Pizza Schmizza serves a New York style pizza with a thin hand-tossed crust and large, foldable slices, though their use of non-traditional toppings and sauces are suggestive of California-style pizza. In addition to more conventional offerings such as cheese and pepperoni, Pizza Schmizza offers a wide range of specialty pizzas including "sweet 'n sour" (chicken with red peppers, pineapple, and sesame seeds), "Rustic Pie" (potatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic, broccoli, and feta), and house specialty Alligator Pie (alligator sausage, red peppers, onions, tomatoes, feta, and spaghetti noodles).
Pizza is generally sold by the slice, though full pizzas can be ordered for take-out at most locations. Pizza Schmizza offers delivery service, but usually only for orders totaling over $50. Pizza Schmizza is distinguished for its unconventional advertising methods, including pizza coupons disguised as parking tickets and faux political advertisements with the slogan "Elect Schmizza for dinner."
Company History
Andre Jehan co-founded Schmizza with his wife, Carla Jehan, in 1993, partly to establish a fun business for them, and partly due to the sad, lack of authentic New York-style pizza on the west coast at that time. Jehan's father disparaged the plan with a scornful "Pizza schmizza--get a real job," and the name stuck. His father, by the way, now semi-retired, holds the unofficial title of planet’s oldest delivery driver.
| Total Number of Units: |
25 |
| Franchised Units: |
25 |
| Year Established: |
1993 |
| Franchising Since: |
2001 |
| Awards: |
World's Greatest Pizza (Naturally) |
Benefits of Owning a Pizza Schmizza Franchise
Low barriers to entry - Everyone loves pizza right?- Brand loyalty and built in customer base - Seinfeld eats there!
- Solid, rapid expansion plans - One Planet. One People. One Pizza. Ours!
- Funky, hot concept and store design - A little hippie - a little Saturday morning cartoons.
- Memorable brand name - Dad was right.
- Lunch and dinner niche - Eat the whole thing or just a salad, we won't tell.
- Comprehensive training - It's not rocket science, but then again we all need a little guidance.
- Field assistance program and ongoing support - We're here for you!
- Marketing support and programs - Spread the word, this is good stuff.
- Voted Best Pizza - Stop it, we're blushing.
- Kids of all ages love Schmizza.
Financial Investment
Between $91,000 and $398,450. These costs include the $25,000 franchise fee and all of the expenses the Federal Trade Commission requires us to estimate including working capital, training expenses (meals and lodging), utility deposits, advertising and so forth. If they don’t make us disclose it, we still do. It’s just the way we go.
| Total Initial Investment: |
$91,000 - $398,450 |
| Franchise Fee: |
$25,000* |
| Liquid Capital Required: |
$150,000 |
| Net Worth Required: |
N/A |
| Financial Assistance: |
Third Party |
| Start-Up Capital: |
$150,000 |
* plus a Franchise Coordination Fee of $10,000 and a Grand Opening Marketing commitment of $12,500.
Training and Support
A critical variable to your success is your ability to manage the restaurant. Our training is 35 days of intense pizza boot camp. Before we let you out of training, you not only know the details of our operation, you can implement them. You’ll know that you can manage every aspect of your store including your employees, your bookwork, your POS (point of sale) system, inventories, product quality, marketing and more.
We are also dedicated to your ongoing success. We can help you open your new stores, and periodically visit your existing stores to help you keep your operational standards at the highest level. All of our stores have computers and an internet connection (high speed where available). This means that we are always available for your questions or concerns and we’re never more than an email or phone call away.
| Does Corporate Assist in Site Selection: |
Yes |
| Does Corporate Provide Advertising and Marketing (Local, National): |
Yes |
| Does Corporate Provide Continued Training: |
Yes |
Franchise Requirements
- A strong desire for success and achievement, and willing to work "hands on"
- Business management experience
- Positive people skills and commitment to customer service
- Good credit
- At least $150,000 in cash
Location Requirements
Typical locations for Schmizza stores are shopping centers or other commercial retail areas. We recommend 1,200 to 1,700 square feet and we require a minimum of 1,200 square feet for a Standard franchise.
Top 35 Target Market Areas
Single Store franchising available in the following states: California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, & Washington.
Multi-Store franchising available in all states except Hawaii, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia.
Master Franchises available most anywhere, planet-wide. If interested elsewhere, please beam yourself over for a serious chat.