Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream

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Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream

Food & Beverage
Pizza

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream serves pizza and a variety of ice cream desserts, offering a family-friendly dining experience with tasty and satisfying menu choices.

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream is a family-friendly franchise that has been creating joyful dining experiences since its founding in 1972 by Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty in Davenport, Iowa.

The concept was built around offering a fun environment that combines two of America's favorite treats: pizza and ice cream, making it a popular spot for family gatherings and celebrations.

Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, Happy Joe's began franchising in the same year it was founded, allowing it to expand its unique blend of entertainment and dining across various locations. 

The franchise has become well-known not just for its delicious signature pizzas, such as the famous Taco Joe Pizza, but also for its commitment to community involvement and customer satisfaction. This commitment is reflected in the brand's various charitable initiatives, including the Happy Joe's Kids Foundation.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Happy Joe's Pizza offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Facility Initial Investment
Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant $546,693 - $1,358,853
Happy Joe’s DELCO Facility $322,862 - $780,137

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchisee Fee $30,000 - $40,000
Rent $15,750 - $45,360
Lease and Utility/Security Deposits $7,875 - $23,625
Leasehold Improvements $136,500 - $367,500
Initial Inventory $12,390 - $29,400
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $210,000 - $472,500
Insurance $2,888 - $6,563
Training $27,000 - $43,500
Grand Opening Advertising $10,000 - $100,000
Signage $10,500 - $42,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $83,790 - $153,405
Liquor License $0 - $35,000
Total $546,643 - $1,358,853

Happy Joe's Pizza offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Facility Initial Investment
Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant $546,693 - $1,358,853
Happy Joe’s DELCO Facility $322,862 - $780,137

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Happy Joe’s Full-Size Restaurant

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchisee Fee $30,000 - $40,000
Rent $15,750 - $45,360
Lease and Utility/Security Deposits $7,875 - $23,625
Leasehold Improvements $136,500 - $367,500
Initial Inventory $12,390 - $29,400
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment $210,000 - $472,500
Insurance $2,888 - $6,563
Training $27,000 - $43,500
Grand Opening Advertising $10,000 - $100,000
Signage $10,500 - $42,000
Additional Funds – 3 months $83,790 - $153,405
Liquor License $0 - $35,000
Total $546,643 - $1,358,853

Franchise Disclosure Document

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising
1973
Franchisees

?

29
+
-12%
-12%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$323,000 - $1,359,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed
Upgrade

$842,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

Upgrade

11.2%

Home based

?

No
Upgrade
No
Passive investment

?

Yes
Upgrade
Yes
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Competitors

Below are some of

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream

key competitors in the

Pizza

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

29

New
+
-12%
-12%

$40,000

$323,000

$1,359,000

n.a.

$842,000

$xxx,xxx

70.1%

xx%

n.a.

11.2%

xx%

n.a.

5

New
+
25%
25%

$15,000

$255,000

$734,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$50,000

$810,000

$1,240,000

n.a.

$2,009,000

$xxx,xxx

74.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

101

New
+
-9%
-9%

$25,000

$304,000

$808,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
0%
0%

$30,000

$860,000

$1,355,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

7

New
+
40%
40%

$49,500

$449,000

$891,000

n.a.

$908,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
78%
78%

$30,000

$257,000

$792,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2752

New
+
4%
4%

$25,000

$111,000

$853,000

n.a.

$1,068,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

9

New
+
0%
0%

$35,000

$943,000

$1,709,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

103

New
+
7%
7%

$25,000

$279,000

$630,000

n.a.

$816,000

$xxx,xxx

72.8%

xx%

n.a.

21.0%

xx%

n.a.

9

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$137,000

$539,000

n.a.

$1,049,000

$xxx,xxx

63.4%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

197

New
+
42%
42%

$20,000 to $35,000

$207,000

$946,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
300%
300%

$50,000

$1,390,000

$1,835,000

n.a.

$2,780,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

72

New
+
-16%
-16%

$30,000

$156,000

$331,000

n.a.

