Epcon Communities vs Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Epcon Communities Franchise
Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise
Investment $887,200 - $4,569,000$50,001 - $100,000
Franchise Fee $50,000$50,000
Royalty Fee 1% to 2%6%
Advertising Fee $500/ month-
Year Founded 19861987
Year Franchised 19951999
Term Of Agreement Completion of 1 market area-
Term Of Agreement Completion of 1 market area-
Renewal Fee $25000-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Epcon Communities Franchise
Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Upper management experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise
    Training Available at headquarters-
    Support Toll-free phone line, field consultants, Intranet, marketing, training-
    Marketing Marketing plans, materials, field support-
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4

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

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Epcon Communities Franchise
    Hickory Dickory Decks Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    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 Hickory Dickory Decks

    Custom builders of decks and gazebo's creating the ultimate backyard paradise. At Hickory Dickory Decks, our aim is to be the best quality and service oriented company in the deck business. Our business is built on satisfied customers, one deck at a time.We began by using composite decking materials. These products have many advantages over wooden decks. No more staining, peeling, no slivers, no cracking, no warping, no twisting, and a better non-slip surface. We are the largest composite deck builder in Canada and have over 1,500 of these installed. This "maintenance-free" decking is over 85 percent of our business today and will never need staining but does require an occasional bath. Every year we find crews hundreds of miles away working on projects referred by one of our satisfied customers. They will travel world wide to work with great customers on their custom deck. In 2005, Hickory Dickory Decks became a stocking dealer of the leading easy-care/maintenance-free deck products. We carry Xtendex, Weatherbest, Correct Deck, Procel, Veka, Trex, Dexx, EZ Deck, Weatherdeck, Monarch, Deck Lok and Lifelong Decking. They also can special order any other composite deck of your choice.