Donatos Pizzeria vs Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Donatos Pizzeria Franchise
Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise
Investment $386,500 - $698,900$215,000 - $265,000
Franchise Fee $30,000$25,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 5%-
Year Founded 19631990
Year Franchised 19911990
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Term Of Agreement -10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Donatos Pizzeria Franchise
Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Donatos Pizzeria Franchise
Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs -/Yes-/-
Equipment -/Yes-/-
Inventory -/Yes-/-
Receivables -/Yes-/-
Payroll -/Yes-/-

Training & Support
 
Donatos Pizzeria Franchise
Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise
Training On-The-Job Training: 454 hours Classroom Training: 4 hours We have a 6 week training program in our training center for the franchisee/manager as well as 16 hour training in our center for hourly employees. Additionally, our Training manager will come to your store and assist in training your staff on your site.
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform -
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app -
Operations --

Expansion Plans
 
Donatos Pizzeria Franchise
Zeppe's Pizzeria Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Donatos Pizzeria

BE A PART OF A PIZZA BUSINESS THAT'S ON THE RISE. With $1,300 in his pocket and a dream to own his own business, Jim Grote bought a small pizzeria on the south side of Columbus, Ohio and went to work to create a business that was truly unique. Although Donatos has grown and moved into almost 200 neighborhoods, our belief remains the same: "Treat people the way you want to be treated."
You are responsible for:
* Leasehold improvements
* Leasing or purchasing equipment
* Hiring and restaurant operation
Donatos provides:
* Product formulas and operational systems
* Store design guidance
* Equipment ordering guidance
* Edge-u-cation training
* Cultural orientation
* Operations manual
* Periodic evaluations
* Ongoing support
Additional information and qualifications:
Single-Store and Multi-Unit Development Agreements are available depending upon prospective Franchise Partner qualifications as well as geographical considerations. Prospective Franchise Partner groups need to designate an Operating Partner who must live in the area to be developed and possess prior restaurant or retail management and supervision experience commensurate with the number of restaurants to be developed. An Operating Partner may also be a member of the Franchise Group. A full Franchise Application, including a Personal Financial Statement, needs to be submitted for each member of the Franchise Partner group. If the Operating Partner is a separate individual, they will need to submit a full resume with work history and skill-set qualifications.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Donatos franchised business is $386,500 to $698,900. This includes $40,500 to $42,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate. If this is the second Donatos franchised business, you choose to receive additional training services or you hire a Donatos Manager for your franchised business, you must pay the franchisor an additional $15,000 to $40,000.

The company continues to franchise throughout the Midwest, South and Southeast, with franchised locations serving pizza, subs, salads and desserts.
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"Entrepreneur

#181 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#313 in Franchise 500 for 2021.





About Zeppe's Pizzeria

Our dough is made fresh, twice per day in every Zeppe’s pizzeria. Our pepperoni is sliced thicker and aged longer, and our traditional homemade sauce is made from California Roma tomatoes, freshly packed and NEVER from concentrate. Zeppe’s uses all original recipes passed down from the Old Country, making each dish a one-of- a-kind masterpiece!