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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Gutter Guys vs HomeStory Doors and More including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $91,700 | $157,250 - $298,500 |
Franchise Fee | $15,000 | $20,000 - $40,000 |
Royalty Fee | 5% | varies |
Advertising Fee | - | varies |
Year Founded | 1988 | 2011 |
Year Franchised | 2000 | 2011 |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 10 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | 25% of franchise fee | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | Business Experience: · General business experience · Sales skills · Home improvement experience not required | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/No | No/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | No/No |
Inventory | No/No | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | - |
Support | Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising | Co-op advertising, Regional advertising |
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) | 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1-4 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | Yes | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | No | No |
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.
With HomeStory, the Opportunity is Easy to See The first company of its kind in an underserved market niche Proprietary technology creates incredible efficiency and a barrier for competitors Powerful marketing and sales system backed by over 15 years of experience HomeStory transforms and updates homes faster, easier, and more affordably than any other home improvement project. This is accomplished by replacing all of the worn, outdated doors in a home with beautiful designer doors and hardware. HomeStory offers tremendous value, made possible by award-winning technology, a nationwide supplier network, and a marketing system that engages homeowners and creates demand. Learn How HomeStory's Proprietary Technology Unlocks the Door Replacement Market Why Door Replacement? Simply put: A substantial unmet need. Like most items in a home, doors wear out, become outdated and need to be replaced. Yet, few homeowners have been offered an affordable, convenient and mess-free option for updating their doors. As a result, most homes still have their old doors, making this a large, untapped market with little competition. What a Difference! Homeowners repeatedly tell us how surprised and delighted they are with the dramatic improvement our custom doors and hardware make throughout their homes. With HomeStory, you're able to consistently exceed customer expectations, making them invaluable advocates for your service.