Happy Joe's vs Papa Murphy's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Papa Murphy's Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$286,919 - $524,205
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%2%
Year Founded 19721981
Year Franchised 19731982
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K$5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Papa Murphy's Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Papa Murphy's Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours On-The-Job Training: 230 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appCo-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    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 Required to Run: 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Papa Murphy's Franchise
    US Expansion YesNo
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    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 Papa Murphy's

    Papa Murphy's Take N' Bake Pizza is the pioneer of the take and bake concept. We are the largest take and bake pizza company in the world. We offer only the freshest and highest quality ingredients with our freshly grated cheeses and our dough that is prepared in house daily. Papa Murphy's offer our products at a low price point, and we also offer our customer the opportunity to cook their pizza when they are ready to eat it. 98% of Papa Murphy's stores are franchised. It is the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our franchisees that makes Papa Murphy's the innovative and customer centered organization that it is. Without the hard work and dedication of our franchisees we would not have been able to experience the growth and success that we have seen over the years.

    Currently franchise units in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, 24 more states, Canada and the Middle East. Please inquire about other states, also.  

    Veteran Incentives  Reduced royalty fee for first three years