$784,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

42

New
+
-5%
-5%

$25,000

$121,000

$350,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

1001

New
+
-13%
-13%

$25,000

$367,000

$733,000

n.a.

$616,000

$xxx,xxx

68.8%

xx%

n.a.

15.2%

xx%

n.a.

1114

New
+
9%
9%

$25,000

$287,000

$807,000

n.a.

$886,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

254

New
+
-14%
-14%

$30,000

$667,000

$1,143,000

n.a.

$1,286,000

$xxx,xxx

80.6%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

5214

New
+
-2%
-2%

$25,000

$462,000

$2,054,000

n.a.

$969,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

87

New
+
30%
30%

$50,000

$2,143,000

$3,837,000

n.a.

$2,611,000

$xxx,xxx

76.5%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3705

New
+
3%
3%

$20,000

$447,000

$1,817,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

51

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$191,000

$641,000

n.a.

$824,000

$xxx,xxx

67.3%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

3

New
+
50%
50%

$30,000

$406,000

$1,148,000

n.a.

$2,223,000

$xxx,xxx

77.3%

xx%

n.a.

15.2%

xx%

n.a.

26

New
+
-10%
-10%

$45,000

$488,000

$1,133,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
-11%
-11%

$40,000

$609,000

$2,056,000

n.a.

$1,805,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

192

New
+
-4%
-4%

$15,000

$109,000

$236,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10

New
+
-17%
-17%

$45,000

$980,000

$1,571,000

n.a.

$1,758,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

599

New
+
3%
3%

$7,500 to $25,000

$153,000

$1,159,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

2819

New
+
1%
1%

$7,500

$32,000

$228,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

409

New
+
15%
15%

$25,000

$347,000

$1,092,000

n.a.

$1,028,000

$xxx,xxx

73.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

17

New
+
-6%
-6%

$45,000

$1,672,000

$2,493,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
0%
0%

$25,000

$211,000

$706,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

29

New
+
12%
12%

$20,000

$145,000

$1,568,000

n.a.

$472,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

113

New
+
9%
9%

$30,000

$206,000

$673,000

n.a.

$1,193,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

73

New
+
66%
66%

$30,000

$290,000

$551,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

299

New
+
13%
13%

$30,000

$477,000

$983,000

n.a.

$1,015,000

$xxx,xxx

75.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

12

New
+
-20%
-20%

$50,000

$720,000

$5,375,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

33

New
+
-27%
-27%

$40,000

$207,000

$2,484,000

n.a.

$2,081,000

$xxx,xxx

76.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

6751

New
+
5%
5%

$10,000

$107,000

$744,000

n.a.

$1,279,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

10.7%

xx%

n.a.

1

New
+
0%
0%

$20,000

$301,000

$489,000

n.a.

$586,000

$xxx,xxx

74.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$40,000

$1,336,000

$7,506,000

n.a.

$2,211,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

33

New
+
18%
18%

$39,000

$87,000

$549,000

n.a.

$489,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

161

New
+
-2%
-2%

$50,000

$1,688,000

$4,832,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

55

New
+
20%
20%

$30,000

$510,000

$690,000

n.a.

$983,000

$xxx,xxx

71.4%

xx%

n.a.

7.4%

xx%

n.a.

394

New
+
9%
9%

$30,000

$573,000

$786,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

86

New
+
5%
5%

$30,000

$859,000

$1,247,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

37

New
+
3%
3%

$35,000

$439,000

$1,501,000

n.a.

$874,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

32

New
+
-9%
-9%

$25,000

$329,000

$908,000

n.a.

$1,084,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

69

New
+
-9%
-9%

$35,000

$369,000

$940,000

n.a.

$804,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

45

New
+
5%
5%

$25,000 - $30,000

$167,000

$785,000

n.a.

$811,000

$xxx,xxx

72.1%

xx%

n.a.

6.2%

xx%

n.a.

259

New
+
-12%
-12%

$15,000 to $30,000

$242,000

$1,019,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

56

New
+
2%
2%

$25,000

$1,431,000

$2,595,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

494

New
+
-1%
-1%

$25,000

$292,000

$567,000

n.a.

