Franchise opportunities compared
Hickory River Smokehouse vs Hot Stuff Pizza
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Before you compare
- Hickory River Smokehouse figures come from its 2026 FDD and Hot Stuff Pizza figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- Hickory River Smokehouse discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
| Disclosure |  Hickory River Smokehouse |  Hot Stuff Pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $315,000 – $1,084,500 2026 FDD · Item 7 | $62,500 – $175,500 Total estimated initial investment: $62,500–$175,500 2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 12 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $30,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8 | Not available No single standard fee identified |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 5% Royalty Fee — 5% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8 | Not available No reviewed royalty record |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 3% National Marketing Fee — 3% — 3% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8 | Not available No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 5 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34 | 655 Outlets at end of 2025 2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 32 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | −1 Calculated: 6 at end of 2023 → 5 at end of 2025 | −168 Calculated: 823 at end of 2023 → 655 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record $1,536,579 other Revenue · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 33 | Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation |
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Hickory River Smokehouse vs Hot Stuff Pizza: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Hickory River Smokehouse or Hot Stuff Pizza?
- Hickory River Smokehouse: $315,000 – $1,084,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Hot Stuff Pizza: $62,500 – $175,500 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 12). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Hot Stuff Pizza. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- Which has more locations, Hickory River Smokehouse or Hot Stuff Pizza?
- Hickory River Smokehouse: 5 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34); Hot Stuff Pizza: 655 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 32). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Hickory River Smokehouse and Hot Stuff Pizza disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Hot Stuff Pizza makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.