Duct Doctor USA vs Steam Brothers Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Duct Doctor USA vs Steam Brothers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Duct Doctor USA Franchise
Steam Brothers Franchise
Investment $41,000 - $136,500 $22,000 - $53,500
Franchise Fee $25,000 $16,000
Royalty Fee 5-8% 5-6.5%
Advertising Fee to2% -
Year Founded 1985 1977
Year Franchised 2000 1984
Term Of Agreement 10 years 10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years 10 years
Renewal Fee 10% of initial franchise fee $1K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Duct Doctor USA Franchise
Steam Brothers Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Steam Brothers Franchise
      In-House/3rd Party In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes No/No
    Start-up Costs No/Yes No/No
    Equipment No/Yes No/Yes
    Inventory No/Yes No/No
    Receivables No/Yes No/No
    Payroll No/Yes No/No

    Training & Support

     
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 108-188 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: Ongoing -
    Support 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 Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Ad slicks
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Franchise can be run from home.

    2% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    US Expansion Yes Yes
    Canada Expansion No No
    International Expansion Yes No

    Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

    Investment
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    $41,000 - $136,500
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    $22,000 - $53,500
    Franchise Fee
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    $25,000
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    $16,000
    Royalty Fee
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    5-8%
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    5-6.5%
    Advertising Fee
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    to2%
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    -
    Year Founded
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    1985
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    1977
    Year Franchised
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    2000
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    1984
    Term Of Agreement
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    10 years
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    10 years
    Renewal Fee
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    10% of initial franchise fee
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    $1K


    Business Experience Requirements

    Experience
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise

  • General business experience
  • Steam Brothers Franchise
    -

    Financing Options

      In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/No
    Start-up Costs
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/No
    Equipment
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/Yes
    Inventory
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/No
    Receivables
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/No
    Payroll
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No/Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No/No

    Training & Support

    Training
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    On-The-Job Training: 108-188 hours Classroom Training: 40 hours Additional Training: Ongoing
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    -
    Support
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    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
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    Ad slicks
    Operations
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Franchise can be run from home.

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Steam Brothers Franchise
    Franchise can be run from home.

    2% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3

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


    Expansion Plans

    US Expansion
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    Yes
    Canada Expansion
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    No
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No
    International Expansion
    Duct Doctor USA Franchise
    Yes
    Steam Brothers Franchise
    No

    Company Overviews

    About Duct Doctor USA

    Duct Doctor has been providing quality source removal air duct cleaning and indoor air quality improvement services in the home and in the work place since 1985. We have the best equipment, the best procedure and 26 years of experience to provide the best service. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, our company operations include seven southeastern major markets with customers in over 125 cities and 11 states. In 2005 we opened our first foreign franchise. The Duct Doctor difference began with the fact that our founder is one of the most renowned Board Certified Allergists in the country. The company is unique in the IAQ industry in that its management includes several NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) and two Board Certified Allergists. Our Franchisees benefit greatly from our 26-year learning curve and all Duct Doctor personnel abide by both NADCA's code of ethics and our own high standards of conduct.

    #150 on Entrepreneur's ranking of the top 150 franchises offering incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees

    Veteran Incentives  $5,000 off franchise fee

    About Steam Brothers

    After 16 years in the supermarket business, Adam Leier was looking for a way to go into business for himself. He purchased Steam Brothers, an existing cleaning business, in 1977 and began franchising in 1984. Steam Brothers has locations throughout the Midwest and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota.