Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen vs Squisito Pizza Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Squisito Pizza Franchise
Investment $295,000 - $750,000$269,000 - $596,900
Franchise Fee $49,500$35,000
Royalty Fee 7%5%
Advertising Fee 2%1% -2%
Year Founded 19921998
Year Franchised 19982008
Term Of Agreement 10 years+5-
Term Of Agreement 10 years+5-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Squisito Pizza Franchise
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
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Squisito Pizza Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/Yes-/Yes
Start-up Costs -/Yes-/Yes
Equipment -/Yes-/Yes
Inventory -/Yes-/Yes
Receivables -/--/Yes
Payroll -/Yes-/Yes

Training & Support
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Squisito Pizza Franchise
Training 8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification

Our initial training program consists of approximately four weeks of classroom and on-site training at one of our affiliate restaurants in Maryland. We request that you and two of your mangers attend training. In addition, we will provide you with one of our trained team members at your site for up to 14 days (to be scheduled around your opening). Your training program is intensive and includes: Recipes and Prep Procedures, Quality and Service Standards, Inventory Procedures, Equipment and Safety, Brand Compliance, Food Safety, and Sanitation and Health Code Compliance. On-The-Job Training: 86 hours Classroom Training: 95 hours

Support -Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing -Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations On site pre and post opening training and operational support with quarterly QA Visits.Absentee Ownership Allowed

Number of Employees Required to Run: 10 - 15

Expansion Plans
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Squisito Pizza Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

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.

About Squisito Pizza

Squisito is now offering franchise opportunities throughout the country. Our commitment to quality and family has created a unique franchise opportunity that is both profitable and a joy to own. As with the humble beginnings of the MONTE Restaurant Development Group of Gennaro and Lino DiMeo, Squisito Franchise Enterprises, Inc. began with the partnership of Gennaro and Michele DiMeo in spring of 2008. Michele joined the MONTE Restaurant Development Group to streamline and assist Gennaro with the corporate and Franchise expansion of his fast-casual brand, Squisito NY Style Pizza and Pasta. With this powerful union of conceptual restaurant experience--Gennaro DiMeo, with Michele DiMeo's franchise and executive operations / leadership experience--Squisito Franchise Enterprises began.Squisito has over 15 years of experience in successfully serving up classic, Italian dishes made with the finest, Italian ingredients. The combination of our hand-picked tomatoes from the fields of CA, our authentic family recipes for our sauces, and the brand-quality supremacy of Grande cheese promise the best taste experience to each and every guest in every franchise.
Working with each franchise location as a TEAM, we know we can achieve this goal.
Our franchise provides:
*Limited Competition in Fast-Casual, Italian Space
*Family-Friendly Environment
*Proprietary Sauces and Family Recipes
*Catering and To-Go Offerings
*The Best Italian Food at Family-Friendly Prices
*Extensive Menu
*A Team with Years of Experience in Creating Multiple, Successful Brands