The Gutter Guys vs UBuildIt Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
UBuildIt Franchise
Investment $91,700$113,500 - $223,800
Franchise Fee $15,000$35,000
Royalty Fee 5%$1,000 monthly
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19881988
Year Franchised 20001998
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee$10K


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
UBuildIt Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic

  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Sales skills

  • Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    UBuildIt Franchise
    Training -Available at headquarters: 1 week
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

    Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives, Annual convention

    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising

    Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising, Marketing creatives

    Operations 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)

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    UBuildIt Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    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.

    About UBuildIt

    Prosper in construction consulting while reducing your workload and liability. By adding the UBuildIt consulting system to your business, you will find an easier way to build homes and regain extra time and money in the process. Instead of contracting to build; you are coaching homeowners. You’re offering a service that allows you to diversify and stand out from the pack! You’re using first-class marketing materials, Internet tools, and a complete business system backed with professional support. Imagine taking less risk - and having more time to golf, swim, and see your kids.

    Our UBuildIt Franchisees are doing it. Why not you?
    Here is what makes UBuildIt unique in the market place: 1. We are the number one Owner Builder Company in the United States! We were founded in 1988 and: have built over 14,000 homes with this system You would be joining a world class organization that has earned its top spot! 2. We partner with builders to give them a broader offering - something that other builders do not have! Use UBuildIt for fantastic lead generation and be able to truly serve your clients with whatever product best fits their needs! 3. We also partner with entrepreneurs who are interested in the building industry and who see the potential for success in UBuildIt as a sales and marketing tool. Such partners are often the most successful franchise but their cost tend to be higher as they do have the added expense of hiring an experienced project manager or general contractor to handle the onsite reviews with the clients during construction. Don't be afraid to research if you're not a qualified builder; hiring is not difficult as a rule but it does increase your initial overhead. 4. We have proven examples of what can be achieved with a manageable marketing campaign. A quality marketing campaign can be even more effective as local offices band together giving the opportunity for a huge impact. The UBuildIt system is home building, your way. Our proven system allows you to build your own home exactly the way you want. That is why we say it is home building, your way. Unlike other ways to build your own home, with the UBuildIt system, we provide expert guidance that will help make your home building project a success. Our expert construction consultants are with you all the way through the home building process - including up to 23 on-site consultations. This level of customer service provides assurance that your house construction project will stay on track.UBuildIt was founded in 1988 by Chuck Warrender and has been franchising since 1998. UBuildIt helps customers who want to do their own building or remodeling projects but aren't sure where to start. Franchisees assist customers in the planning and construction process with tasks such as obtaining plans, permits, subcontractors, financing and site inspections. The company is based in Edmond, Oklahoma.
    We offer 10% off the initial franchise fee to Veterans.