$805,000

$xxx,xxx

70.2%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

4

New
+
300%
300%

$15,000

$147,000

$575,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

125

New
+
3%
3%

$30,000

$542,000

$1,038,000

n.a.

$958,000

$xxx,xxx

68.5%

xx%

n.a.

9.5%

xx%

n.a.

48

New
+
-2%
-2%

$35,000

$312,000

$1,485,000

n.a.

$807,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

60

New
+
-2%
-2%

$20,000

$214,000

$690,000

n.a.

$676,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

75

New
+
19%
19%

$25,000

$146,000

$428,000

n.a.

$1,039,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

23

New
+
-58%
-58%

$30,000

$239,000

$590,000

n.a.

$934,000

$xxx,xxx

71.0%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

24

New
+
-4%
-4%

$50,000

$1,031,000

$3,306,000

n.a.

$1,510,000

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

0

New
+
n.a.
n.a.

$25,000

$237,000

$533,000

n.a.

$730,000

$xxx,xxx

60.0%

xx%

n.a.

17.2%

xx%

n.a.

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Training 

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Franchise offers comprehensive training to ensure that franchisees are well-prepared to operate their locations successfully. The training program covers several key areas:

  1. Operational Training: Franchisees receive in-depth instruction on day-to-day operations, including managing kitchen activities, maintaining food quality, and ensuring consistent customer service. This training helps new franchisees become proficient in the core functions of running a Happy Joe's restaurant.
  2. Staff Management: The training program includes guidance on recruiting, hiring, and managing a team. This part of the training is crucial for creating a positive work environment and delivering the friendly, efficient service that Happy Joe's is known for.
  3. Community Engagement: Given Happy Joe's strong community-oriented focus, franchisees are also trained on how to effectively engage with their local communities. This includes organizing events, running fundraising initiatives, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for families.
  4. Marketing Support: Franchisees learn how to market their location effectively, including leveraging national and local advertising strategies. The training provides tools and techniques for promoting the restaurant and driving customer traffic.

Territory Protection

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream franchise does offer territory protection to its franchisees. This means that franchisees are granted exclusive rights to operate within a specific geographic area, ensuring that no other Happy Joe's franchise can open within that territory. 

This protection is designed to help franchisees maximize their market potential without the concern of internal competition, allowing them to build a loyal customer base in their area.

The franchise carefully considers demographics, ease of access, and market potential when determining and granting territories. 

Competitors

Pizza Twist

Pizza Twist is a pizza franchise known for its unique fusion flavors, offering traditional and Indian-style pizzas with vegan, gluten-free, and halal options.

Franchisees

?

73
+
66%
66%
Investment

?

$290,000 - $551,000
Food & Beverage
Pizza

Paulie Gee's

Paulie Gee's is a pizzeria franchise known for its artisanal, wood-fired pizzas made with fresh ingredients, offering a cozy dining experience.

Franchisees

?

5
+
25%
25%
Investment

?

$255,000 - $734,000
Food & Beverage
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Slice House by Tony Gemignani

Slice House by Tony Gemignani is a pizza franchise offering a variety of regional styles, including New York, Sicilian, and Detroit-style pizzas.

Franchisees

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3
+
50%
50%
Investment

?

$406,000 - $1,148,000
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East of Chicago Pizza

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60
+
-2%
-2%
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$214,000 - $690,000
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Mellow Mushroom

Mellow Mushroom is a pizza franchise known for its stone-baked pizzas, craft beers, and eclectic, artistic restaurant atmosphere.

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161
+
-2%
-2%
Investment

?

$1,688,000 - $4,832,000
Food & Beverage
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Russo's New York Pizzeria

Russo’s New York Pizzeria is a pizza franchise serving authentic New York-style pizzas, pastas, and Italian dishes in a casual dining setting.

Franchisees

?

37
+
3%
3%
Investment

?

$439,000 - $1,501,000
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