Miracle-Ear vs American Family Care Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Miracle-Ear vs American Family Care including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
Investment |
$119,000 - $352,500 | $114,500 - $1,441,500 |
Franchise Fee |
$30,000 | $60,000 |
Royalty Fee |
$48.80/aid | 6% |
Advertising Fee |
$75/aid | 1% |
Year Founded |
1948 | 1982 |
Year Franchised |
1983 | 1985 |
Term Of Agreement |
5 years | - |
Term Of Agreement |
5 years | - |
Renewal Fee |
$2K-10K | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
Experience |
General business experience Marketing skills | *A motivated, self-starter
*Totally focused and 100% committed to the business
*A people person
*Communicative – they reach out and ask for advice
*Understands and executes marketing
*Follows the system
*Supportive of other franchisees – team player
*Passion for helping others
*Have family and friends that support their business |
Financing Options |
|
In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party |
Franchise Fees |
No/No | -/- |
Start-up Costs |
No/No | -/Yes |
Equipment |
No/No | -/Yes |
Inventory |
No/No | -/Yes |
Receivables |
No/No | -/- |
Payroll |
No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
Training |
Ongoing training as needed | American Family Care will provide a multi-day detailed training session prior to the time of your opening plus on-site assistance as you initiate operations. There is no additional charge for this training service but you must pay any travel and living expenses while attending the training at our offices.
On-The-Job Training: 86 hours
Classroom Training: 24 hours
Additional Training: At master locations
|
Support |
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | We will continue to provide ongoing support services to you by phone, email, and periodic on-site visits to your location. We will also provide you with access to our online support website. Plus, we regularly update our operations manual with new procedures and other information designed to improve operations for all franchisees. There is support and training available for your operations, medical, marketing and other personnel.
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings/Conventions
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security/Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing |
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising | Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Social media
Loyalty program/app |
Operations |
80% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. | Absentee Ownership Allowed
Number of Employees Required to Run: 8
|
Expansion Plans |
US Expansion |
Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion |
No | - |
International Expansion |
No | - |
Company Overviews
About Miracle-Ear
Kenneth Dahlberg started Dahlberg Electronics in 1948 and began
manufacturing the first Miracle-Ear hearing aids. Today, Miracle-Ear is a
subsidiary of Italian hearing aid distributor Amplifon, with U.S.
headquarters in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Miracle-Ear's retail locations offer free hearing tests and
consultations and offer service, warranty and after-care packages with
their hearing aids.
Ken Dahlberg, a World War II aviator turned electronic inventor, created the pillow radio for hospital patients' private listening. Ken's employer rejected the idea, and this inspired the founding of Dahlberg, Inc., which became the foundation of Miracle-Ear.
A few short years later, we were the first to offer an in-the-ear hearing aid. Since then, Miracle-Ear has continued to introduce innovative technology to remove the barriers of hearing loss. We've taken the size of hearing aids down to models that fit entirely in the ear canal. We've made technological improvements that allow us to customize a hearing solution to your individual hearing loss profile. And we've developed customer service practices to help ensure that you are completely satisfied with the products and support you receive from your Miracle-Ear representatives nationwide.
The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Miracle-Ear®
franchise is from $119,000 to $352,500. This includes from $35,000 to
$45,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate for an
exclusive territory of up to 250,000 persons. This amount may be higher
if the size (population) of your exclusive territory is larger.
Veteran Incentives
10% off franchise fee
#98 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#84 in Franchise 500 for 2021.
About American Family Care
The first American Family Care Clinic (AFC) was opened in 1982 by D.
Bruce Irwin, M.D. Since then, our model of “putting the patient first”
and providing an alternative, non-emergency room option for urgent care
has made us an industry leader and a patient favorite at our clinics
throughout the country. All AFC centers provide access to primary care,
urgent care, minor emergency treatment, and occupational medicine.The demand for comprehensive and convenient health care services increases
every year.
People want and need access to health care on their terms -
without endless waiting in hospital emergency rooms or staggering bills.
Healthcare franchises have rapidly become a popular alternative to traditional
means of seeking urgent care and primary care medical services. The
United States public health care system is increasingly strained by
factors such as a rapidly aging population, the rising costs of
insurance, and an increasing percentage of the population without
adequate health insurance or convenient access to medical care. Private
healthcare franchises address these issues by creating an affordable and
convenient healthcare option which patients can turn to without an
appointment, a long wait, an unaffordable bill, or a lengthy commute.
The total initial investment necessary to begin operation of a
franchised business (in which you are not converting an existing urgent
care business), ranges from $1,008,000 - $1,441,500. This includes
$190,000 - $210,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or its
affiliates.
If you are converting an existing urgent care facility to be
an American Family Care center that you will manage, the total
initial investment necessary to begin operation of a franchised business
ranges from $114,500 - $480,500. This includes $45,000 that must be
paid to the franchisor or affiliate. If you sign an Area Development
Agreement to develop a certain number of franchised businesses, you must
pay the franchisor a development fee of $60,000 for your first
franchise and a non-refundable deposit of $10,000 for each additional
franchise to be developed. The number of units for an Area Development
Agreement will be negotiated between the parties but will be no less
than 2. The initial franchise fee for subsequent franchises under the
Area Development Agreement is $45,000.
Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S., Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Central America,
Eastern Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Philippines, South America and Western Europe
#82 in Franchise 500 for 2021. Not on Franchise 500 for 2020