The Gutter Guys vs The Owner/Builder Network Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
The Owner/Builder Network Franchise
Investment $91,700$98,950 - $208,300
Franchise Fee $15,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%10%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19881997
Year Franchised 20002005
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements
 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
The Owner/Builder Network Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic
    		• -

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

    Training & Support
     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    The Owner/Builder Network Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    The Owner/Builder Network 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 The Owner/Builder Network

    Owner Builder Network is best described as a team of experts helping clients... Be their own builder.
    Owner Builder Network was founded outside of Houston Texas in 1997. A good builder today is someone that has connections with contractors and suppliers. With Owner Builder Network clients are in control. They will know exactly what is going into their home. They will know who is and isn't getting paid on their investment and why. The money they save by getting more than one bid and shopping wisely goes into their pocket - not the builder's. One of the highlights is the network they put the customer in when they close. This network consists of hundreds of contractors and suppliers that will bid on the project at a volume builders discount.
    Owner Builder Network also has several national accounts that can help clients save even more.