Old Chicago vs Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Old Chicago Franchise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise
Investment $1,331,500 - $2,187,000$503,000 - $609,000
Franchise Fee $40,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 4%6%
Advertising Fee 3%2%
Year Founded 19762007
Year Franchised 20002009
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Old Chicago Franchise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise
Experience -Famoso actively seeks individuals who have the potential to be great partners. Our franchisees should have personal financial qualifications, individual motivation, a track record for success, and a passion for the service industry.

Financing Options
 
Old Chicago Franchise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/--/-
Start-up Costs -/--/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Old Chicago Franchise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise
Training 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 The first week we take you to Naples, Italy for an opportunity to visit real Neapolitan pizzerias, taste authentic pizza, visit some of our ingredient suppliers, and learn about Neapolitan culture. We then put you and your management team (3 people) through 5-7 weeks of one-on-one training in one of our locations.
Support 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 Location, location, location! Famoso works exclusively with our commercial real estate teams to secure top quality sites across the country. Our real estate teams know the Famoso brand well, and know what demographics, neighborhoods, and trade areas fit our brand. They represent us with pride and dignity when dealing with landlords; which strengthens our relationships and reputation. This works to our franchisees benefit, which is evident in our solid base of existing locations. We make ourselves available for questions and requests. We also focus on maintaining consistency in our branding, food, and service between stores. We base Famoso's success on our reputation, and we work hard to ensure all Famoso's are upholding this reputation. Famoso has negotiated contracts with suppliers to ensure that each pizzeria receives the same products at competitive pricing. Furthermore, the systems and tools used by Famoso ensure accurate inventory levels, freshly and properly prepared ingredients, and consistent recipes.
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 Famoso develops and executes strategies that will make our pizzerias busier. Franchisees' ability to execute in-store strategies also has a significant impact on the level of success of each franchise.
Operations --

Expansion Plans
 
Old Chicago Franchise
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Franchise
US Expansion YesNo
Canada Expansion -Yes
International Expansion --

Company Overviews

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.



About Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria was founded on the passion for authentic, fire-roasted pizzas from Naples, Italy. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, where eating a margherita pizza is a daily ritual and where culinary traditions in pizza making have gone unchanged for 200 years. Whether you eat it on the streets of Naples, or inside Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, experiencing authentic Neapolitan pizza is an unforgettable experience. Our concept is a licensed fast casual pizzeria that offers authentic Neapolitan pizzas, fresh salads, espresso and gelato/desserts in a counter-ordering format with added service. Our room boasts atmosphere and style allowing for a comfortable meal whether it's a quick lunch or a wine-filled evening. What makes our pizzas unique to North America is our passionate adherence to the strict standards of the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana, a Naples-based organization dedicated to preserving the standards of authentic pizza. We import our flour and tomatoes from Naples, and every pizza is topped with fior-di-latte(fresh whole milk mozzarella). After being cooked in our 900 degree fire oven for 90 seconds, the final product becomes a thin-crust pizza that cannot be compared to any pizza available on the market today. It is light, both soft and crispy and because of the low levels of gluten in the flour, allows you to digest and feel great. Some of our pizzas combine the dough and cooking technique of Naples with some non-Italian flavours, which appeals to a broad spectrum of customers. Igniting the passion - Our franchisee trips to Naples Famoso is not just another pizza place. Our identity is so tied to authenticity, that it's difficult to open multiple locations with multiple franchisees without dedicating some time to experiencing authenticity first hand. That is why we take all of our franchisees to Naples, Italy for a week to eat real Napoletana pizza in 120 -year old pizzerias and experience the vibrant culture of Naples. Italians are very passionate and proud of their culinary history, and it's important for North Americans to adopt this passion - especially if we're representing their food to the world. Our visits to local farmers, local pizzeria owners, and some of our actual suppliers, give us knowledge and appreciation for the art of Neapolitan pizza.