Happy Joe's vs Toppers Pizza Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Toppers Pizza Franchise
Investment $24,470 - $1,030,625$292,146 - $530,652
Franchise Fee $15,000 - $17,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-5%5.5%
Advertising Fee 1.5%3%
Year Founded 19721991
Year Franchised 19732000
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee 10% of fee or $2K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Happy Joe's Franchise
Toppers Pizza Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Single Unit: Liquidity: $150,000 Net Worth: $400,000 Multi-Unit (3-5 units): Liquidity: $300,000-$500,000 Net Worth: $750,000-$1,000,000 To open a Toppers franchise, you must have what it takes to make the initial investment or partner with someone who does. Those who qualify may be eligible for a reduced initial franchise fee through our association with the VetFran program. Average Square Footage: 1,200-1,800 sq ft (1,500 is optimal) Our flexible footprint makes finding a spot to locate extra easy, whether it's an endcap, in-line or freestanding location.


    Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Toppers Pizza Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 300 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours

    30 days at a Training Store in person and hands-on Training and Marketing teams on-site prior/during/after opening On-The-Job Training: 188 hours Classroom Training: 18 hours

    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software

    Franchise Business Leader support Corporate HQ team support 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 National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO 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)

    We work on an owner/operator franchise system where at least one partner must be involved full-time in day-to-day operations. You won't be able to resist anyway.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Happy Joe's Franchise
    Toppers Pizza 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 Toppers Pizza

    In 1991, Toppers Pizza began its quest to become the best pizza company in the world by killing it on every detail of the customer experience. Headquartered in Whitewater, Wis., Toppers Pizza takes a unique approach to the crowded pizza segment by cooking up mouthwatering specialty pizzas that start with their fresh, made-from-scratch dough, smothered in real Wisconsin cheese and finished with outrageous toppings such as French fried onions, oven-roasted tomatoes, mac 'n cheese and tater tots. Toppers Pizza's claim to fame comes in the form of Topperstix, arguably the planet's most addictively delicious cheesy breadstix. The Toppers Pizza empire encompasses over 60 restaurants across 10 states and, with its rapid expansion, is in the midst of Midwest and national domination. In 2014, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Toppers Pizza as one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S and QSR Magazine listed the company as one of the year's Best Franchise Deals. In 2013, Nation's Restaurant News declared the Toppers Pizza brand as one of the 50 breakout chains of the year and Toppers Pizza received a No. 58 spot in Pizza Today's top 100 pizza companies.

    Seeking new franchise units in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin

    Veteran incentive $10,000 off franchise fee

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #69 on Franchise Rankings.com