Epcon Communities vs Amramp Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Epcon Communities vs Amramp including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Epcon Communities Franchise
Amramp Franchise
Investment $887,200 - $4,569,000$130,785 - $211,345
Franchise Fee $50,000$49,250
Royalty Fee 1% to 2%12% Phased over 4 years
Advertising Fee $500/ monthNat'l 1%-3% Local 3%-6%
Year Founded 19861970
Year Franchised 19952002
Term Of Agreement Completion of 1 market area10 years
Term Of Agreement Completion of 1 market area10 years
Renewal Fee $25000$20,000


Business Experience Requirements
 
Epcon Communities Franchise
Amramp Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Upper management experience

  • Marketing skills
  • Understanding of clients' needs
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Amramp Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoYes/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/Yes
    Equipment No/NoNo/Yes
    Inventory No/NoNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Amramp Franchise
    Training Available at headquarters On-The-Job Training: 16 hours Classroom Training: 22 hours
    Support Toll-free phone line, field consultants, Intranet, marketing, trainingNewsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Marketing plans, materials, field supportCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4

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

    		 Franchise can be run from home.

    7% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

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

    Expansion Plans
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Amramp Franchise
    US Expansion -No
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Epcon Communities

    In 1986, Philip Fankhauser and Edward Bacome founded Epcon Homes & Communities in Columbus, OH when they built their first residential community. Three years later, a local builder who wanted to utilize their successful design and floor plans for a community in a nearby city approached the duo. The partners were hesitant to license their already proven system out to other builders and, at the time, had little interest in expanding outside of the Columbus market. However, their designs and floor plans became so widely popular that others also soon came calling, seeking to build an Epcon Homes & Communities-style development in neighboring cities or in outlying areas of Ohio. Fankhauser and Bacome finally granted the first license to use their successful construction plans and the franchising concept was born. The company began franchising in 1995 and has not looked back. Epcon Communities and its franchisees built over 25,000 homes and established franchises in 30 states.
    Epcon is seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S.
    Epcon's long-term goal is to expand into all 50 states, Canada and Central America.

    "Entrepreneur
    #398 in Franchise 500 for 2020.





    About Amramp

    Amramp has been manufacturing metal architectural products since 1970. We developed and patented the new, low cost Amramp in 1998. We are confident of the method proven through our franchise system across the United States. Amramp programs work well; we can sell or RENT (yes, rent) a ramp of any size for no minimum period of time, anywhere in the USA. Please consider joining our family of franchisee partnerships. You will be part of our organization to serve the people who use wheelchairs in your marketing area. The franchise fee is $49,250 per million population.

    Seeking new franchise units in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada, Mexico and Western Europe    
     

    Founded in 1998 by Julian Gordon, Amramp has continued to grow as the leading provider of modular wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, vertical platform lifts and other accessibility solutions.