The Gutter Guys vs Forcefield Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Forcefield Franchise
Investment $91,700$84,000 - And Up
Franchise Fee $15,000N/A
Royalty Fee 5%-
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19882004
Year Franchised 20002006
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Term Of Agreement 10 years-
Renewal Fee 25% of franchise fee-


Business Experience Requirements
 
The Gutter Guys Franchise
Forcefield Franchise
Experience
  • Marketing skills
  • People skills, good work ethic
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Forcefield Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Forcefield Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, 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)

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    The Gutter Guys Franchise
    Forcefield Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    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 Forcefield

    Forcefield Hurricane Protection Systems is the only franchised national brand of hurricane protection products and installation.

    Forcefield provides clients one stop shopping convenience for the permitting and installation of all types and styles of hurricane shutters, electrical generators, garage doors, roof reinforcements and other products to fortify homes, businesses and municipal buildings against the ravages of a storm.

    Forcefield Hurricane Protection Systems also assists clients in attaining the available insurance discounts.