Donatos Pizzeria vs Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Donatos Pizzeria vs Mellow Mushroom Pizza including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$386,500 - $698,900 | $1,624,000 |
Franchise Fee |
$30,000 | $50,000 |
Royalty Fee |
5% | - |
Advertising Fee |
5% | 2% |
Year Founded |
1963 | - |
Year Franchised |
1991 | - |
Term Of Agreement |
- | 15 years +5 |
Term Of Agreement |
- | 15 years +5 |
Renewal Fee |
- | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
- | - |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
-/Yes | No/- |
Start-up Costs |
-/Yes | No/- |
Equipment |
-/Yes | No/- |
Inventory |
-/Yes | No/- |
Receivables |
-/Yes | No/- |
Payroll |
-/Yes | No/- |
Training & Support |
Training |
On-The-Job Training: 454 hours
Classroom Training: 4 hours
| Your ownership group and senior management staff will train for three weeks at our Shroom University training facility in Douglasville, Georgia prior to opening. When your store opens our training staff will assist you for a week prior to opening, and for two weeks after the opening.
Shroom University offers a comprehensive program designed to teach you about the Front of House, Back of House, and Administrative aspects of running a Mellow Mushroom. You and your managers will learn how to make food, place orders, hire and retain personnel & maintain your POS system and mine the data it collects. A special emphasis is given to teaching you proven methods of supervising your store to decrease food and labor costs and increase cash flow. Quality control systems are also shared with you at Shroom University, and you will be provided with several financial and cost management spreadsheets. |
Support |
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
| Members of our operations team will visit your store(s) to ensure that our standards and practices are being upheld. These visits are also opportunities for us to continue to train your staff and help train any new employees. Our operations team will also help you implement new initiatives that are developed in conjunction with the marketing department. Our marketing team will advise you on coordinating local promotions and create collection-wide campaigns in which your store can participate. The marketing team will also provide you with designs for business cards, banners, stickers, magnets, and spec ads for use in your local market. |
Marketing |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social media
SEO
Website development
Email marketing
Loyalty program/app
| - |
Operations |
- | - |
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
- | - |
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.
.
#181 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#313 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About Mellow Mushroom Pizza
The Mellow Mushroom experience is unique in the restaurant industry. We have been operating outside the perimeters of traditional casual dining for over 30 years. As an owner, you are submersed into a world of boundless creativity. The brand allows for great expression and individuality. My Mellow Mushroom is successful because I serve Mellow Mushroom products in a restaurant that feels like it is my own. The atmosphere entices you to take pride in being a quality operator. Simply said, I want to be in my own Mellow Mushroom. It is the kind of place I want to hang out in. The culture and community are second only to the quality of food; and this is what sets us apart from other restaurants. There is no other Mellow like my Mellow.
Congratulations! You are on your way to owning your slice of the pie! Owning and operating a Mellow Mushroom is an exciting, life-altering journey.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Mellow Mushroom
restaurant franchise ranges from $1,624,000 to $2,391,000 if you lease
shell premises for the Restaurant, from $1,624,000 to $2,591,000 if you
lease premises for the Restaurant that must be retrofit, and from
$2,824,000 to $4,498,000 if you buy the real estate upon which you will
construct a new building for the Restaurant. This includes between
$78,000 and $88,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. If
you want development rights, you must pay us a development fee equal to
$50,000 (the initial franchise fee for the first Restaurant) plus a
$25,000 deposit for each additional Restaurant’s initial franchise fee.
The total investment necessary to begin operation if you acquire
development rights is $1,649,000 to $4,523,000 (depending on your real
estate decision). This includes $78,000 to $113,500 that must be paid to
the franchisor or affiliate.