Fox's Pizza Den vs Happy Joe's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Fox's Pizza Den vs Happy Joe's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Fox's Pizza Den Franchise
Happy Joe's Franchise
Investment $101,800 - $236,250$24,470 - $1,030,625
Franchise Fee $15,000$15,000 - $17,000
Royalty Fee $400/mo.4.5%-5%
Advertising Fee -1.5%
Year Founded 19711972
Year Franchised 19741973
Term Of Agreement 5 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years15 years
Renewal Fee -10% of fee or $2K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Fox's Pizza Den Franchise
Happy Joe's Franchise
Experience -
  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Fox's Pizza Den Franchise
    Happy Joe's Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Fox's Pizza Den Franchise
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 140 hours On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations 5% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    33% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 45

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Fox's Pizza Den Franchise
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Fox's Pizza Den

    Jim Fox started working with pizza when he was 12, hanging around a local pizza shop filling soda machines and folding pizza boxes. In 1971, at age 24, he started Fox's Pizza Den in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. With $500, a rented storeroom and a few pieces of used equipment (rescued from a snow-covered Pittsburgh scrap yard), he began to build his empire. In 1973, Fox's Pizza Den started offering home delivery. Since 1974, the company has grown to over 150 franchises. Fox's Pizza is a family-owned and -operated company that offers toppings such as pepperoni, sweet peppers, hot banana peppers, beef, bacon, anchovies, black olives, pineapple and more. Fox's also offers stromboli, gourmet pizzas, hoagies and wedgies (a sandwich served on pizza crust). Jim Fox assisted with Carnegie Mellon University's robotic team in developing the country's first pizza-making robot to help the physically disabled own and operate their own shops.

    About Happy Joe's

    Lawrence Joseph Whitty had worked in the bakery business for years before becoming an assistant manager at a Shakey's pizzeria. He decided to combine his baking skills with the experience he had gained from working at a pizza restaurant, where he would often hear families decide to go out for ice cream for dessert. Combining pizza and ice cream, Whitty opened the first Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor in East Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. His signature item was the Happy Joe's Special, a pizza with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut that Whitty created from leftovers in his mother's kitchen. After a franchisee suggested adding tacos to the menu, Whitty created the restaurant's best-selling product, the Taco Pizza.

    Seeking new franchisees in the following regions/states:

     Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Wisconsin

    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Full Size Restaurant or Happy Joe’s PizzaGrille Restaurant is $279,750 to $1,030,625. This includes $0 to $16,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s DELCO Facility is $164,500 to $423,000. This includes the $0 to $16,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Satellite ranges from $24,470 to $132,340. This includes the $0 to $16,500 paid to the franchisor or an affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Happy Joe’s Area Developer business ranges from $17,625 to $94,100. This includes the development fee ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.