|
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Around Town Community Magazine vs HomeTownTimes.com including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
||
Investment | $37,600 - $54,800 | $24,090 - $52,540 |
Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $20,000 - $50,000 |
Royalty Fee | 5% | 5% |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1996 | - |
Year Franchised | 2003 | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
||
Experience | - | - |
Financing Options |
||
In-House/3rd Party | In-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 |
||
Training | - | - |
Support | Meetings, Internet, Field operations/evaluations | - |
Marketing | - | - |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 100% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
||
US Expansion | Yes | - |
Canada Expansion | No | - |
International Expansion | No | - |
Around Town Community Magazine, Inc. ("Around Town") began franchise operations in September 2002 in Woodstock, Georgia. Around Town franchises niche community magazines, each has a goal of "strengthening communities."Around Town was founded by Gina Carr and Don Kyle. Gina has a BA from Georgia Tech in Industrial Engineering and an MBA from Harvard. Don has a BS in Accounting from Florida State University and also is a CPA. Together they started The TowneLaker magazine in June 1996 and Sixes Living magazine in June 2000. After many years of practice, they decided to franchise the niche community magazine concept through Around Town Community Magazine, Inc.
Your Online Community News, Advertising, and Business Resource HomeTownTimes.com is a national online news and community publications franchisor, operating more than 500 internet-based news sites across the United States.
National news sites, even the big city papers, don’t build community. HomeTownTimes.com is "hyperlocal,” meaning the site features news that is happening in your neighborhood, and local businesses have more direct access to their target audience.
At HomeTownTimes.com, we have already developed the technology and format that works. The low-cost, home-based business is a turn-key franchise operation. No prior newspaper or technical experience is required. We teach new franchisees all they need to know about operations, marketing and maintaining their local news and business information site.
Franchisees enjoy several avenues for income through various advertising and sponsorship opportunities. These may include but are not limited to display ads, classifieds, events, text links to ads, list rental, affiliate programs and more.