Mellow Mushroom Pizza vs Toppers Pizza Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Toppers Pizza Franchise
Investment $1,624,000$292,146 - $530,652
Franchise Fee $50,000$30,000
Royalty Fee -5.5%
Advertising Fee 2%3%
Year Founded -1991
Year Franchised -2000
Term Of Agreement 15 years +5-
Term Of Agreement 15 years +5-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Toppers Pizza Franchise
Experience -

Single Unit: Liquidity: $150,000 Net Worth: $400,000 Multi-Unit (3-5 units): Liquidity: $300,000-$500,000 Net Worth: $750,000-$1,000,000 To open a Toppers franchise, you must have what it takes to make the initial investment or partner with someone who does. Those who qualify may be eligible for a reduced initial franchise fee through our association with the VetFran program. Average Square Footage: 1,200-1,800 sq ft (1,500 is optimal) Our flexible footprint makes finding a spot to locate extra easy, whether it's an endcap, in-line or freestanding location.

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

Training & Support
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Toppers Pizza 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.

30 days at a Training Store in person and hands-on Training and Marketing teams on-site prior/during/after opening On-The-Job Training: 188 hours Classroom Training: 18 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.

Franchise Business Leader support Corporate HQ team support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line 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 -

We work on an owner/operator franchise system where at least one partner must be involved full-time in day-to-day operations. You won't be able to resist anyway.

Expansion Plans
 
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Franchise
Toppers Pizza 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 Toppers Pizza

In 1991, Toppers Pizza began its quest to become the best pizza company in the world by killing it on every detail of the customer experience. Headquartered in Whitewater, Wis., Toppers Pizza takes a unique approach to the crowded pizza segment by cooking up mouthwatering specialty pizzas that start with their fresh, made-from-scratch dough, smothered in real Wisconsin cheese and finished with outrageous toppings such as French fried onions, oven-roasted tomatoes, mac 'n cheese and tater tots. Toppers Pizza's claim to fame comes in the form of Topperstix, arguably the planet's most addictively delicious cheesy breadstix. The Toppers Pizza empire encompasses over 60 restaurants across 10 states and, with its rapid expansion, is in the midst of Midwest and national domination. In 2014, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Toppers Pizza as one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S and QSR Magazine listed the company as one of the year's Best Franchise Deals. In 2013, Nation's Restaurant News declared the Toppers Pizza brand as one of the 50 breakout chains of the year and Toppers Pizza received a No. 58 spot in Pizza Today's top 100 pizza companies.

Seeking new franchise units in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin

Veteran incentive $10,000 off franchise fee

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