The Visual Image vs The Sports Section Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Visual Image vs The Sports Section including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
The Visual Image Franchise
The Sports Section Franchise
Investment $37,300 - $37,500$20,400 - $74,275
Franchise Fee $23,500$7,500
Royalty Fee 0$50/mo.
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19841983
Year Franchised 19941984
Term Of Agreement 3 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 3 years10 years
Renewal Fee $2K$1K


Business Experience Requirements
 
The Visual Image Franchise
The Sports Section Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • People skills; sales skills

  • Marketing skills
  • Sales experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    The Sports Section Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/NoYes/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment Yes/NoYes/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    The Sports Section Franchise
    Training -Your success is our success and we want you to ramp up fast and have immediate success. For this reason TSS offers a series of in-field training combined with classroom and online training sessions to make sure you have all you need to ensure a fast ramp up and early success. In-Field Sales Training (4-5 Days) A TSS Business Trainer travels to your location for 4-5 days to help set up your business by:
  • Identifying Sales Opportunities
  • Assisting With Sales Calls
  • Setting Up Your Office
  • Analyzing Your Market and Local Competition
  • Locate Key Sources of Decision Makers
  • Installation and Training of TSS Proprietary Order Entry and Business Management Software In-Field Photo Training (1-2 days) One of our certified, professional photographers will give instruction in the following areas:
  • Use of Lenses
  • Film and Camera Settings
  • Lighting and Shading Techniques
  • Posing Methods
  • Use of Photography Equipment
  • Picture Day Procedures
  • Troubleshooting Techniques
  • Staff Hiring and Development Photo Ops Training (2 days) TSS University is designed to help you make the most of RUNNING your Photography Franchise.
  • Advanced Sales and Marketing Techniques
  • Lab Tour and Order Processing Session
  • Indoor/ Outdoor Photography Training
  • Picture Day Follow Up Process
  • Customer Service Forum
  • Business Development
  • Digital Asset Utilization
  • Unique Chance To Meet Fellow Franchisees and HQ Staff On-The-Job Training: 76 hours Classroom Training: 44 hours Additional Training: as needed
    • Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesOur veteran support staff knows what works and what doesn't work. They're dedicated to your success and readily available to you any time you need them. Our in-house marketing and design staff has created the most impressive array of marketing brochures, samples, presentation portfolios, and collateral materials in the industry. Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 2

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 Franchise can be run from home.

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 35% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 - 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    The Sports Section Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About The Visual Image

    Paul Holman founded Visual Image in 1984 after leaving his job as a photographer with a small portrait company. Intent on building a business that would give him the creative freedom he wanted, Paul joined forces with his brother, Donald, and formed the Visual Image Inc. franchise company in 1994. The private company has more than 17 locations throughout the United States and is based in Maryville, Tennessee.

    About The Sports Section

    The Sports Section was founded in 1983 by R. Daniel Burgner and Carl Hansson. It began franchising in 1984 with the formation of its parent company, B&H Products Inc. The Sports Section, which has locations in the United States and Canada, is based in Duluth, Georgia. If you love photography, enjoy working with kids, or have an interest in sports, now you can enjoy a picture perfect future as a franchise owner with TSS Photography. It has been said that when you do what you love, you'll never have to work another day in your life. And our franchise owners love what they do. They especially love controlling their own destiny, the flexibility of scheduling their own time, and calling their own shots.

    Veteran Incentives  10-20% off franchise fee

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    In Franchise Business Reviews Top 200.


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    #451 in Franchise 500 for 2020.