Dr. Vinyl vs TechZone Airbag Service Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dr. Vinyl vs TechZone Airbag Service including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Dr. Vinyl Franchise
TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
Investment $41,320 - $71,500$51,500 - $110,400
Franchise Fee $24,500$15,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 7%8.5%+marketing fee 2%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19721992
Year Franchised 19811994
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee -$5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Dr. Vinyl Franchise
TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/NoNo/No
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, 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)

    Franchise can be run from home.

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    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 TechZone Airbag Service

    In the early '90s, engineer Douglas C. Hansen was working for an aerospace firm developing airbag inflators. He discovered there was a lack of understanding regarding airbag systems'how they worked, how they should be handled and how they should be repaired.

    Propelled by that discovery and recent legislation that required all cars to be equipped with driver and passenger airbags, Hansen and his wife, Victoria, founded Airbag Service. Franchisees work with repair shops and consumers in testing, maintaining and replacing airbags.

    The company has co-branding relationships with Novus and Apple Auto Glass.