Central Data Processing: At Additional Cost

Field Operation Evaluation: At Additional Cost

Field Training: At Additional Cost Initial Store Opening

Inventory Control

Regional or National Meetings

800 Telephone Hotline
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app -
Operations -Average Number of Employees: 10 Full-time, 6 Part-time

Passive Ownership: Allowed, But Discouraged

Expansion Plans
 
Round Table Pizza Franchise
Russo's New York Pizzeria Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Round Table Pizza

Round Table Pizza is the fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S. with over 500 restaurants in nine western states and five foreign countries. Headquartered in Concord, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Round Table has built a reputation as the pizza brand of choice and market share leader in the most competitive and discriminating restaurant markets in the country. We are recognized throughout the West for gourmet taste, quality and menu innovation. The key differentiator between Round Table and other branded pizza chains is our product. Every Round Table restaurant rolls fresh dough every day and tops every pie with fresh cheese and only the freshest ingredients. In this day and age of frozen dough, frozen cheese and frozen toppings, Round Table is unique in the pizza segment. One of the major reasons for the success of the Round Table brand is our franchise owners and their strong commitment to product quality, service and proactive local community involvement. We are committed to franchising as our primary business model. Approximately 80% of Round Table restaurant businesses are owned and operated by franchisees. Our evaluation and selection of new franchise candidates is based upon a number of different factors. We look for individuals with a track record of success in business, the ability to manage and develop people and strong customer service skills. Foodservice industry experience as an owner/operator or manager with P & L responsibility is strongly required. Round Table is seeking qualified individuals who want to partner with a proven brand leader in the pizza segment to join our system.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Restaurant that offers and sells menu items for dining at the Restaurant premises as well as via delivery and carryout services (the “Dine-In Model”), is $471,500 to $1,061,250, which includes $25,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliate prior to opening; and a Restaurant that is only authorized to offer and sell menu items for delivery and carry out from the Restaurant premises (a “DCU Model”) is $327,300 to $510,250, which includes $25,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliate prior to opening.

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#172 in Franchise 500 for 2020.


About Russo's New York Pizzeria

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.