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Updated RecentlyDr. Vinyl vs Merlin 200000 Mile Shops Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dr. Vinyl vs Merlin 200000 Mile Shops including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $41,320 - $71,500 | $183,600 - $315,900 |
| Franchise Fee | $24,500 | $26,000 - $30,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 7% | 4.9-6.9% |
| Advertising Fee | - | - |
| Year Founded | 1972 | 1975 |
| Year Franchised | 1981 | 1975 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 20 years |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 20 years |
| Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | ||
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | Yes/No | No/Yes |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | No/Yes |
| Equipment | No/No | No/Yes |
| Inventory | No/No | No/Yes |
| Receivables | No/No | No/No |
| Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | - |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
| Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising |
| Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (99% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
8% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | Yes | No |
Company Overviews
About Dr. Vinyl
Former aerospace employee W. David Isley founded Dr. Vinyl in 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri. He and his wife, Marcia, worked with local restaurants, repairing torn, burnt, chipped and peeling vinyl booths and chairs, but soon discovered there were many similar repairs to be done at car dealerships. The couple did repairs for clients in the Kansas City area until 1981, when they began franchising.
Dr. Vinyl franchisees offers bumper repair, automotive paint touch-up, paintless dent removal, and vinyl siding repair in addition to the leather and vinyl repairs the Isleys introduced over 40 years ago.
In January of 2001, Dr. Vinyl was sold to Richard Reinders, formerly the company's European Master Franchisee. It now allows franchisees to purchase shares in the parent company.
About Merlin 200000 Mile Shops
Merlin is an upscale "under the car" service opportunity which specializes in exhaust, brakes, ride control, suspension & steering, and oil/lubrication services. As a full service business format franchise, Merlin's provides a 90% turnkey state-of-the-art facility, comprehensive training, aggressive marketing programs, and ongoing support.