Happy Joe's vs Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$302,950 - $1,016,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$25,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%6%
Advertising Fee 1.5%-
Year Founded 19721964
Year Franchised 19731994
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K$7.5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours On-The-Job Training: 133 hours Classroom Training: 6-12 hours Additional Training: At corporate locations
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 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)

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Villa Italian Kitchen Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    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.


    About Villa Italian Kitchen

    For close to 45 years, Villa Enterprises has been operating and developing restaurant concepts, with over 300 locations globally today. When you become a Villa Enterprises franchisee, you're not only joining an experienced restaurant company, you're teaming up with a partner who is supportive and dedicated to your success.

    Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S., Asia, Canada, Central America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Mexico, South America and Western Europe    

    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee