DirectBuy vs Empire Business Brokers Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of DirectBuy vs Empire Business Brokers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
DirectBuy Franchise
Empire Business Brokers Franchise
Investment $359,000 - $904,000$25,000 - $30,000
Franchise Fee $75,000$24,900
Royalty Fee 22%$400/month or 5%
Advertising Fee 3%$100/month or 1%
Year Founded 1971-
Year Franchised 1972-
Term Of Agreement 12 years-
Term Of Agreement 12 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
DirectBuy Franchise
Empire Business Brokers Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • At EMPIRE Business Brokers we have defined very clear policies in order to award Franchises and maximize the possibilities for success of an EMPIRE Office. We actively seek people and offices with the following characteristics: FRANCHISEE PROFILE The profile of the Franchisee / Operator that has been established for EMPIRE Business Brokers is as follows:
    • Language: English spoken and written for our international franchisees.
    • Types of Experience: In Sales, Marketing and Business Administration.
    • Other Requirements: Soul of a Salesman.
    OFFICE PROFILE The characteristics of the commercial office spaces that we set to establish an EMPIRE Business Brokers Office are as follows:
    • Size of the Office: A commercial office space is optional but encouraged. If desired it should be between 150 and 2,000 sq. ft. depending on whether you plan on have agents working with you.
    • Type of Zone: Commercial, Financial or Business districts.
    • Socio-economic level of the zone: Medium High to High.
    • Phone Lines: Two as a minimum.
    • Other Characteristics: Well situated to major streets with adequate parking space.

    Financing Options

     
    DirectBuy Franchise
    Empire Business Brokers Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees Yes/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    DirectBuy Franchise
    Empire Business Brokers Franchise
    Training At regional meetingsOur Comprehensive 5 day (5 FULL DAYS!) Training Program is designed to make you a successful business broker right from the first day you open. Here are some of the subjects we cover: * Appraising the fair market value of a business. * Establishing the price. * Procuring buyers and sellers. * The techniques of successfully selling a business. * Preparation of purchase contracts. * Escrow procedures. * Advertising businesses for sale. * Evaluating financial statements. * How to set up and operate your own office. * The psychology of successful business brokerage. * Hiring and Training a salesperson. * Office policies and procedures. * Applicable accounting principals. * Legal techniques and relevant terminology. * Understanding and using the appropriate forms. Advertising - general, marketing, newspaper, magazines. * and much more! Our training facility is located in our Corporate Headquarters in Buffalo, N.Y. We do have an optional training program that we will conduct in your home city for an additional fee to help defray our travel costs. EMPIRE Business Brokers will train new agents from your office as your office continues to prosper and grow. This training is provided free of charge at our Buffalo Headquarters. You will continue to sharpen your skills by consulting with our highly trained staff. Our annual National Convention provides additional training through seminars & lectures.
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsThrough or web site: * Generation of potential Buyers and Sellers leads for each EMPIRE office. * Promotion of the listings of a franchised Office with the entire EMPIRE network. * Communication to the entire EMPIRE network of new listings. * Lists of authorized service providers. * Calendar of events. * Electronic chalkboard for communication within Offices. * Access to advertising and public relations material. * Information of events and statistics generated by the EMPIRE network. * Access to informative and promotional materials of listed franchises. Additionally we carry out other activities that are standard to any Franchising System such as: * Pre-opening program. * Continuous operative assistance. * Personnel training and updates on the system. * Development and updating of Operative Manuals. * Development and updating of Corporate Image. * Operative and administrative innovations. * Creation and development of marketing and advertising activities. * Production and broadcasting of press releases. * Creation and operation of promotional seminars. * Counseling and supervision visits to offices. * Organization of Franchising conventions. * Legal assistance. * Financial assistance. With all these services, EMPIRE supplies its franchise network with all the necessary tools to generate business, operate efficiently and continue to be the undisputed leader in the business brokerage sector.
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaEMPIRE Business Brokers is a franchising corporation specialized in Business Brokerage, whose main objective is to provide services that translate into tangible benefits for the investment initiatives, expansion strategies and financing of projects of Buyers, Sellers, Investors, Entrepreneurs and Franchises. EMPIRE Business Brokers has a varied array of materials that assist its Franchisees in establishing a rapid presence in their markets, and increase sales every month. Some of these are: * Website with auto-editable solutions to incorporate and edit listings of businesses and franchises. * Designs for Newspaper Ads. * Brochures. * Materials for Seminars. * Press Releases. * Telemarketing scripts. * E-mail marketing scripts. * Designs for promotional stands. * Business cards and stationary formats. Additionally, EMPIRE continuously carries out marketing activities in order to increase its business listings, franchises and buyers. Some of these activities are: * Registry of the businesses we handle in our web site. * Promotion of our web site in the most important search engines. * Ads in local Newspapers. * Ads in Specialized Magazines. * Participation in Franchise Fairs. * Creation and broadcasting of electronic bulletins to our data base. * Telemarketing. * Seminars specializing in Business Brokerage and Franchising. * Participation in Entrepreneurial Chambers and Associations. * Public Relations activities with the media. * Individual presentations to buyers, business owners and franchises in our offices. As if this wasn't enough, the EMPIRE Offices have the backing of a worldwide network of Brokers, with which they continuously exchange buyers, business and franchise prospects.
    Operations 1% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 9 - 12

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

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    Expansion Plans

     
    DirectBuy Franchise
    Empire Business Brokers Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About DirectBuy

    James L. Gagan founded UCC TotalHome in 1971 and began franchising the following year. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, the private company has over 90 locations throughout North America. DirectBuy began with a vision. It was a vision of liberating consumers from the high cost of retail buying; of allowing consumers to buy goods for their homes at manufacturer direct prices plus freight, handling and sales tax; of restoring to families the opportunity to buy the things they need and want at prices they could afford. That was over three decades ago. Today, the vision has materialized into an exceptional opportunity for DirectBuy franchise owners. We provide a proven, replicable system that allows them to realize the results and rewards of their business quickly. DirectBuy is the largest, most successful business of its kind in North America. For homeowners, remodelers and families in general, our centers are a very significant channel of alternative purchasing in North America.

    About Empire Business Brokers

    A Business Broker is a professional executive, equipped with the knowledge to successfully complete the sale of an existing business, franchise or business opportunity. As the owner of an EMPIRE Business Brokers Franchise, you will be working on a daily basis with other professionals: business owners, buyers, seasoned entrepreneurs as well as top executives in national franchise companies. You will serve people from all walks of life. They will come to you for help to buy or sell a business.You will be their negotiator, counselor, marketer, broker, advisor and teacher. You will shape many futures. Your personal integrity will be supremely important. You will stretch your creativity and draw on all your knowledge and experience. Every day will be fresh and every accomplishment will be sweet. We have successfully trained people from many walks of life to become top producers and business brokers. Our success stories include CPA's, Attorneys, Bankers, former mid to high level management executives; others who have successfully operated their own businesses, and people with a high ambition to learn. People who feel that they are ready to expand their capabilities with the leader in a dynamic and growing industry will feel at home at EMPIRE Business Brokers.
    Advantages of the EMPIRE Business Brokers Franchise The most important competitive advantages of the EMPIRE franchise are: * Excellent levels of income and profits. * Return on your investment in a year. * Various profit centers with consulting services. * Ever increasing listings of Buyers, Businesses and Franchises. * Initial Training, Marketing and On-Going Support to the franchised network. * Initial investment between $25,000 and $50,000 USD.