Happy Joe's vs U-Swirl Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Happy Joe's Franchise
U-Swirl Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$360,000 - $466,000
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%4%
Advertising Fee 1.5%2%Nat'l + 1%Local
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
U-Swirl Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    U-Swirl 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
    U-Swirl 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
    U-Swirl 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 U-Swirl

    U-SWIRL Frozen Yogurt franchises are hot, hot HOT!
    Interested in capitalizing on the frozen yogurt craze sweeping the nation? Look no further - U-SWIRL Frozen Yogurt system is the franchise business opportunity capturing the attention of serious entrepreneurial business owners and established area developers, alike. Read on to learn why! Why U-Swirl? PROVEN EXPERIENCE.

    U-SWIRL's corporate management and advisory team have achieved significant success in the development and expansion of several consumer-focused franchise operations over the past four decades. In March 2009, Healthy Fast Food, through its wholly owned subsidiary U-SWIRL International, Inc., premiered its first Company-owned U-SWIRL Frozen Yogurt store in Las Vegas. In less than eight months, there were six U-SWIRL stores in operation in the Vegas valley, where customers now flock to choose as many yogurt flavors and toppings as they like, and then pay by the ounce for their unique creations. We are now actively engaged in rolling out the profitable U-SWIRL self-serve concept nationwide in those states in which the Company is qualified to offer franchises If you have passion and enthusiasm and looking for a great business to tap in to, please contact U-SWIRL today to learn more about the franchising opportunities available, or fill out our form to the right for a FREE franchise consultation.