Mellow Mushroom Pizza vs LaRosa's Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
LaRosa's Franchise
Investment $1,624,000$729,200 - $1,927,000
Franchise Fee $50,000$35,000
Royalty Fee -4%
Advertising Fee 2%4%
Year Founded -1954
Year Franchised -1967
Term Of Agreement 15 years +510 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years +510 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
LaRosa's Franchise
Experience -We're looking for multi-unit foodservice and retail operators, as well as other investors who have a history of business success. While restaurant experience is preferred, franchise candidates with other professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but will be required to employ experienced and qualified restaurant operators as a General Manager in each LaRosa's Pizzeria.

Financing Options
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
LaRosa's Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/--/-
Start-up Costs No/--/-
Equipment No/--/-
Inventory No/--/-
Receivables No/--/-
Payroll No/--/-

Training & Support
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
LaRosa's Franchise
Training 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. On-The-Job Training: 280-320 hours Classroom Training: 40-80 hours
Support 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.Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing -Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations -If you have restaurant management experience, you may wish to work day to day in the operation of your LaRosa's pizzeria. If you don't have restaurant management experience or choose not to work day to day in the operation of your LaRosa's pizzeria, an experienced restaurant General Manager must be hired to run day to day operations.

Expansion Plans
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
LaRosa's Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

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.


About LaRosa's

A Successful Brand with Proven Guest Appeal and Consistent Sales Since 1954. That's what makes us LaRosa's! In the restaurant business, somebody is always trying to franchise "the next big thing." No doubt you've seen dozens of them come and go. Doesn't it make more sense to find a stable and rewarding business concept with a strong track record? Take a closer look at franchising with LaRosa's. For nearly 60 years, we've offered delicious family-recipe food and great service to Guests in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Now we're looking to expand outside our Midwestern home with the help of smart Franchise Owners like you. One of our principal strengths is that we've been in business nearly 60 years, providing great food and service to our Guests. Our first franchised pizzeria opened in 1967. Not many franchises out there can say that. Five more reasons why franchisees join our family...
 *Dependable Growth
*Product Quality
*Dedicated Fans
*Innovation
*Superior Training
 Our over 75 outlets serve real Italian flavor from real family recipes. Contact us to get started.

Seeking new franchise units in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia