Basement Living Systems USA vs Surface Specialists Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Basement Living Systems USA Surface Specialists
Investment 190000 - 320000 43200 - 56000
Franchise Fee
Royalty Fee 4% 5%
Advertising Fee 1%
Year Founded 1953 1981
Year Franchised 2008 1982
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Basement Living Systems USA Surface Specialists
Experience Senior or mid- manager business experience, remodeling, or construction (home building or commercial) experience. Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications helpful but not required)

Financing Options
  Basement Living Systems USA Surface Specialists
 
Franchise Fees No Yes
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  Basement Living Systems USA Surface Specialists
Training Initial one week orientation and ongoing 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
Marketing Marketing materials are created and available Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development
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)

Expansion Plans
  Basement Living Systems USA Surface Specialists
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 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
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists
Franchise Fee
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists
Royalty Fee
Basement Living Systems USA 4%
Surface Specialists 5%
Advertising Fee
Basement Living Systems USA 1%
Surface Specialists
Year Founded
Basement Living Systems USA 1953
Surface Specialists 1981
Year Franchised
Basement Living Systems USA 2008
Surface Specialists 1982
Term Of Agreement
Basement Living Systems USA 5 years +5+5+5
Surface Specialists 10 years
Renewal Fee
Basement Living Systems USA $5,000
Surface Specialists


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Basement Living Systems USA Senior or mid- manager business experience, remodeling, or construction (home building or commercial) experience.
Surface Specialists Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications helpful but not required)

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Basement Living Systems USA No
Surface Specialists No
Start-up Costs
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists
Equipment
Basement Living Systems USA}
Surface Specialists
Inventory
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists
Receivables
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists
Payroll
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists

Training & Support
Training
Basement Living Systems USA Initial one week orientation and ongoing
Surface Specialists On-The-Job Training: 57-73 hours Classroom Training: 23 hours Follow-up training available at franchisee's location
Support
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Basement Living Systems USA Marketing materials are created and available
Surface Specialists Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development
Operations
Basement Living Systems USA
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)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Basement Living Systems USA 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
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
Canada Expansion
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
International Expansion
Basement Living Systems USA
Surface Specialists