Surface Specialists vs The Closet Factory Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Surface Specialists The Closet Factory
Investment 43200 - 56000 208500 - 356000
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 5% 5.75%
Advertising Fee
Year Founded 1981 1983
Year Franchised 1982 1986
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Surface Specialists The Closet Factory
Experience Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications helpful but not required) General business experience Marketing skills People skills

Financing Options
  Surface Specialists The Closet Factory
 
Franchise Fees Yes No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  Surface Specialists The Closet Factory
Training On-The-Job Training: 57-73 hours Classroom Training: 23 hours Follow-up training available at franchisee's location
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, 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: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
  Surface Specialists The Closet Factory
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Franchise Fee
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Royalty Fee
Surface Specialists 5%
The Closet Factory 5.75%
Advertising Fee
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Year Founded
Surface Specialists 1981
The Closet Factory 1983
Year Franchised
Surface Specialists 1982
The Closet Factory 1986
Term Of Agreement
Surface Specialists 10 years
The Closet Factory 5 years
Renewal Fee
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory $7K


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Surface Specialists Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications helpful but not required)
The Closet Factory General business experience Marketing skills People skills

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Surface Specialists Yes
The Closet Factory Yes
Start-up Costs
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Equipment
Surface Specialists}
The Closet Factory
Inventory
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Receivables
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory
Payroll
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory

Training & Support
Training
Surface Specialists On-The-Job Training: 57-73 hours Classroom Training: 23 hours Follow-up training available at franchisee's location
The Closet Factory
Support
Surface Specialists Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
The Closet Factory Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing
Surface Specialists Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development
The Closet Factory Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
Operations
Surface Specialists Franchise can be run from home. 10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
The Closet Factory International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Surface Specialists Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
The Closet Factory
Canada Expansion
Surface Specialists Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
The Closet Factory
International Expansion
Surface Specialists
The Closet Factory