Vocelli Pizza
Vocelli Pizza offers pizza and related menu items through franchised locations. Known for quality pizza, it operates in the quick-service restaurant sector with standard investments ranging from $156,000 to $598,000.
About Vocelli Pizza
Vocelli Pizza is an American pizzeria based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As of 2022, the chain has stores in Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The trade magazine Pizza Today ranked Vocelli Pizza in their Top 100 pizza franchises for 2007, based on its 2006 sales of $55 million.
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Vocelli Pizza franchise FAQ
How much does it cost to open one — the total initial investment?
The total initial investment necessary to begin operation for a Standard single franchised business ranges from $156,000 to $598,000. For a Non-Traditional single franchised business, this range is from $25,000 to $264,000. [p.1]
What is the initial franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee is $5,000 for a single unit Franchise Agreement [p.8, p.91, p.131, p.176], and it is nonrefundable upon payment [p.12].
What are the ongoing royalty and advertising fees?
The franchisee must pay a continuing weekly royalty fee equal to five percent (5%) of the 'Gross Sales' of the Store. This fee is non-refundable, and VP reserves the right to increase it upon thirty (30) days' notice [p.15]. Additionally, there are advertising fees, though the specific amount is not detailed in these excerpts [p.189].
How long is the initial franchise agreement, and can I renew it?
This isn't specified in the excerpts.
Can I sell or transfer my franchise, and what does that require?
According to [p.148], you can generally transfer your interest in the franchise without unreasonable withholding from VP; however, if a transfer would result in a controlling interest in the franchised business, VP may require certain conditions as approval for the transfer. This isn't specified in the excerpts.
On what grounds can the franchisor terminate the agreement?
The franchisor can terminate the franchise agreement if there is a breach by the franchisee, such as owning more than 25% of another Vocelli Pizza Store franchise and breaching the agreement [p.112, p.153]. Additionally, the franchisor may change the business model without consent, which could require additional investments or harm the franchise business [p.3]. However, termination cannot occur without reasonable cause as defined by law [p.178, p.198].
What financial requirements — net worth and liquid capital — do I need to qualify?
This isn't specified in the excerpts. The FDD focuses on demonstrating adequate financial resources and capital, but it does not provide specific figures for net worth or liquid capital required to qualify as a franchisee.
Do I get an exclusive or protected territory?
No, you do not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, outlets owned by the company, or other channels of distribution or competitive brands that the company controls [p.33, p.34, p.87, p.127].
What training and ongoing support does the franchisor provide?
The franchisor provides initial in-house training at their Franchise Support Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [p.32], and on-site training at company-owned or other franchised stores in the Pittsburgh area [p.32]. Ongoing support includes periodic updates to the point-of-sale software and access for technical support technicians from Microworks and VP [p.29].
How many franchised outlets are there, and how many have closed or been terminated?
According to [p.46], in 2024, there were a total of 70 franchised stores that were open for the entire year, with three stores closing during that year. This means that at the end of 2024, there were 67 active franchised outlets, not counting the one company-owned store.
Does the franchisor share any financial performance or earnings information?
The franchisor, Vocelli LLC, shares a historic financial performance representation for a subset of its stores as of 2024 [p.46]. However, other than this specific historical data, Vocelli LLC does not make any financial performance representations and does not authorize its employees or representatives to do so either orally or in writing [p.47].
What am I restricted to selling, and where must I buy supplies?
You are required to offer all approved items on your menu as specified by VP [p.37]. You may have to buy or lease items from the franchisor or a limited group of suppliers designated by them, which may be more expensive than other options [p.3].