The Visual Image vs Portrait Avenue Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Visual Image vs Portrait Avenue including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Visual Image Franchise
Portrait Avenue Franchise
Investment $37,300 - $37,500$125,000 - $150,000
Franchise Fee $23,500N/A
Royalty Fee 0-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19841981
Year Franchised 19942007
Term Of Agreement 3 years-
Term Of Agreement 3 years-
Renewal Fee $2K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Visual Image Franchise
Portrait Avenue Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • People skills; sales skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    Portrait Avenue Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment Yes/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    Portrait Avenue Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising-
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 2

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

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    The Visual Image Franchise
    Portrait Avenue Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About The Visual Image

    Paul Holman founded Visual Image in 1984 after leaving his job as a photographer with a small portrait company. Intent on building a business that would give him the creative freedom he wanted, Paul joined forces with his brother, Donald, and formed the Visual Image Inc. franchise company in 1994. The private company has more than 17 locations throughout the United States and is based in Maryville, Tennessee.

    About Portrait Avenue

    NO LONGER FRANCHISING

    Portrait Avenue will fill a specialty in the representation business: It will be more upscale than J.C. Penney and Kmart picture studios yet less costly than most privately claimed representation shops. The normal cost for a bundle of photographs will be $120.

    Every store will include two representation studios, a conference zone, a children den and photograph preparing gear. Individuals will have the capacity to have their representation taken and prints made in 60 minutes.

    The organization is as yet tweaking the expenses, however Loyle said add up to cost - establishment charge, working capital and work out for the stores - is $135,000, which is a great deal not exactly the $250,000 to $350,000 it expenses to open a Moto Photo store.