Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge vs Symposium Cafe Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge vs Symposium Cafe including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Symposium Cafe Franchise
Investment $1,332,100 - $1,958,333$625,000 - $675,000
Franchise Fee $50,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 5%4%
Advertising Fee 5%1%
Year Founded 19961996
Year Franchised 20092004
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Symposium Cafe Franchise
Experience * Industry experience * (or must have partner with industry experience.)-

Financing Options

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Symposium Cafe Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Symposium Cafe Franchise
Training -3 full months of training for up to three individuals at an existing Symposium Cafe location.
Support Field operations/evaluationsA transition tutor is assigned to directly assist you on a regular basis in your restaurant franchise for a period of 10 weeks. This tutor works closely with you through the opening stages of your cafe, the day-to-day operating systems and procedures to ensure a successful start-up of your restaurant. This program is designed to strengthen and build the Franchise operators commitment to our proven systems. Our unique 10 weeks in-store program is crucial to building your team, establishing a strong customer base, growing restaurant sales and operating a successful Symposium Cafe franchise. The field consulting team provides ongoing support and training through restaurant visits and coaching. They ensure all Symposium Cafe systems, specifications and standards are in place to drive consistent operations and profitable sales. Professional operations staff makes ongoing visits to your restaurant to hear any concerns you may have. They'll also conduct restaurant audits, which expose areas of concern within your operation. Our regional managers work with our Franchisees to develop action plans to correct and eliminate any problems uncovered.
Marketing Co-op advertising, Regional advertising-
Operations Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 75-

Expansion Plans

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
Symposium Cafe Franchise
US Expansion Yes-
Canada Expansion -Yes
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge

Faro opened his first pizza shop in 1978. From this time to 1987, Faro opened seven more pizza shops in the area. In 1990, Faro sold the franchise with the idea that he and his family would be moving back and living in Sicily from now on. As it happens many times, circumstances changed and the family moved back to Grand Rapids.

Faro was, once again, in the restaurant business when he opened Uccello’s Ristorante Pizzeria & Sports Lounge on East Beltline in 1996. Uccello's Ristorante has officially opened up 6 locations in the last 23 years, the most recent being Downtown Grand Rapids across from Rosa Parks Circle. 

Faro didn't want to stop there. In 2016, Uccello's Hospitality Group expanded when opening their first fast-casual concept, Herb & Fire Pizzeria, in Grandville. Since then, UHG has opened a second location by Celebration! Cinema North on East Beltline.  


​Uccello’s Hospitality Group has grown into 8 successful locations, inspired by Faro’s personal philosophy: "Always strive to give your guest more than they would normally expect. Provide people the opportunity to enjoy great food and the hospitality to match. You must always strive to be better in everything, and never compromise on top quality in any area”.

About Symposium Cafe

The Symposium Cafe Restaurant - a unique cafe and restaurant franchising opportunity, that is both challenging and rewarding and is redefining the cafe experience. Our competitive advantages stem from the foundation of our gourmet restaurant franchises through to the corporate infrastructure, operational systems and support, and our supplier partnerships. Our franchise system guides each of the franchisees through every facet of the restaurant operation. Upon becoming familiar with our system each franchisee will be able to train and develop each of their associates in all areas of the restaurant business. Our system revolves around the philosophy of "Continued Training" to guarantee our team meets and exceeds our dining patrons expectations. All positional training techniques are clearly outlined in our restaurant manuals with easy to implement instructions. Our restaurant cost management system, indexed in our operations manual, is designed to provide you with the necessary tools to completely analyze and understand your restaurant franchises business both from a sale and cost perspective. Informative and educational restaurant symposiums are held with the main focus and discussion revolving around driving and developing our restaurant and patio sales while controlling costs using our proven cafe systems. All of these elements make The Symposium Cafe franchise a successful, rewarding restaurant franchises opportunity.