Dr. Vinyl vs Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dr. Vinyl vs Tuffy Auto Service Centers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Dr. Vinyl Franchise
Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
Investment $41,320 - $71,500$224,000 - $413,500
Franchise Fee $24,500$30,000
Royalty Fee 7%2.5%-5%
Advertising Fee -5%
Year Founded 19721970
Year Franchised 19811971
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years15 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Dr. Vinyl Franchise
Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
    Training - On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 104 hours Additional Training: At existing store
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op Advertising Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 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. (99% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 - 5

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Dr. Vinyl Franchise
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Dr. Vinyl

    Former aerospace employee W. David Isley founded Dr. Vinyl in 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri. He and his wife, Marcia, worked with local restaurants, repairing torn, burnt, chipped and peeling vinyl booths and chairs, but soon discovered there were many similar repairs to be done at car dealerships. The couple did repairs for clients in the Kansas City area until 1981, when they began franchising.

    Dr. Vinyl franchisees offers bumper repair, automotive paint touch-up, paintless dent removal, and vinyl siding repair in addition to the leather and vinyl repairs the Isleys introduced over 40 years ago.

    In January of 2001, Dr. Vinyl was sold to Richard Reinders, formerly the company's European Master Franchisee. It now allows franchisees to purchase shares in the parent company.

    About Tuffy Auto Service Centers

    Charles Amy founded Tuffy Auto Service Centers when he opened the first Tuffy Muffler shop in 1970. The private company began franchising one year later and now has shops in several states. It is based in Toledo.

    If you purchase an area development franchise you must pay an additional area development fee that will be negotiated based on the number of franchises to be developed and the development schedule, but you will only pay an initial franchise fee of $5,000 for each franchise developed.

    #222 in Franchise 500 for 2020.