Al's Pizza vs Old Chicago Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Al's Pizza Franchise
Old Chicago Franchise
Investment $729,900 - $1,157,200$1,331,500 - $2,187,000
Franchise Fee $40,000$40,000
Royalty Fee -4%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded -1976
Year Franchised -2000
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Al's Pizza Franchise
Old Chicago Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Al's Pizza Franchise
Old Chicago Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support

 
Al's Pizza Franchise
Old Chicago Franchise
Training Training for you and your employees will be provided in existing Al's Pizza restaurants. Our support staff will train you in the many aspects of owning and operating an Al's Pizza franchise. These include staffing, recruiting, advertising, financial controls, employee accountability, facility management, food cost controls, and labor controls.The Old Chicago training department will provide Franchisees, their management team, and staff, comprehensive training programs that combine both restaurant and classroom training. All Franchise management teams will receive seven weeks of in-store training at a designated Old Chicago training restaurant. On-The-Job Training: 350 hours
Support As the owner of an Al's Pizza franchise, you gain a team of experts committed to your success. Your team works with you, your staff, your vendors, and most of all your customers to ensure a quality environment and experience. At Al's Pizza, we understand how critical it is to support your efforts, foster our relationship with you, and provide the tools necessary for your success. Our philosophy is based on a side-by-side commitment to helping you prosper, as this leads not only to your growth, but to the overall success of the entire Al's Pizza family.A set of comprehensive manuals are provided to an Old Chicago Franchisee upon the signing of the Operating Agreement. These manuals are designed for easy reference and serve as an authoritative source of information about Old Chicago standard operating policies and procedures. These manuals are frequently updated to reflect Old Chicago's response to the changing needs of today's guests. Purchasing Co-ops Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software
Marketing -Old Chicago restaurants rely primarily on a Local Restaurant Marketing (LRM) program that allows each store to choose the marketing programs and promotions that match the needs of the individual store's market. Advertising and promotional materials are available at a reasonable cost to Franchisees that support a LRM program. As such we employ our own graphics designer to assist Franchise Partners with their LRM design needs. We also employ a marketing professional to consult with our Franchise Partners. Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations --

Expansion Plans

 
Al's Pizza Franchise
Old Chicago Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

About Al's Pizza

The Al's Pizza business model is based on an overall theme of quality. The fundamentals include: * Award-winning pizza * An impressive, competitive facility * The latest inventory and labor control tools * A passion for excellence Franchisees are provided with a development process that results in an impressive, high-quality facility. As a franchisee, you can depend upon the Al's Pizza team to manage the development. Costs associated with the design, architectural, and purchasing consulting fees are covered using the franchise fee and architectural fee.Al's Pizza franchisees enter into an 80 day working day training program with a custom schedule tailor made for each franchisee. Al's understands that most franchisees are transitioning from another career and need flexibility during such a complicated time. The program is a combination of training classes and training within an Al's Pizza training restaurant. Representatives from Al's Pizza will work side by side as part of your team during a new opening. Franchisee support also includes Field Consultants who work alongside franchisees, assisting with all aspects of the operations. The support sets Al's Pizza apart from many companies. Even financial information is shared and compared during monthly webinars so every franchisee can measure their own success next to the company owned restaurants. As a former franchisee himself, Bill Kratsas is committed to providing support to franchisees both operationally and financially. As the owner of an Al's Pizza franchise, your efforts are supported every step of the way. By providing you the quality guidance you need, you are able to provide your customers the quality experience they seek, and everyone benefits.
 
Founded in 1988, Al's Pizza combines old world quality, values and work ethic with new world appeal, to provide a unique dining experience for patrons, families and friends.

About Old Chicago

Opportunity Awaits
After 33 years of company growth, we are now offering a unique opportunity for a select number of entrepreneurs to take our proven brand into new markets.
Old Chicago is a leader in the casual dining pizza segment. We currently have territories available in many highly desirable markets, which presents an exceptional chance to establish our winning concept in choice locations.
WHY CHOOSE OLD CHICAGO?
Adaptable Site Requirements
Old Chicago's brand identity does not rely on a typical "box" to succeed. Our adaptive development strategy and flexible design allow stores to be constructed in many different types of sites, including prototype buildings, conversions/retro-fits, strip center end-cap locations, and non-traditional sites.
Sales Mix Advantage
With approximately 40% of historical system sales from our bar and drink business, Old Chicago's sales mix provides operators with a real opportunity to differentiate themselves from other casual dining concepts. Our high mix of bar sales is one of the main reasons why our stores experience exceptionally low Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). Our 60 company stores finished the year in 2008 with an average COGS of 25.6%.
Brand Strength & Versatility
Our brand has three decades of proven success and a loyal customer base in our existing markets. Old Chicago is a timeless concept that has that rare ability to appeal to a variety of consumers. Many casual dining concepts seem to copy each other in their menus and restaurant "feel". The Old Chicago concept is uniquely different.
Our bars have the rich, dark feel of a "freshly scrubbed joint". Our dining room areas with our new pizza bars really appeal to families and couples.
Broad Customer Appeal
Our bar area, along with our unique guest loyalty program -"The World Beer Tour" appeal to a younger, single customers. They create the high energy levels that have made our bars famous. With thirty beer varieties on tap, and another eighty varieties in bottles, we have created an exciting taste journey for our World Beer Tour members. No matter your age or occupation, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment when your name goes on a plaque in your home store because you have completed the World Beer Tour.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of an Old Chicago Restaurant franchised business is between $1,331,500 and $1,957,000. This includes $98,250 and $135,250 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
The total investment necessary for an Area Development Franchise includes the investment necessary to begin operations of one Restaurant, plus a development fee of $50,000, plus an initial franchise fee deposit of $20,000 multiplied by the number of Restaurants (excluding the first Restaurant) which you must open.

The estimated total investment necessary to begin operation of an Old Chicago
Area Development Franchise is between $1,401,500 (for two Restaurants) and $2,187,000 (for ten Restaurants). This includes between $168,250 and $365,250 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.

#299 in Franchise 500 for 2020.