RadioShack vs Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of RadioShack vs Buddy's Home Furnishings including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
RadioShack Franchise
Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise
Investment $144,875 - $643,851$385,166 - $912,594
Franchise Fee $39,900$25,000
Royalty Fee 5% of net sales6%
Advertising Fee 3% for the Ad Fund$500/mo.
Year Founded 19211965
Year Franchised 19682007
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
RadioShack Franchise
Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise
Experience

Significant business experience; we are particularly interested in individuals who have demonstrated successful ownership or management of multiple business units or have managed multiple departments Individuals who possess the capability to grow with RadioShack. The ability to develop and execute a business plan. An entrepreneurial spirit and strong desire to work hard and be part of an established franchise system Ability to manage finances, including a thorough understanding of business financial statements The capability to effectively manage an organization that recruits, trains, and motivates employees who deliver an exceptional customer experience An acceptable credit history Sufficient liquid assets (i.e., cash) to invest into the business

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Financing Options

 
RadioShack Franchise
Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/No-/-
Start-up Costs No/No-/Yes
Equipment Yes/No-/Yes
Inventory Yes/No-/Yes
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support

 
RadioShack Franchise
Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise
Training Local workshop, annual convention On-The-Job Training: 60+ hours Classroom Training: Up to 42 hours
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations 9% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 2

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

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Expansion Plans

 
RadioShack Franchise
Buddy's Home Furnishings Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion NoYes
International Expansion Yes-

Company Overviews

About RadioShack

RadioShack was opened in 1921 by the Deutchmann family, offering ham radio operators and electronics buffs a retail and mail order source for their electronics needs. By the 1960s, the company had nine stores and was shipping electronics to people all over the world, but was falling on hard times.

Charles Tandy purchased the company in 1963 and turned its $4 million debt into a $20 million profit. Today the company operates stores nationwide, selling everything from batteries to satellite dishes to electronics buffs and general consumers.

About Buddy's Home Furnishings

Buddy’s Home Furnishings is the third largest Rent-To-Own (“RTO”) furniture, appliance, electronic and computer provider in the United States. Buddy’s was founded in 1961 in Tampa, Florida and for the first 30 years of existence the Company operated 21 stores in the Greater Tampa Area. Over the past five years, Buddy’s has aggressively expanded its footprint by adding new company-owned and franchised stores outside of its home area. As of July 1, 2015, 103 franchise, 54 company, and 45 partnership stores located in the South, Southeastern and Southwestern regions of the U.S. The Company plans to continue this rapid growth over the next several years by opening new company-owned stores, acquiring independently operated RTO stores and franchising stores.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail business is $385,166 to $912,594. This includes $100,860 to $243,510 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. If you enter into a Development Agreement, your investment to begin operation of your first Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail business will be as described above (minus the initial franchise fee for the first Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail business that will be paid as part of the development fee under the Development Agreement), and you will pay the franchisor a development fee due in connection with signing the Development Agreement. The development fee will be $25,000 for your first Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail business to be developed under the Development Agreement and 40% of the initial franchise fee for each additional Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail business to be developed under the Development Agreement. You must commit to develop a minimum of two Buddy’s Home Furnishings retail businesses under the Development Agreement.
Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee