Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen vs How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen vs How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC 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
How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC Franchise
Investment $295,000 - $750,000$143,000 - $350,000
Franchise Fee $49,500$25,000
Royalty Fee 7%6%
Advertising Fee 2%-
Year Founded 1992-
Year Franchised 1998-
Term Of Agreement 10 years+520 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years+520 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC Franchise
Experience No Restaurant experience necessary but helpful Minimum financials are $175K to $400K in investment capital and a $600K to $1.0MM net worthTop That! Pizza actively searches for candidates with a strong background in business management.

Financing Options

 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC 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
How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC Franchise
Training 8 Week GM & Key Supervisor Training and Certification-
Support -* Facility planning on site location and architectural design * Specifications for fixtures, equipment, and leasehold improvements * Assistance in site selection and lease negotiation * Corporate training for Owner/Operator and Director of Operations/General Managers * Kitchen/ Back of the House Workflow design * Ongoing support from members of the Training and Operations Team * Ongoing updates for increasing profitability * Products with high industry demand * Efficiency in all systems * Favorable national contracts with suppliers of goods and services * Operating manuals, policies, procedures, and business management systems
Marketing -* ready-to-use grand opening strategy and materials * ready-to-use annual calendar for LTOs * ready-to-use (or custom) four-walls marketing tools such as Point-of Purchase displays, posters, window clings and printed menus * easy-to-change areas on digital menu boards for regionalized LTOs * well-managed and effective social media strategy that generates useful feedback and enhances the relationship between the franchise and its customers * regularly scheduled focus group research conducted by a professional marketing firm that will ensure Top That! remains on top of current trends and aware of its customers' preferences
Operations On site pre and post opening training and operational support with quarterly QA Visits.At least one owner or a designated manager must be involved on a full-time basis and must be responsible for the day-to-day operations and management.

Expansion Plans

 
Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen Franchise
How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC 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 How to Top That Pizza Franchise System, LLC

The franchise system includes: A. Owning and operating an assigned Top That! Pizza restaurant, use of the brand name, trademarks, recipes, operational systems and methods, and decor. Additionally, you will receive support in these specific areas: * facility planning on site location and architectural design * specifications for fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements * assistance in site selection and lease negotiation * corporate training for owner/operator and director of operations/general managers * kitchen/back-of-house workflow design * ongoing support from members of the training and operations team * ongoing updates for increasing profitability * products with high industry demand * easy-to-modify digital menu boards * efficiency in all systems * favorable national contracts with suppliers of goods and services * operating manuals, policies, procedures and business management systems Beautiful Brands is actively seeking qualified candidates to develop between 3-10 locations. We are not currently offering single unit franchise opportunities. However, we may grant a single unit for a non-traditional location or a small market that we determine cannot support additional Top That! Pizza locations.