Z Pizza vs Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Z Pizza vs Mellow Mushroom Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Z Pizza Franchise
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Investment $249,000 - $359,000$1,624,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 6%-
Advertising Fee 3%2%
Year Founded 1986-
Year Franchised 1999-
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years +5
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years +5
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Z Pizza Franchise
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Z Pizza Franchise
    Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/-
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/-
    Equipment No/YesNo/-
    Inventory No/YesNo/-
    Receivables No/YesNo/-
    Payroll No/YesNo/-

    Training & Support

     
    Z Pizza Franchise
    Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
    Training Additional training available as requiredYour ownership group and senior management staff will train for three weeks at our Shroom University training facility in Douglasville, Georgia prior to opening. When your store opens our training staff will assist you for a week prior to opening, and for two weeks after the opening. Shroom University offers a comprehensive program designed to teach you about the Front of House, Back of House, and Administrative aspects of running a Mellow Mushroom. You and your managers will learn how to make food, place orders, hire and retain personnel & maintain your POS system and mine the data it collects. A special emphasis is given to teaching you proven methods of supervising your store to decrease food and labor costs and increase cash flow. Quality control systems are also shared with you at Shroom University, and you will be provided with several financial and cost management spreadsheets.
    Support The zpizza support system is extremely detailed and begins from the moment your franchise agreement is signed, throughout your development phases, and through your store opening. Training is provided to the operational owners and managers for your store. The zpizza Training Program is a four week program comprehensive of all operational details involved in your business. zpizza provides a team to serve from pre-opening to opening. - Use of brand name, trademarks, recipes, operational systems and methods, and décor - Facility planning on site location and architectural design - Specifications for fixtures, equipment, and leasehold improvements - Assistance in site selection and lease negotiation - Corporate training for Owner/Operator and Director of Operations/General Managers - Kitchen/Back of the House Workflow design - Ongoing support from members of the Training and Operations Team - Ongoing updates for increasing profitability - Products with high industry demand - Favorable national contracts with suppliers of goods and services - Operating manuals, policies, procedures, and business management systems - Annual franchisee meetings - Access to zpizza's proprietary, Internet-based system that acts as a repository for all above-mentioned support materials, manuals, graphics and brand communications. Members of our operations team will visit your store(s) to ensure that our standards and practices are being upheld. These visits are also opportunities for us to continue to train your staff and help train any new employees. Our operations team will also help you implement new initiatives that are developed in conjunction with the marketing department. Our marketing team will advise you on coordinating local promotions and create collection-wide campaigns in which your store can participate. The marketing team will also provide you with designs for business cards, banners, stickers, magnets, and spec ads for use in your local market.
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Z Pizza Franchise
    Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About Z Pizza

    Z Pizza was founded in 1986 and began franchising in 1999. The Newport Beach, California-based company has more than 90 units in the United States.Z Pizza is a rapidly growing chain of gourmet, health conscious pizza stores operating in high-profile lifestyle centers and metropolitan retail centers. The store footprint is approximately 1,100 to 1,500 square feet. Z pizza serves four day parts which include, lunch, afternoon chill, dinner and catering. The wide menu serves pizza, pizza by the slice, salads and sandwiches.

    About Mellow Mushroom Pizza

    The Mellow Mushroom experience is unique in the restaurant industry. We have been operating outside the perimeters of traditional casual dining for over 30 years. As an owner, you are submersed into a world of boundless creativity. The brand allows for great expression and individuality. My Mellow Mushroom is successful because I serve Mellow Mushroom products in a restaurant that feels like it is my own. The atmosphere entices you to take pride in being a quality operator. Simply said, I want to be in my own Mellow Mushroom. It is the kind of place I want to hang out in. The culture and community are second only to the quality of food; and this is what sets us apart from other restaurants. There is no other Mellow like my Mellow. Congratulations! You are on your way to owning your slice of the pie! Owning and operating a Mellow Mushroom is an exciting, life-altering journey.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Mellow Mushroom restaurant franchise ranges from $1,624,000 to $2,391,000 if you lease shell premises for the Restaurant, from $1,624,000 to $2,591,000 if you lease premises for the Restaurant that must be retrofit, and from $2,824,000 to $4,498,000 if you buy the real estate upon which you will construct a new building for the Restaurant. This includes between $78,000 and $88,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. If you want development rights, you must pay us a development fee equal to $50,000 (the initial franchise fee for the first Restaurant) plus a $25,000 deposit for each additional Restaurant’s initial franchise fee.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation if you acquire development rights is $1,649,000 to $4,523,000 (depending on your real estate decision). This includes $78,000 to $113,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.