• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Franchise Chatter
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Affiliate Disclosures
  • Subscribers Only
    • Login
    • New to Franchise Chatter? Start Here
    • America’s Most Lucrative Franchises
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Profits
    • Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year
    • FDD Talk
    • Search by Name
  • Top Franchises
  • Franchise Earnings
  • Costs
  • Fees
  • Quiz
  • Search

Exclusive Interview with Julian Gordon, Founder and President of Amramp, a Wheelchair Ramp and Accessibility Solutions Franchise

Last updated on May 5, 2012 by Franchise Chatter Leave a Comment
in Accessibility Solutions Franchise, Franchise Chatter Exclusive, Q & A Interview

With the cost of living in a nursing home averaging a staggering $100,000 per year, more and more individuals prefer to age in their own homes as long as safely possible — resulting in a pent up demand for accessibility solutions for the home. Using a patented, low-cost, modular metal ramp system, Amramp has developed affordable products and services to make living at home possible for the mobility-challenged.

Julian Gordon is Amramp’s founder and president.

Franchise Chatter (FC):  Can you tell us the story behind the creation of Amramp?


💵America's Most Lucrative Franchises of the Year (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


Julian Gordon, Founder and President of Amramp


Learn Which Franchises Can Make You Rich
Julian Gordon, Founder and President of Amramp

Julian Gordon (JG):  In 1970, as an aeronautical engineer with a degree from Boston University, I founded Gordon Industries, Inc., which manufactured metal architectural products such as doors, railings, stairs, and security products. At the time, the real estate market was booming (to say the least), and being in the middle of the construction industry, I was a prime beneficiary because we made a large amount of stairs and railings for high rise buildings and condos in the northeast part of the country.

But around 1990, the speculative real estate industry collapsed; the rug was swept right out from under us. But, while many entrepreneurs would see this as a career-ender, I saw this as an opportunity to reinvent my business. I rolled up my sleeves and went back to the drawing board. I put countless hours into exploring opportunities for our abilities and uncovered a unique niche market. There was an unmet need for low cost, quick delivery wheelchair ramp access for the growing aging population within the healthcare industry.

I transformed our metal manufacturing business to provide a new, patented, very durable modular wheelchair ramp available for sale or rental. (Ramp rental is an unfulfilled need. Forty-five percent of wheelchair users are not permanently disabled.)

In 1998, Amramp was born. Using the established design and operating system already in place, I reinvented my business to provide this demographic with an affordable, comfortable alternative to nursing homes with safe and reliable wheelchair ramps and accessibility equipment.

Four years later, in 2002, we initiated our franchising program after recognizing that traditional distribution methods through dealers were slow and ineffective. Today, Amramp has 45 franchises throughout the United States and Canada and continues to grow nationwide as the leading provider of modular ramps.


🥇Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues & Profits (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


FC:  What types of products and services do you offer the mobility-challenged population?

Amramp PhotoJG:  We offer quality wheelchair ramps and other accessibility solutions to help people access their homes, businesses, schools, and places of worship.

Amramp also offers a system of accessibility equipment through our HomeNest program. We provide a complete, affordable suite of wheelchair ramps, lifts, showers, and commodes, while providing thorough instructions to certified caregivers on each apparatus so they can safely transfer clients from one location to another.

We offer products such as the Amramp shower, an affordable portable roll-in shower which doesn’t require any home modifications; Amramp Touch, an automatic touch-of-a-button door opener for those who have difficulty locking, unlocking, opening, and closing doors; stair lifts to access the bedroom level of the home; and ADA pool lifts to assist people in wheelchairs to access public pools for recreational or therapeutic needs.

At a fraction of the cost of a traditional nursing home, this system works as a comprehensive solution to enhance independence for the patient and family caregiver.


🏆Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year (Subscribe Now to Unlock)



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)


FC:  Can you tell us how the business works from the perspective of the franchisee?

JG:  Our franchisees rent and sell modular steel ramps and other accessibility solutions for the disabled and those who struggle with stairs, many of whom have questions about rental, availability, budgets, etc. Our group of estimators and our customer service department will handle these questions. We ask the callers key questions to determine which ramp configuration is correct for their situation.

We then offer the caller both a rental and purchase budget estimate. If our estimate fits their budget, we send the franchisee a report of the discussion and the client information so the franchisee can follow-up with an appointment. Our marketing study reports a 43 percent close rate on these prequalified calls.

We then offer our franchisees the ability to call us from the client’s home so that they can describe the actual situation, and we will then develop the proper ramp layout together. We will send the estimate to the franchisee with a design layout (no prices) and a price spreadsheet showing list price, the discounted cost, freight, and our estimate of labor to install the ramp, and a rental option.

With our call center support, franchisees do not have to hire additional employees to handle these calls. Furthermore, franchisees do not pay us any royalties if the layouts are done but no sale occurs.

FC:  What steps do you take to ensure that your prospective franchisees understand what’s necessary to run a successful Amramp franchise?

Julian Gordon, Founder and President of Amramp
Julian Gordon

JG:  Each prospective franchisee is required to assess the existing Amramp business model. They are given information on the headquarter’s original franchise and the practices and methods of its existing sales staff. We encourage them to engage with customers in sales visits, along with our experienced sales personnel. Our marketing and operations staff meet with them to explain the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of our business. We explain what works and what’s necessary to replicate our success.

We then ask them to confirm and validate what we’ve shown and explained by talking with our existing franchisees. We point to existing franchisees that have similar backgrounds, similar geography and urban density, etc. We try to make this contact as relevant as possible to the new prospect.

