|
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Wheelchair Getaways vs GoCar GPS-Guided Tours including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
||
Investment | $40,000 - $112,000 | $175,000 - $375,000 |
Franchise Fee | $17,500 | $45,000 |
Royalty Fee | $550/van/yr. | 10% |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1988 | 2004 |
Year Franchised | 1989 | 2005 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | $5K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
||
Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
||
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
Equipment | No/No | No/No |
Inventory | No/No | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
||
Training | - | * Available at headquarters: 4 weeks * At franchisee's location: 2 weeks |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | - |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
||
US Expansion | Yes | - |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | Yes | - |
In 1921 the Pennsylvania-based Van Artsdalen Express was a successful freight company. By 1972, it had been restructured to operate school buses instead of trucks. While working for the company, J. Edward Van Artsdalen noticed that people using wheelchairs were some of the most poorly served individuals in the transportation market. Motivated by this discovery, Van Artsdalen founded Wheelchair Getaways Inc. in 1988. The company rents wheelchair-accessible vans to individuals and groups. The company began franchising in 1989 and was purchased by J. Stewart and Jean Gatewood in 1994. Wheelchair Getaways is now based in Versailles, Kentucky and owned by Richard Gatewood and Moon Ko.
With locations in Europe and the United States, GoCar Tours takes
tens of thousands of people through some of the world’s most beautiful
cities every year. Currently, GoCar Tours operates in San Francisco, San
Diego, Lisbon, Barcelona, and Madrid with other cities vying for
franchises of their own.
Currently we are not registered to sell
franchises or looking for potential franchise partners. However, if you
currently own and operate a successful business in the tourism
industry, and think your city should offer the GoCar experience, we’d be
happy to hear from you.