The Gutter Guys vs Surface Specialists Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Surface Specialists Franchise
Investment $91,700$43,200 - $56,000
Franchise Fee $15,000$36,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19881981
Year Franchised 20001982
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements

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

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • (qualifications helpful but not required)

  • Financing Options

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

    Training & Support

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Surface Specialists Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 57-73 hours Classroom Training: 23 hours Follow-up training available at franchisee's location
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingAd Templates Social media SEO Website development
    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)

    Franchise can be run from home.

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Surface Specialists Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    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 Surface Specialists

    Wayne McClosky established Surface Specialists in 1981, building up the establishment model in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To start with the family-claimed organization offered just insignificant repair administrations for plastic cover ledges and fiberglass and porcelain shower surfaces, however it soon extended to incorporate resurfacing administrations for marble sinks and vanity tops. It started diversifying in 1982 and is presently situated in Matthews, North Carolina.

    Our establishments have been pioneers in the bath and kitchen repair industry for more than 30 years and speak to more than 80 bath makers the nation over for their guarantee repairs. What began as a business to repair blazes in ledges has extended throughout the years to end up distinctly one of the countries biggest establishments offering bath and kitchen repair and revamping. Surface Specialists establishments additionally offer a bigger number of choices and value focuses to clients than whatever other single reclamation establishment.


    • 2014: Ranked #10 in Home Improvement Services
    • 2013: Ranked #28 in Top 100 Franchises for Veterans
    • 2013: Ranked #8 in Under 50 Units Class
    • 2012: Ranked #10 in Under 50 Units
    • 2011: Ranked #7 in Under 50 Units Class
    • 2009: Ranked #9 in Under 50 Units Class
    • 2008: Ranked #10 in Under 50 Units Class
    • 2006: Ranked #35 in all Units Surveyed
    #108 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees
    #473 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee