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Updated RecentlyDr. Vinyl vs Master Mechanic Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dr. Vinyl vs Master Mechanic including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $41,320 - $71,500 | $175,000 - $225,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $24,500 | $30,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 7% | 6% |
| Advertising Fee | - | 3% |
| Year Founded | 1972 | 1982 |
| Year Franchised | 1981 | 1983 |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
| Term Of Agreement | 10 years | - |
| Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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| Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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| In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
| Franchise Fees | Yes/No | -/- |
| Start-up Costs | No/No | -/- |
| Equipment | No/No | -/- |
| Inventory | No/No | -/- |
| Receivables | No/No | -/- |
| Payroll | No/No | -/- |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | - |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | - |
| Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media | - |
| 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) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | - |
| Canada Expansion | No | No |
| International Expansion | Yes | No |
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 Master Mechanic
The business provides full-service automotive repair and maintenance services to both retail and commercial clients through its franchisees, with special emphasis on drivability and engine performance. This is an excellent opportunity for existing independent garages looking to rebrand or for those with automotive and/or business experience who are considering the benefits of owning their own business. Many consumers today are in desperate search for an auto repair/maintenance facility who can provide this level of trust in your mechanic to the same extent as your doctor or dentist -- this is the relationship Master Mechanic works very hard to create. The independent auto repair/maintenance market is rather diverse with specialists in everything from oil changes to exhausts to tires to transmissions...creating confusion for many consumers as he/she must now be expected to know what's wrong with their car, then know who specializes in that service and then undertake the selection process as to which shop to do business. At Master Mechanic, there is neither confusion nor doubt because we are full-service facilities -- everything from a basic oil change to complex engine diagnostics all performed by licenced technicians. Let's take a look at the options...the fast lube market lacks the technical expertise for anything beyond fluid changes...the big box stores have been branded with perceived lower cost but unreliable service...while the new car dealerships tend to be very costly leaving the independents like Master Mechanic Franchises as a very attractive alternative.