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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of HouseMaster Home Inspections vs AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services 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 | $53,550 - $72,310 |
Franchise Fee | $42,500 | $24,900 |
Royalty Fee | 6%-7.5% | 7% |
Advertising Fee | 2%-2.5% | 3% |
Year Founded | 1971 | 1987 |
Year Franchised | 1979 | 1988 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 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 | 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 |
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Training | Classroom Training: 40-120 hours Additional Training: Technical training | (Franchisee location training by correspondence) |
Support | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising |
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. 20% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | 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.