|
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of HouseMaster Home Inspections vs The BrickKicker Home Inspection including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
||
Investment | $61,100 - $106,150 | $16,750 - $44,550 |
Franchise Fee | $42,500 | $12,000 - $27,000 |
Royalty Fee | 6%-7.5% | 6% |
Advertising Fee | 2%-2.5% | 2% |
Year Founded | 1971 | 1989 |
Year Franchised | 1979 | 1994 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 7 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 7 years |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
||
Experience | ||
Financing Options |
||
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/No | No/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
||
Training | Classroom Training: 40-120 hours Additional Training: Technical training | Continuing education On-The-Job Training: up to 2 days Classroom Training: up to 10 days |
Support | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations |
Marketing | Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 5
Absentee ownership of franchise is not allowed. |
Franchise can be run from home. 75% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 2
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
||
US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | Yes | No |
International Expansion | No | No |
Ken Austin began an independent house inspection service in northern New Jersey in 1970. Nine years later, he formed HouseMaster and began franchising, using marketing experience he gained at Johnson & Johnson and Warner Lambert Co. to spread the word about his new company. HouseMaster inspectors check out all the major systems of the house, providing an objective opinion of its physical condition. The HouseMaster Express Report provides a comprehensive on-site report. HouseMaster franchises offer homebuyers a limited inspection guarantee and has an errors and omissions insurance program to protect franchisees.
Len Franckowiak founded the Home Building Institute (HBI), a school that taught about the different facets and trades of home building. One of the courses at HBI, Old House Rehab, dealt with the inspection and analysis of old houses. Realtors would take the class to learn about older homes and would often call on Franckowiak for his insight into the condition of a property. Through these consultations, Franckowiak saw the need for a home inspection service and, with the help of Ronald Ewald, started BrickKicker in 1992.
#129 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees