Pearle Vision vs Miracle-Ear Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Pearle Vision vs Miracle-Ear including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Pearle Vision Franchise
Miracle-Ear Franchise
Investment $77,695 - $644,264$119,000 - $352,500
Franchise Fee $30,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 7%$48.80/aid
Advertising Fee 8%$75/aid
Year Founded 19611948
Year Franchised 19801983
Term Of Agreement 10 years (co-terminus w/lease)5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years (co-terminus w/lease)5 years
Renewal Fee $2.5K$2K-10K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Pearle Vision Franchise
Miracle-Ear Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Industry experience not always necessary; depends on business acumen and financial condition

  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Pearle Vision Franchise
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory Yes/NoNo/No
    Receivables No/YesNo/No
    Payroll No/YesNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Pearle Vision Franchise
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 86 hours Classroom Training: 32 hours Additional Training: WebinarsOngoing training as needed
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet PlatformNewsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/appCo-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 55% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    80% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed.


    Expansion Plans

     
    Pearle Vision Franchise
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Pearle Vision


    Pearle Vision: Optical franchise is focused on genuine eye care
    Optical franchise generates revenue while helping independent operators stay focused on patient care
    Pearle Vision is one of the largest brands in the optical industry, with hundreds of eye care centers in the United States and Canada. We were founded in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle, a visionary optometrist who brought doctors and opticians together under one roof so patients could receive a convenient, holistic, eye care experience. Today, our mission is to provide more patients, and more communities, with genuine eye care by partnering with optometrists, opticians and investors who share our passion for genuine eye care.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #58 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #32 in Franchise 500 for 2021.



    About Miracle-Ear

    Kenneth Dahlberg started Dahlberg Electronics in 1948 and began manufacturing the first Miracle-Ear hearing aids. Today, Miracle-Ear is a subsidiary of Italian hearing aid distributor Amplifon, with U.S. headquarters in Plymouth, Minnesota. Miracle-Ear's retail locations offer free hearing tests and consultations and offer service, warranty and after-care packages with their hearing aids.

    Ken Dahlberg, a World War II aviator turned electronic inventor, created the pillow radio for hospital patients' private listening. Ken's employer rejected the idea, and this inspired the founding of Dahlberg, Inc., which became the foundation of Miracle-Ear. A few short years later, we were the first to offer an in-the-ear hearing aid. Since then, Miracle-Ear has continued to introduce innovative technology to remove the barriers of hearing loss. We've taken the size of hearing aids down to models that fit entirely in the ear canal. We've made technological improvements that allow us to customize a hearing solution to your individual hearing loss profile. And we've developed customer service practices to help ensure that you are completely satisfied with the products and support you receive from your Miracle-Ear representatives nationwide.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Miracle-Ear® franchise is from $119,000 to $352,500. This includes from $35,000 to $45,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate for an exclusive territory of up to 250,000 persons. This amount may be higher if the size (population) of your exclusive territory is larger.
    Veteran Incentives 
    10% off franchise fee

    "Entrepreneur

    #98 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #84 in Franchise 500 for 2021.