Miracle-Ear vs Sterling Optical Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Miracle-Ear Franchise
Sterling Optical Franchise
Investment $119,000 - $352,500$32,840 - $838,750
Franchise Fee $30,000$20,000
Royalty Fee $48.80/aid-
Advertising Fee $75/aid-
Year Founded 1948-
Year Franchised 1983-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Term Of Agreement 5 years-
Renewal Fee $2K-10K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Miracle-Ear Franchise
Sterling Optical Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
    Sterling Optical Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
    Sterling Optical Franchise
    Training Ongoing training as needed-
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives-
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising-
    Operations 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
     
    Miracle-Ear Franchise
    Sterling Optical Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    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.




    About Sterling Optical

    If you're looking for a solid business opportunity with a good name, financial security and a bright future, consider joining the Sterling Optical / Site for Sore Eyes Franchise Family. It's not by chance that we are one of America's largest retail optical chains and the fastest growing optical franchise in the industry. Sterling Optical and Site for Sore Eyes provide nationwide support and a range of personalized start-up services including:

     A solid national reputation as a leader in the retail optical business
    Special financing programs and relationships with lenders
    Dramatic savings through significant company buying power
    National and regional cooperative advertising
    A comprehensive business operating system
    Customer generating activities that build traffic and increase profits
    Point of sale customer retention programs
    A nationally coordinated training program with a certified in-field training team
    Franchise Advisory Committee providing solid franchise support

    Existing high volume stores currently available for sale.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Sterling Optical franchised business is presently estimated to range from $175,790 to $838,750, if your Franchise relates to a newly built Center; $71,840 to $2,093,750, if your Franchise relates to an existing Center which, at the time you acquire your Franchise, is being operated by either EVI or another Franchisee; and $32,840 to $523,750, if you are converting your existing retail optical store to a Franchised Center.