Floor Coverings International vs Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Floor Coverings International vs Made in the Shade Blinds and More including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Floor Coverings International Franchise
Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise
Investment $154,200 - $222,700$55,949 - $64,549
Franchise Fee $57,900$49,000
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee 3%-
Year Founded 19882004
Year Franchised 19892014
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Floor Coverings International Franchise
Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • Direct sales experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Floor Coverings International Franchise
    Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesYes/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/YesNo/Yes
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Floor Coverings International Franchise
    Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise
    Training

    We are going to teach you world-class business practices - from estimating a job to maintaining strong margins through efficient project management, to training employees to understanding and utilizing sales and marketing strategies .You will receive everything you need to become a successful member of the Floor Coverings International family of franchisees. Franchise training consists of a combination of classroom, online and field learning. Your three weeks of comprehensive franchise training are spread over the course of several months to promote maximum retention and franchise success. On-The-Job Training: 12 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: Regional meetings & national convention

    On-The-Job Training: 15 hours Classroom Training: 44 hours
    Support

    We are available year round to help you to continue learning and provide additional franchise training for franchise success. It all starts with our annual convention. This is where all members of the Floor Coverings International family assemble to recap the successes of the year and plan for the upcoming year. For franchisees there are also peer meetings. These "momentum groups" are a great resource for franchisees of varying experience levels to create synergy by sharing successful local sales techniques and business strategies. We provide a comprehensive data system that enables you to manage every aspect of your business. You will be able to manage your marketing programs, leads, scheduling, estimates, jobs in progress and employees all from one interface. You'll be able to download and upload information to and from corporate databases, customize reports to fit your business model, and manage your business against established plans and goals. 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

    Ongoing Support Purchasing Co-ops Meetings/Conventions Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad slicks, Regional advertising Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    1% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Floor Coverings International Franchise
    Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion Yes-
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About Floor Coverings International

    Floor Coverings International was established in 1988 as the first "mobile shop-at-home" floor covering franchise. Floor Coverings International continues to be the leading mobile floor-covering retailer with franchise units throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In 1998 a new direction and focus was given to Floor Coverings International when Thomas and Cynthia Gandee purchased the company. With backgrounds in floor covering sales and interior decorating respectively, and with more than 25 years of franchising experience, including owning their own Floor Coverings International franchise, Tom and Cindy are committed to the future of Floor Coverings International and the mobile concept of providing floor coverings to consumers. Building on the strengths of the concepts, the Gandees have brought together a new management team to support existing franchise partners and launch new business in their pursuit of "creating and keeping more customers." There is large demand for specialty affordable custom flooring as people continue to invest in the comfort, style and value of their homes. More and more customers are demanding specialized products from around the world. Customers want a design unique to them, utilizing dimension and mixed textures. Along with design leadership, they desire a high level of customer experience and service. These factors, combined with the continuing challenges in the real estate market create a business opportunity in the flooring industry that is likely to continue for many years into the future. Property owners are staying in their homes longer and they want their homes to be comfortable, fashionable and well maintained. The franchise business opportunities from Floor Coverings International are perfectly positioned to continue and will allow us to remain the market leader for many years to come. A great business concept, new leadership, and superb franchise partners are key to Floor Coverings International's future growth.

    Veteran Incentives  5% off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #154 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #201 in Franchise 500 for 2021.



    About Made in the Shade Blinds and More

    "Made
    Made in the Shade Blinds & More launched its debut in January 2004, by Founder and CEO, Cathy Morse, a 25+ year veteran in the home interiors industry. Her vision was to build a trusted brand through an international team of window covering industry professionals who carried the same passion - a commitment to excellence by adding beauty, function, style and value to every home and business. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Made in the Shade has since expanded its locations throughout the US and Canada, emerging as a leader in the custom window coverings industry.
    Our business model is designed with our complimentary, in-home consultation in mind. We’ll sit down for a few minutes to talk about what you’re interested in seeing, and then bring in the samples so that you can make an informed decision. No matter your product choice, our first goal is to make certain that you are completely comfortable - and educated - with your window covering choices. What sets us apart is that every one of our highly trained, local franchisees are committed to offering you the perfect solution for your windows. We are proud to stand by our five-point value system, part of our commitment to offer genuine value with every single product we sell:

    Veteran Incentives $2,000 off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #229 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #146 in Franchise 500 for 2021.