Wheelchair Getaways vs Hertz Car Rental Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Wheelchair Getaways vs Hertz Car Rental including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Wheelchair Getaways Franchise
Hertz Car Rental Franchise
Investment $40,000 - $112,000$564,300 - $2,539,000
Franchise Fee $17,500$25,000 - $100,000
Royalty Fee $550/van/yr.-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 1988-
Year Franchised 1989-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Wheelchair Getaways Franchise
Hertz Car Rental Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options
 
Wheelchair Getaways Franchise
Hertz Car Rental 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
 
Wheelchair Getaways Franchise
Hertz Car Rental Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
Operations Franchise can be run from home.

25% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

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Expansion Plans
 
Wheelchair Getaways Franchise
Hertz Car Rental Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion No-
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Wheelchair Getaways

In 1921 the Pennsylvania-based Van Artsdalen Express was a successful freight company. By 1972, it had been restructured to operate school buses instead of trucks. While working for the company, J. Edward Van Artsdalen noticed that people using wheelchairs were some of the most poorly served individuals in the transportation market. Motivated by this discovery, Van Artsdalen founded Wheelchair Getaways Inc. in 1988. The company rents wheelchair-accessible vans to individuals and groups. The company began franchising in 1989 and was purchased by J. Stewart and Jean Gatewood in 1994. Wheelchair Getaways is now based in Versailles, Kentucky and owned by Richard Gatewood and Moon Ko.

About Hertz Car Rental

"hertz

Founded in 1918 in Chicago, USA, Hertz Rent A Car began life as a one-man business with a dozen cars for hire. Since then, Hertz has grown, changed and innovated until today it boasts 10,000 car hire locations across six continents and 145 countries - including the first global car rental business in China. The largest general use airport rental car provider in the world, Hertz is a globally recognized and trusted brand. Hertz founder, Walter Jacobs, invented the car rental industry and though the business has seen changes in ownership over the years, that tradition of innovation has always been retained. Hertz pioneered airport car rental locations (a sector which they continue to lead) and was the first in the market to introduce travel agent booking systems, an express service, onboard navigation, instant return, and online check-in. Committed to superior customer service and cost-efficient vehicle leasing, Hertz offers both commercial and leisure hire options.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a new Hertz Business (excluding real estate) is $564,300 to $12,539,000. For new franchisees, this includes $25,000 to $100,000 that must be paid to the Franchisor or its affiliates. For any franchisee that is purchasing from the Parent or its affiliates the assets of certain existing car renting business locations, the investment may include a franchise fee of several hundred thousand dollars or more that must be paid to the Franchisor or its affiliates.