The Gutter Guys vs Granite Transformations Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Granite Transformations Franchise
Investment $91,700$98,600 - $346,000
Franchise Fee $15,000$25,000 - $75,000
Royalty Fee 5%2%
Advertising Fee -1% -2%
Year Founded 19881995
Year Franchised 20001997
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee$10,000


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Granite Transformations Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic
  • You don�t have to be a contractor or a builder to become a successful Granite Transformations franchisee. But you do need to be motivated to provide the best service around, and to create a great customer experience with every sale you make. We can provide the training, the product, the sales techniques, the consumer messages, but you must provide the drive to succeed�, for yourself, for your staff, and for the system.

    Financing Options

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Granite Transformations Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/NoYes/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Granite Transformations Franchise
    Training -

    A comprehensive two-week online and classroom training program at our Granite Transformations University in Dallas, TX. Additional two-week on-site training and support in your own store.

    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

    Business Planning: Granite Transformations specialists work with you to develop business plan, cash flow & operating budget and marketing strategies. Operations Management: Proven systems and proprietary software for managing project workflow, staffing, inventory and other store functions. Financial Management: You'll learn techniques for analyzing, understanding and improving your store's financial performance. Marketing: Guidance and best-practices information from our world-class marketing and advertising department will give you strategies, tactics and access to materials to launch and grow your business. Personnel Management: Training and best practices proven throughout the franchise network will help you identify, train, motivate and compensate the best employees.

    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingDirect access via website to marketing collateral with ability to customize and print direct from the website. Ongoing marketing education webinars. Parent website optimized for SEO to drive leads to your store.
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    10% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 7

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    17% of all franchisees own more than one unit.

    Expansion Plans

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Granite Transformations Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About The Gutter Guys

    The Gutter Guys was founded by Michael Williams in 1988. Michael had been working in the restaurant and hospitality business for the previous fifteen years and needed gutters and downspouts on his new home. Amazed at the total lack of professionalism in the gutter companies he encountered while getting gutter installation estimates, he decided to start The Gutter Guys. Using his extensive knowledge of and passion for customer service, Michael's company now serves more than 300,000 happy customers throughout four mid-Atlantic states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    Not only did Michael develop the recipe to satisfy his customers, he also found the right recipe to recruit and retain quality employees. While discussing how to utilize and reward skilled employees with his business advisor and CPA Chuck Johnson, the idea of franchising came up. Not franchising in the normal sense, but as a way to expand the geographic area the business served and give employees an opportunity to become self employed while remaining with The Gutter Guys.

    Chuck was so instrumental in helping to develop a system to give The Gutter Guys' employees a chance to become franchise owners that he was invited to join the company. Chuck accepted and sold his well-established accounting practice to join The Gutters Guys full time. Since that time, we have helped twelve of our employees become self employed franchisees of The Gutter Guys.

    About Granite Transformations

    THE COMPANY Granite Transformations is a franchise organization that provides an important and compelling service to homeowners, builders, commercial building owners and more to literally transform their kitchen, baths, bars or other areas with our gorgeous TREND STONE, TREND GLASS and TREND MOSAIC surfaces. Each surface is made in the USA, and is created to bring a designer feel and impact to every room we're in. Many of our franchisees offer cabinet refacing, an additional service to our customers, and another way for our franchisee team to generate revenue and create fans. ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS: Granite Transformations core product is an engineered stone that outperforms ordinary granite! It is heat, scratch and stain resistant, and adds a dramatic, gorgeous look to kitchens, bathrooms and more. We are the only surface engineered to fit right over existing countertop surfaces. That means no costly demolition, no mess and fast and easy installation, usually in one day! Our Trend Stone, Trend Glass, and Trend Mosaics are manufactured from the finest stones, granites, quartz, and recycled glass available. Our products are fabricated in Sebring, Florida and are used in homes and commercial buildings worldwide. Each Trend Stone slab is approximately 95% granite combined with a specially formulated polymer that gives it strength and durability beyond natural stone. That makes Granite Transformations virtually maintenance free. And we back it up with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. When customers see our product and understand our advantages, it's as easy as 1-2-3 to close the sale! We have the support, the training, the materials, the know how, the research and the selling techniques to make you a success with Granite Transformations. For Franchisees, here are just a few of the things we offer: Exclusive territory Initial and ongoing training programs Outstanding local advertising and messaging materials The industry's leading product Lifetime Guarantee on Products An international footprint A strong management team 25+ years of growth and success Volume purchasing opportunities Local and regional sales support Continual new products WHY GRANITE TRANSFORMATIONS IS GROWING: It's simple. We offer a great product that meets the needs of consumers today. And we will continue to meet their needs in the future. We make it so easy to transform a kitchen or bathroom. Franchisees across the country understand the strength of the Granite Transformations idea, the intelligence and commitment of our management team, and the desire to see the franchise group succeed to the very best of their abilities and resources. VetFran offers a 50% franchise fee discount and payment plan for the remaining franchise fee investment for 12 months for qualified veterans.