Houlihan's vs Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Houlihan's 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

 
Houlihan's Franchise
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Investment $1,600,000 - $4,300,000$1,332,100 - $1,958,333
Franchise Fee $40,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee -5%
Year Founded 19721996
Year Franchised 19942009
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years10 years
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Houlihan's Franchise
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Must live in same market being developed
  • * Industry experience * (or must have partner with industry experience.)

    Financing Options

     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
    Training --
    Support Meetings, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesField operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingCo-op advertising, Regional advertising
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 78

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (80% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 75

    Expansion Plans

     
    Houlihan's Franchise
    Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About Houlihan's

    Houlihan's has been known for exceptional food at an affordable price since we entered the casual dining segment in 1972. Our menu features a great mix of contemporary pop American cooking - classic dishes reinvented in a fresh modern way and brought to the table with simple, stylish plating and presentations. And then there's the bar. It's always the best place to feel the great energy of Houlihan's. Our bar strategy unites pop culture, trendy premium brands, the newest drinks and vendor insights for a winning combination, resulting in an enviable liquor mix.

    To help us more quickly expand to new markets and trade areas, Houlihan's is seeking sophisticated restaurant operators with experience building out entire markets. At this time, we are not pursuing single-site franchise agreements.

    Our ideal candidate to become a franchise market developer is a successful full-service, multi-unit operator with expertise in one or more large markets (e.g. the top 75 MSAs in the United States). We are seeking entrepreneurial organizations that can thrive in our flexible franchise environment, while having access to growth capital and capital reserves, but experiencing growth constraints with their current restaurant concept(s).

    About Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge

    Faro opened his first pizza shop in 1978. From this time to 1987, Faro opened seven more pizza shops in the area. In 1990, Faro sold the franchise with the idea that he and his family would be moving back and living in Sicily from now on. As it happens many times, circumstances changed and the family moved back to Grand Rapids.

    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”.