What Makes Your Pie Different From Franchises Like Marco’s Pizza
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to pizza franchises. For the purposes of this article, let’s take a closer look at two leaders of the market and see how a Marco’s Pizza franchise stacks up against Your Pie.
Marco’s Pizza
An Ohio-based company, Marco’s has been serving up pizza for more than 40 years. Now with 1,000 locations worldwide, Marco’s Pizza continues its quest to compete with the big chains in the pizza delivery market. Marco’s Pizza prides themselves on delivering pizza the “Italian Way,” with dough and sauces made in-house daily and a signature three-cheese blend.
Marco’s Pizza requires franchisee candidates have at least $150,000 in liquid assets, at least $450,000 in net worth, and a minimum credit score of 680. The opening costs for a Marco’s franchise range between $223,535 to $586,410. It is important to note that a majority of Marco’s Pizza occur via delivery, and these initial costs cover a “traditional store with limited seating” but do not cover delivery vehicles.
With a focus on the delivery format, Marco’s Pizza emphasizes quick turn-around, with one store setting a record for making a pepperoni pizza in 48 seconds. Marco’s Pizza franchisees go through rigorous training where they are schooled in things like “people development” and “operational excellence,” in addition to learning how to prepare pizzas the Marco’s Way.
Marco’s Pizza is definitely business-minded: the company’s focus on expansion has seen its location count skyrocket as they have become one of the fastest-growing chains in the US. Marco’s Pizza currently has available territories in 37 states. The large number of franchises means the smaller the delivery range of each outpost within any given territory. Just last year, this worked out to the company’s total annual revenue averaging out to roughly $683,000 per location.
As a franchisee, you would likely do well to buy a multi-unit agreement to cover more delivery territory, but not all burgeoning entrepreneurs have the startup capital to take on more than one franchise initially.
Marco’s Pizza has received much attention for its rapid growth and quick service, but the brand’s model is far from unique. Marco’s menu offerings allow them to stand up against similarly branded competitors but do little in the way to help them stand out from the pack.
Your Pie
Founded in Athens, Georgia in 2008, Your Pie is the original fast-casual artisan pizza franchise. The Your Pie concept is just like the pizza itself: exciting and fresh. With a fully customizable menu, customers are able to select their own toppings from a range of unique, authentic toppings, and the pizza makers will deliver them to the table, piping hot from our brick ovens. In addition to delicious pizza, Your Pie offers handcrafted panini, chopped salads, gelato, and a curated list of craft beer and wine to create a most memorable dining experience.
At the start of 2020, approximately 80-85 percent of Your Pie’s sales came from in-restaurant dining. The pandemic has changed the equation to where a little more than half of our business comes from off premise. Your Pie has partnered with some of the top third-party delivery services and set up convenient curbside pickup options as an additional way for customers to continue to enjoy their favorite Your Pie items. We look forward to welcoming more guests back in our stores later this year while also providing convenient pickup and delivery options.
Costs for opening a Your Pie average between $364,750-$610,000 and include planning, layout and construction of the warm and inviting dine-in environment. Your Pie restaurants are designed for customers to fully immerse themselves in the authentic family dining experience.
Your Pie offers full support to its franchisees through every step of the way. From the real estate process to pre-opening training at Your Pie University, to grand opening marketing and beyond. Your Pie prides itself on the quality and authenticity of the product, delivered by a well-trained and enthusiastic team of fellow pizza lovers. Your Pie believes in innovation and creativity, never allowing the brand (or the pizza!) to grow stale.
Providing the best possible dining experience for customers creates lasting relationships and energizes the community to attract new diners, which is the foundation of Your Pie’s success.
With 70 locations across 19 states, Your Pie is looking to expand further with like-minded franchisees who are excited about bringing our special brand of authentic Italian family dining to your community. If you would like to learn more about franchising opportunities, please visit us.
