Happy Joe's

Pizza, pasta, ice cream, sandwiches, salads

Background

Founded: 1972 Franchising since: 1973
Lawrence Joseph Whitty had worked in the bakery business for years before becoming an assistant manager at a Shakey's pizzeria. He decided to combine his baking skills with the experience he had gained from working at a pizza restaurant, where he would often hear families decide to go out for ice cream for dessert. Combining pizza and ice cream, Whitty opened the first Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor in East Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. His signature item was the Happy Joe's Special, a pizza with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut that Whitty created from leftovers in his mother's kitchen. After a franchisee suggested adding tacos to the menu, Whitty created the restaurant's best-selling product, the Taco Pizza.

2705 Happy Joe Dr.
Bettendorf, Iowa 52722

Phone:
(563)332-8811

Franchisee Association
Happy Joe's National Franchise Board

Franchisor is a privately-held company with 20 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2009	48	0	0	8
2008	--	--	--	--
2007	--	--	--	--
2006	56	0	0	7
2005	57	0	0	7

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming

Exclusive territories available.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $113.8K-1.2M
Franchise fee: $20K/25K

Ongoing royalty fee: 4.5%
Term of agreement: 15 years, renewable

Type of Financing Available

	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	No
Startup Costs	No	No
Equipment	No	No
Inventory	No	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Qualifications
Cash liquidity requirement: $300K
Business Experience:

General business experience

Operations

33% of all franchisees own more than one unit
Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 45
Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)