Happy Joe's vs Gumby's Pizza International Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Gumby's Pizza International Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$79,500 - $150,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$19,500
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%-
Advertising Fee 1.5%-
Year Founded 1972-
Year Franchised 1973-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Gumby's Pizza International Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Gumby's Pizza International 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
    Gumby's Pizza International 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
    Gumby's Pizza International 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 Gumby's Pizza International

    Gumby's Pizza has built its business on a strong foundation of excellent quality products, superb customer service and great value. Like a builder who works hard to make sure each foundation of a building is perfect because he wants the building to last, Gumby's Pizza works hard on the foundation building blocks of its business. Quality is the first building block in the Gumby's foundation for success. We use only the finest, freshest meats and vegetables possible while making our pizza dough from scratch every day. An equally important second building block - superb customer service, is reflected in our philosophy: "don't just satisfy the customer - impress them!" Our store personnel dedicate themselves to making each order fast and right. The mortar in our business is our value-based pricing, which keeps our customers coming back, time and time again.

    Quality products, superb service and great value; that's Gumby's Pizza!

     

    Currently Gumby's Pizza locations are in operation in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and are rapidly expanding into other areas. To help ensure their success, Gumby's Pizza franchisees are well trained and supported by our Franchise Department. We have refined the Gumby's Pizza system of store operations to make sure no detail is overlooked. In addition to store operations, franchisees are trained in each aspect of operating their business, including marketing, advertising and administration. Gumby's Pizza franchisees are in business for themselves, but not by themselves.

    U.S. veterans discount  $4,500