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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of HouseMaster Home Inspections vs HomeTeam Inspection Service including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $61,100 - $106,150 | $50,100 - $76,800 |
Franchise Fee | $42,500 | $35,000 - $55,000 |
Royalty Fee | 6%-7.5% | 6%-4% |
Advertising Fee | 2%-2.5% | 3% |
Year Founded | 1971 | 1991 |
Year Franchised | 1979 | 1992 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | ||
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/Yes |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/Yes |
Equipment | No/No | No/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | Classroom Training: 40-120 hours Additional Training: Technical training | On-The-Job Training: 25 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: Pretraining |
Support | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing | Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing |
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. 15% 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)
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Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | Yes | Yes |
International Expansion | No | Yes |
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.
Paul Spires, Jr., started a home inspection business in Cincinnati in 1992, and soon became so successful that he franchised the idea. HomeTeam's inspectors thoroughly examine a home's construction and equipment for defects and problems. HomeTeam services include pest inspections, radon testing, lead testing, asbestos testing, pool inspections and well or septic testing. The company also offers a 90-day warranty covering the home's mechanical and structural components. The HomeTeam Inspection Service Inc. is affiliated with the Women's Council of Realtors, the Home Builders Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the Employee Relocation Council.