Athlete's Foot vs Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Athlete's Foot vs Sparkle Brite Pool Stores including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Athlete's Foot Franchise
Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise
Investment $201,600 - $640,300$66,250 - $354,000
Franchise Fee $35,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%6%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19721999
Year Franchised 19732007
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee -25% of then-current fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
Athlete's Foot Franchise
Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Athlete's Foot Franchise
    Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Athlete's Foot Franchise
    Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 21% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 10

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

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Athlete's Foot Franchise
    Sparkle Brite Pool Stores Franchise
    US Expansion --
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Athlete's Foot

    Robert and David Lando had a unique vision in 1971--to open a store specializing in athletic footwear. That year they opened the first The Athlete's Foot in Pittsburgh. The first franchise opened in 1972 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the first international location opened in 1978 in Adelaide, Australia. The Athlete's Foot now operates company-owned and franchise locations in more than 40 countries. The company develops stores in malls, shopping districts and as freestanding locations. Each store sells name-brand athletic footwear and apparel. There are also The Athlete's Foot For Her stores, which specialize in athletic footwear and apparel for girls and women.
    The Athlete’s Foot is more than just a retail store; it’s a destination for athletic street style. At The Athlete’s Foot, we want to be known for encouraging our customers to break the rules and explore the unexpected. So we’re transforming into a place with a pulse on the street that offers them the chance to craft their own story through clothing and style.

    About Sparkle Brite Pool Stores

    Pool and spa ownership is on the rise in the United States and with it comes the opportunity to own and operate your own professional pool and spa retail business. According to the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, more than 176,000 additional in-ground pools were sold and installed in 2005, bringing the total number of in-ground pools in the U.S. to 4.7 million. This represents an almost 10% increase in total pools since 2002! And the growth is continuing. PK Data, a research company for the pool and spa industry, projects the growth rate of new pools in the coming years to be approximately 3% annually. Sparkle Brite Pool Stores has capitalized on this growth by developing a proven system of operation that maximizes profit and operational efficiencies and leaves the competition in the dust! Our operational model has allowed us to compete with privately owned stores, national chains, and other franchise outlets. Over the past nine years, Sparkle Brite Pool Stores has grown to include 15 locations in the Southwest Florida counties of Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte. Along the way, the Sparkle Brite name has become synonymous with quality pool products and superior customer service.