Wheelchair Getaways Inc.
Wheelchair-accessible van rentalsBackground
Founded: 1988 Franchising since: 1989
In 1921 the Pennsylvania-based Van Artsdalen Express was a successful freight company. By 1972, it had been restructured to operate school buses instead of trucks. While working for the company, J. Edward Van Artsdalen noticed that people using wheelchairs were some of the most poorly served individuals in the transportation market. Motivated by this discovery, Van Artsdalen founded Wheelchair Getaways Inc. in 1988. The company rents wheelchair-accessible vans to individuals and groups. The company began franchising in 1989 and was purchased by J. Stewart and Jean Gatewood in 1994. Wheelchair Getaways is now based in Versailles, Kentucky and owned by Richard Gatewood and Moon Ko.
Franchisor has 5 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, Nevada, New york, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 500,000+ population
In 1921 the Pennsylvania-based Van Artsdalen Express was a successful freight company. By 1972, it had been restructured to operate school buses instead of trucks. While working for the company, J. Edward Van Artsdalen noticed that people using wheelchairs were some of the most poorly served individuals in the transportation market. Motivated by this discovery, Van Artsdalen founded Wheelchair Getaways Inc. in 1988. The company rents wheelchair-accessible vans to individuals and groups. The company began franchising in 1989 and was purchased by J. Stewart and Jean Gatewood in 1994. Wheelchair Getaways is now based in Versailles, Kentucky and owned by Richard Gatewood and Moon Ko.
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P.O. Box 5591 Lynnwood, Washington 98046 |
Phone: (800)536-5518/ (425)771-4659 |
Franchisor has 5 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2007 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2006 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, Nevada, New york, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 500,000+ population
Costs and Fees
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Total investment: $40K-112K Franchise fee: $25K |
Ongoing royalty fee: $550/van/yr. Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | Yes | No |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | No | Yes |
| Inventory | No | Yes |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $250K
Cash liquidity requirement: $45K
Business Experience:
- Industry experience
- General business experience
- Marketing skills
Operations
- Franchise can be run from home
- 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3
- Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
- At existing franchise location : 2 days
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Internet
- Field operations/evaluations
- Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
- Ad slicks
- National media
- Regional advertising