Once the new franchisee initiates operations, some exceed our expectations with respect to rate of sales growth, time to break even, and time to reach sales and profit goals. Those that flourish and make us proud are those most diligent in applying proven methods and practices to their new business. It’s really simple. If the difficulties that are experienced in starting a new business are met with a partner looking to others to make every task effortless, the process of reaching greater sales and profits will take longer and cost more than necessary.

FC:  Does each franchise come with an exclusive territory? Is there an ideal geographic territory for an Amramp franchise?

JG:  For each Amramp franchise, we require that there be a minimum of one million people within a two hour driving radius.

FC:  What can you tell us about the estimated initial investment, royalty fees, and profit potential for an Amramp franchise?

Amramp's Pool Lift
Amramp's Pool Lift

JG:  The average initial investment for a franchise territory with approximately one million persons is $49,250, with a 3 to 12 percent graduated royalty fee.

The profit opportunity as an Amramp franchisee is practically limitless because we serve the largest and fastest growing market segment in the nation. This concept is essentially recession-proof. The population of 65-year-olds and up is growing at a rate of 75 percent, from 40 million today to 70 million in 2030.

Amramp’s network of inventory warehouses allows franchisees to base their operations at home, which means there are low start-up costs and little overhead.

Also, along with our ramps being highly durable and low maintenance, they are recyclable. This gives the franchisee the ability to rent and resell used ramps for a substantial profit.

FC:  What are your growth targets for 2012 and 2013, and how do you plan to scale the business?

JG:  Amramp has plans to open 20 new franchises over the next three years.

To learn more about the Amramp franchise opportunity, visit franchise.amramp.com.


💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator



🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)



Tagged as: Amramp

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post: Jumeirah Restaurants Set to Introduce the noodle house to the U.S. (Q&A with Managing Director Phil Broad and Executive Development Chef Lloyd Carter)

Next post: Franchise Success Secrets: Q&A with HomeTeam Inspection Service's 7-Time Franchisee of the Year, Colin Conroy (Part 1)

Primary Sidebar

https://youtu.be/-pkxCF6_QOs

🤷‍♀️Why Work with a Franchise Broker?

A good franchise broker can help you to find the right franchise. They provide:

✅ Recommendations based on their assessment of historical financial performance (Item 19, FDD) instead of just franchise marketing materials.

✅ Franchise matches based on your goals, strengths, and passions.

✅ Demographic analysis to find franchises that could work in your area.

✅ A portfolio of franchises to meet almost any budget, interest, or goals.

✅ Referrals to other specialists, like franchise lawyers.

✅ Information on financing sources.

✅ Coaching in the due diligence process, based on experience with dozens of candidates.

✅ Help presenting yourself in the best light, to increase your chances of success.

✅ No fees for their services: franchisors pay them a success fee if an agreement is signed.

To get started, fill out this form, and a specialist from the Franchise Brokers Association will reach out to you.

Login

Remember Me
Register | Lost your Password?
Reminder: Your username and password are case-sensitive.

Need help? Email franchisechatterblog@gmail.com

🎯Find GOOD Franchises in Your Target Industries That Are STILL Available in Your Area (Free Tool)

💰How Much Franchise Can You Afford? Use Our Free Financial Calculator

As seen in:  New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and CNBC

🚀 Daily FDD Talk Posts

Screenmobile Franchise

Papa Murphy’s Franchise

Pure Barre Franchise

Schlotzsky’s Franchise

Assisting Hands Home Care Franchise

Wireless Zone Franchise

All Dry Services Franchise

ZIPS Dry Cleaners Franchise

Domino’s Pizza Franchise

Property Management Inc. Franchise

Synergy HomeCare Franchise

Fastest Labs Franchise

Units Moving and Portable Storage Franchise

Checkers & Rally’s Franchise

ShelfGenie Franchise

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Franchise

Mr. Electric Franchise

KFC Franchise

Real Property Management Franchise

Dunkin’ Franchise

RockBox Fitness Franchise

Jimmy John’s Franchise

Five Star Painting Franchise

Noodles & Company Franchise

Relax the Back Franchise

MOOYAH Franchise

Senior Helpers Franchise

Slim Chickens Franchise

Salons by JC Franchise

Teriyaki Madness Franchise

Storm Guard Roofing and Construction Franchise

Baskin-Robbins Franchise

Anytime Fitness Franchise

Blaze Pizza Franchise

Jiffy Lube Franchise

🏆 Best Franchises by Industry

Best Franchises by Industry (All Lists)

Best Barbershop Franchises

Best Laundromat Franchises

Best Storage Unit Franchises

Best Car Wash Service Franchises

Best Gym and Fitness Franchises

Best Pizza Franchises

Best Sandwich Franchises

Best Childcare Franchises

Best Ice Cream Franchises

Best Coffee Franchises

Best Hamburger Franchises

Best Salon and Beauty Franchises

Best Chicken Franchises

Best Smoothie and Juice Franchises

Best Maid Service Franchises

Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises

Best Massage Service Franchises

Best Tutoring Franchises

Best Auto Repair Franchises

Best Auto Oil Change Franchises

Best Asian Restaurant Franchises

Best Pet Franchises

Best Commercial Cleaning Franchises

Best Sports Bar Franchises

Best Baked Goods Franchises

Best Moving/Junk Removal Franchises

Best Mailbox Franchises

Best Apparel Retail Franchises

Best Senior Care Franchises

Best Restoration Franchises

Best Tech Franchises

Best Travel Agency Franchises

Best Trampoline Park Franchises

Best Tools Distribution Franchises

Best Salon Suites Franchises

Best Property Management Franchises

Best Laboratory Services Franchises

Best Staffing/Recruiting Franchises

Best Real Estate Franchises

Most Profitable Franchises

Top Low Cost Franchises

Starting a Business During a Recession

Franchise Chatter uses affiliate links for Franchise Help and the Franchise Brokers Association.

Franchise Chatter © 2022