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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Chicago's Pizza vs Happy's Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $87,300 - $173,100 | $336,500 - $608,000 |
Franchise Fee | $12,000 | $35,000 |
Royalty Fee | 4% | 1.5K/mo |
Advertising Fee | - | Up to 1% |
Year Founded | 1979 | 1996 |
Year Franchised | 1981 | 2007 |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | -/- |
Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
Equipment | No/No | -/- |
Inventory | No/No | -/- |
Receivables | No/No | -/- |
Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | While each of our stores undergoes Happy's classic build out, operators gain admission to The University of Happy's Pizza. After 30-45 days of training in our corporate kitchen and 60-90 days of in-store management training at an open location, graduates are completely groomed for success. Once a store is open, our support staff helps you with marketing, inventory control, staffing, prep and food updates. |
Support | Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Site selection, lease negotiations assistance, equipment, fixture, signage and inventory suppliers and even construction standards and assistance. In addition to this, once a new store begins operations, Happy's Pizza provides all stores with an operations manual, continuous updates of our specifications and process and operational advice and assistance by telephone and Internet. |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks | We are one of the only restaurants with a toll-free vanity number and we know how to use it. 800 BE HAPPY. Our in-house ad agency will customize individual marketing plans for every store. It starts with coming soon banners, job fairs and a big grand opening push. Once operations are running smoothly, we turn up the marketing machine with TV. Radio, direct mail, mobile and on-line promotions connected with our growing social web presence. |
Operations |
20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 15 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | Yes |
International Expansion | No | - |
Robert McDonald enjoyed working in the pizza business. When he was suddenly terminated from his job with an Indiana pizza restaurant, he decided to start his own pizza chain. When Ron Epple, who had worked with McDonald as director of franchise training, heard what his old co-worker was up to, he asked to be part of it.
In 1979, the two founded Chicago's Pizza. At lunchtime, restaurants serve pizzas by the slice or in seven-inch rounds from counters and drive-thru windows. In the evening, customers can use the drive-thru window to pick up phone orders. Most of the locations also have dining rooms where customers can enjoy Chicago's 29-inch pizza.
The company has franchises in Indiana and Ohio. There is also a Chicago's Pizza location in Seville, Spain.