Kitchen Tune-Up vs The Gutter Guys Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Kitchen Tune-Up vs The Gutter Guys including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Investment $94,973 - $129,077$91,700
Franchise Fee $72,000$15,000
Royalty Fee 7%-2%5%
Advertising Fee 1%-
Year Founded 19861988
Year Franchised 19882000
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee -25% of franchise fee


Business Experience Requirements

 
Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic

  • Financing Options

     
    Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs Yes/NoNo/No
    Equipment Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory Yes/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Training Classroom Training: 92 hours Additional Training: Online pre-training/post-training webinars -
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (99% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Franchise can be run from home.

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 7

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Kitchen Tune-Up

    Dave Haglund began a cabinet distributorship in 1975 and found his market niche while visiting a customer's home in 1986. Noticing that the 6-year-old kitchen was starting to look a little run-down, but wasn't ready to be remodeled, he offered to touch up some of the worn areas. When the customer was thrilled with the results, Haglund realized the market potential of this concept. After years of testing and perfecting his process of restoring interior wood surfaces, Haglund began franchising in 1989. There are now Kitchen Tune-Up franchises throughout North America. Both retail and homebased franchises are available. Franchisees offer wood restoration and repair for both residential and commercial customers, as well as finish recoating, door replacement and a branded line of custom cabinets. In addition, franchisees may offer shelf lining, replacement hardware, cabinet organizing accessories, and wood care and maintenance.

    Veteran Incentives  $7,900 off franchise fee


    "Entrepreneur
    #315 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #324 in Franchise 500 for 2021.


    About The Gutter Guys

    The Gutter Guys was founded by Michael Williams in 1988. Michael had been working in the restaurant and hospitality business for the previous fifteen years and needed gutters and downspouts on his new home. Amazed at the total lack of professionalism in the gutter companies he encountered while getting gutter installation estimates, he decided to start The Gutter Guys. Using his extensive knowledge of and passion for customer service, Michael's company now serves more than 300,000 happy customers throughout four mid-Atlantic states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    Not only did Michael develop the recipe to satisfy his customers, he also found the right recipe to recruit and retain quality employees. While discussing how to utilize and reward skilled employees with his business advisor and CPA Chuck Johnson, the idea of franchising came up. Not franchising in the normal sense, but as a way to expand the geographic area the business served and give employees an opportunity to become self employed while remaining with The Gutter Guys.

    Chuck was so instrumental in helping to develop a system to give The Gutter Guys' employees a chance to become franchise owners that he was invited to join the company. Chuck accepted and sold his well-established accounting practice to join The Gutters Guys full time. Since that time, we have helped twelve of our employees become self employed franchisees of The Gutter Guys.