DirectBuy vs M3Linked Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of DirectBuy vs M3Linked including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
DirectBuy Franchise
M3Linked Franchise
Investment $359,000 - $904,000$80,245 - $197,645
Franchise Fee $75,000$67,500 - $80,000
Royalty Fee 22%-
Advertising Fee 3%-
Year Founded 19712018
Year Franchised 19722020
Term Of Agreement 12 years-
Term Of Agreement 12 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
DirectBuy Franchise
M3Linked Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    DirectBuy Franchise
    M3Linked 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
    M3Linked Franchise
    Training At regional meetings-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Internet, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media-
    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)

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    DirectBuy Franchise
    M3Linked Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    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 M3Linked

    M3Linked was founded in 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona as Eliances and quickly grew to over a thousand members with more than 300 weekly experiences, hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars in business ventures generated, with robust professional and personal relationships developed along the way. Since 2019 M3Linked™ has been taking that winning formula and scaling it for National expansion so that entrepreneurs around the country have the same opportunity to get involved with these communities. M3Linked™ allows you to Connect, Energize and Grow by cultivating and deepening key relationships, developing targeted alliances of business communities, and discovering relevant, innovative mentors and masterminds.
    ""
    The M3Linked™ communities host CEOs, Inventors, Investors, Startups, Lawyers, Politicians, Mentors, and so much more. Our members cover a wide range of talents from experienced millionaires, celebrities, and athletes to startups in their nascent stages. Our members gather at various M3Linked™ experiences to receive inspiration and support that encourages and pushes them to the top of their industry's cutting edge. There are also many members in the development or incubator stages, finding mentorship, investors, and other support systems within our communities. M3Linked™ contains various experts in fields of intellectual property, business development and management, marketing, and funding; virtually anything you might need to move the needle for your business.

    The franchise fee is $80,000. Second and subsequent unit franchise fee is discounted to $67,500