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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Window Gang vs Merry Maids including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $80,900 - $118,300 | $89,619 - $125,023 |
Franchise Fee | $60,000 | $37,500 - $51,500 |
Royalty Fee | 7% | 5-7% |
Advertising Fee | - | 1.3% |
Year Founded | 1986 | 1979 |
Year Franchised | 1996 | 1980 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | $2.5K | - |
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/Yes | Yes/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Receivables | No/Yes | No/No |
Payroll | No/Yes | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | On-The-Job Training: 64 hours Classroom Training: 16 hours | Additional training in Memphis, Tennessee and regional locations |
Support | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations |
Marketing | Social media SEO Website development | Ad slicks, National media |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 65% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (85% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
60% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 12 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (98% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | No | Yes |
Tim McCullen founded Window Gang in 1986 in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina as a summer job. As the company gained clients, McCullen decided to franchise beginning in 1996. Window Gang has locations along the East Coast from Virginia to Georgia. The private company is based in Beaufort, North Carolina.
Dallen W. Peterson founded Merry Maids in 1979 in Omaha, Nebraska. The public company cleans more than 300,000 homes, apartments and condominiums each month in North America. It has franchises in Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom. In 1988 Merry Maids joined the ServiceMaster Quality Service Network, which includes franchise companies AmeriSpec, Terminix and Furniture Medic. Merry Maids is based in Memphis, Tennessee.