Happy Joe's vs Blue Sky Creamery Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$138,750 - $401,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$25,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%-
Advertising Fee 1.5%-
Year Founded 19722000
Year Franchised 19732004
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery 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

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 300 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 -
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media Website development 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)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Blue Sky Creamery Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    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 Blue Sky Creamery

    In 2001, TJ and Will successfully demonstrated the Nitro Freeze process with a second-generation prototype at the Iowa State Fair, the Clay County Fair, and the Tulsa State Fair. The second-generation prototype implemented several technology advances improving reliability, ease of use, cleaning, and product quality. In 2002, the concession operation was expanded by adding the Minnesota State Fair. And the first retail location, a new ice cream shop called the Blue Sky Creamery, opened in Ankeny, Iowa. Plans were then completed for a new production model Nitro Freeze machine, the NF-3500. Armed with this new design, the marketing of the machines was launched at the IAAPA trade show in November, in Orlando, Florida.
    In 2004, the Blue Sky Creamery Ice Cream Cafe Franchise concept was rolled out and the first franchise store opened in Minnesota. Additional Blue Sky Creamery locations have been opened in West Des Moines, Iowa and St. Louis, MO. Buy Blue Sky Creamery Ice Cream, Gelto and Coffee Online In 2008 and 2009, Blue Sky Creamery had expanded its mobile operations to more than 25 events and started offering Mobile Franchise opportunities. From Miami to Las Vegas to Columbus to Calgary, the Nitro Freeze process has been sweeping the continent! Mobile Franchise have been granted in Eastern Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Carolina, Phoenix, and Las Vegas so far. In 2009, demand for our ice cream in different parts of the nation led us to offer pints of Blue Sky Creamery ice cream and gelato available online to be shipped right to your door!