Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen vs Arizona Pizza Company Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen vs Arizona Pizza Company including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
Investment $295,000 - $750,000$400,000 - $865,000
Franchise Fee $49,500$35,000
Royalty Fee 7%-
Advertising Fee 2%-
Year Founded 1992-
Year Franchised 1998-
Term Of Agreement 10 years+5-
Term Of Agreement 10 years+5-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
Experience No Restaurant experience necessary but helpful Minimum financials are $175K to $400K in investment capital and a $600K to $1.0MM net worth-

Financing Options
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs -/Yes-/-
Equipment -/Yes-/-
Inventory -/Yes-/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/Yes-/-

Training & Support
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
Training 8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification-
Support --
Marketing --
Operations On site pre and post opening training and operational support with quarterly QA Visits.-

Expansion Plans
 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
Arizona Pizza Company Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen

Using the family recipe for hand-tossed dough, the sauce made from fresh-crushed California tomatoes, and imported Italian cheese blends, Anthony became the sole owner and chef of his first restaurant Russo’s Pizza in the early 80’s. "It was 800 square feet. I had a pizza oven, a dough mixer and two tables. That's it. I could only sit eight people.” A few years later, he created Anthony’s Pizzeria, located in Clear Lake, Texas, and soon moved to Houston.

For almost a decade, Anthony refined his menu using classic Italian family recipes and zeroed in on the perfect New York-style pizza. In 1992, Russo’s New York Pizzeria opened in downtown Houston, Texas and proved to be a success.

 
Russo's Restaurants is a national and international franchisor of the fast casual and casual dining brands Russo's New York Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen. Based in Houston, Russo's Restaurants are composed of a mix of corporate and franchised locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Hawaii. Russo's has entered international markets as well, with locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. There are an additional 20-plus units in development both in the United States and internationally. Chef Anthony Russo has created his concepts from years of applying his unique, family recipes featuring New York-style pizza along with a broad variety of handcrafted pasta creations, calzones, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts, reflecting his commitment to his New York roots where food and family come first.

About Arizona Pizza Company

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE: 1. SINGLE-UNIT DEVELOPMENT: Franchisee opens a restaurant at a specific address Franchisee is able to open additional units based on franchisee's ability and desire to expand 2. AREA DEVELOPMENT: Secures exclusive rights to a market. Minimum development is five restaurants Opens and operates the units in the development area Receives a reduction in franchise fees (based upon number of restaurants opened) Pays an area development fee based on the demographics of the territory. However, a credit is given against the franchise fee as each restaurant opens 3. MASTER DEVELOPER: Secures exclusive rights to a geographic area (County, state, country). There are minimum requirements for the territory (not less than a twenty-store market). Shares in franchise and royalty fees for performing services (sales, operations, training) to franchisees in the market for the term of the franchise & renewal periods Has an opportunity to participate on a large scale in building an international concept May enter into a management agreement to provide services beyond the term of the Master Agreement. Receives a Reduction in Fees for Developer- Owned and Operated Units Based on Master's Percentage Participation in the Fees Received for Providing Services Represents an opportunity to participate on a large scale in Building an International Concept Is required to open one restaurant that serves as the training facility before opening franchise restaurants in the area Pays a master developer fee based on the size of the territory and the demographics of that market