The Gutter Guys vs Bath Fitter Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Bath Fitter Franchise
Investment $91,700$120,000 - $175,000
Franchise Fee $15,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 5%0
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19881984
Year Franchised 20001992
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Bath Fitter Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Bath Fitter 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/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Bath Fitter Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertisingAd slicks
    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)

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 4

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


    Expansion Plans

     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Bath Fitter Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    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 Bath Fitter

    In 1984 Bath Fitter created its first bathtub liner, an acrylic bathtub that fit over an existing tub. The company soon added one-piece acrylic bath walls and accessories to its product line.

    Bath Fitter franchisees now also install accessories such as soap dishes, towel racks and shelves.

    Liners are made to measure, fitting around existing plumbing fixtures. Walls can be installed to cover existing tile.