What does it cost to start a franchise? (rough draft)

[Spengs]

Corporate asked me to add a new page/section to the website that would be a supplement to our Join area. They want me to begin by listing start up costs. zzz I'm pretty sure I have the updated initial fees among my files. Its been too long and I normally don't have to answer questions of cost when it pertains to PKE Meters, Ecto Goggles, Belt Gizmos™, Traps, Proton Packs, and The Containment Unit.

What does it cost individually in US dollars? The final US prices will be converted to the Canadian Dollar and the Euro for franchises outside the US. Please discuss and we'll probably go with the most realistic prices.

Please don't worry about trying to figure out what it would cost to acquire and mod a vehicle, buy and renovate a building, misc business items, ie: computers or the cost for utilities. Since the costs would vary by location, personal preference, and use.

[Dr. Fritz V. Baugh]

((Some out of character here))

Not long ago a user on GBCentral named Ectofiend posted a semi-official module for the West End Games RPG (West End approved it, Columbia was not involved). While some of the information is clearly out of date ($4000 for a computer? Yeah, in 1987 maybe...) they could serve as guidelines for equipment costs, under the theory that inflation versus the decreasing costs of technology have more or less evened out. Honestly, to me, most of these still "feel" about right:

Containment Unit/Protection Grid $10,000
(may have had the GB1-style 'hole in the wall' ECU in mind. A Big Red (RGB/88MPH) ECU might cost more, or might not due to the tech boom)

Proton Pack w/ gun $5000

Proton Gun (seperate) $1000

(So basic math says the pack without a thrower should be around $4000)

Ecto/IR Visors $2000
(This is another one that sounds a little high to me, but I'm no expert on the prices of Real World IR goggles)

Ghost Traps $2000

PKE Meter $1000
(the Model 3.0 is a lot more powerful than the Model 1.0 they probably intended, but with aforementioned tech boom this still sounds about right to me)

GBCentral topic:
http://forums.ghostbusters.net/viewtopic.php?t=12466

The actual module page:
http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 873xk2.png

If nothing else, this should get the discussion going...

[Spengs]

I think the semi official RPG module was the start and subconsciously was on my mind for putting this update together. Plus corporate asked.

The equipment price list is a good starting point. I agree with Fritz about some of the pricing. I'm not sure advances in all ghostbusting technology would make "Mark I" equipment less expensive. Perhaps when we list on the site newer ghostbusting technology. Prices can always be adjusted and aren't final.

My thoughts and pricing:


Ecto Containment Unit/Protection Grid - Original


$10,000 USD

ø Limited upgrades, limited tech support from Ghostbusters International®. Due to vintage age of original ECU.

Why still offer this model?

ø Size of space where ECU will be installed. How much would a field agent or franchise want to use it? ie: research/study


Ecto Containment Unit/Protection Grid - Mark III

RGB/Original Hybrid system: $50,000 USD

The ECU for the 21st Century. Thankfully I'm not in the marketing department.

ø This Protection Grid serves it basic purpose of emptying traps and releasing various classes of ghosts, etc into a spirit world.

ø Like the original model, has the capabilities to observe and study ghosts in their natural environment. Unlike the original model, has advanced features. Without telling the general public and potential franchises what would be considered classified information, the Mark III* has all the necessary "bells and whistles." Hence its high cost.

ø *Why call it Mark III? The version is less important on paper. We know our employers would have had to rebuild The Containment Unit. Mark II? This ECU would have had at some point features that would be seen in The Real Ghostbusters. The above ECU (Mark III) would have been brand new hardware ready for new franchises.

I also think (well know, I can't talk much about it publically) that at GBI Corporate HQ a more advanced ECU exists. Probably began as Mark III, evolved with upgrades, (Mark IV?) and eventually a new ECU was built. Mark V? It might be plausible, plus two more ECUs allow us to be "geeky" with Mark Vs.


Proton Pack (with nutrona wand)

$10,000 USD

ø Unless GBI is buying parts in great bulk, I think the price (not just from inflation of the dollar from 1983) of a complete pack would have doubled. As certain parts might be hard to come by from individual manufacturers. OOC, my thinking also comes from the parts that are needed to build a prop pack.


Nutrona Wand

$3,500 USD

ø A Nutrona Wand or Proton Gun can be purchased separately. Includes Stream Adjuster Knob, Flow Control valve, and main cable kit.

ø This is one example of where I think the original pricing when compared to a complete pack was on the low side. I based my pricing on the idea that the nutrona wand accounts for 1/3 the price of a complete pack. The math comes to 3333.3333. Fritz's math came to about $4,000 USD. If i round my math up, we could "adjust" the price of a nutrona wand to $3,500 USD. I like it, not everyone will.


Ecto Goggles/IR Visors

$600 USD

ø I didn't know anything about IR Visor pricing. Looking into it, IR goggles ranged in price from the $100s-$1,000s USDs. Based on real pricing, I picked a price somewhere in the middle range.


Ghost Trap (with trap pedal)

$3,500 USD

ø Going with the logic if a pack cost 10Gs, a trap which has less parts (which may be more easily available) would cost at least half as much. If it sounds high, the pricing can be adjusted. I think it would cost more then a nutrona wand.

*Adjusted trap pricing, added trap pedal.


Trap Pedal

$500 USD

ø If a complete trap w/pedal costs $4,500 USD, the pedal is one major part of a ghost trap. Its also a detachable part which can be sold separately.

Trap Cartridge

$250 USD

ø Trap cartridges are reusable and environmentally friendly. Ghosts, etc aren't. From time-to-time cartridges will be damaged and can't be used.


P.K.E Meters

ø After more discussion around the office, we offer 2 P.K.E Meters.

P.K.E Meter Zero

$349 USD

ø An updated P.K.E Meter that includes the basic functions of the original P.K.E Meter. Which was first used by Ghostbusters Inc. AKA Franchise 0. Updates includes 160GB, an enhanced interface, and a sleeker design. This is the P.K.E Meter for field agents and franchises who don't need the bells and whistles of a P.K.E M-Touch.


P.K.E M-Touch

$499 USD

ø A multi-touch P.K.E Meter which offers all the functionality of the P.K.E Meter Zero and more. P.K.E M-Touch comes with a 32GB flash drive, T.S.G.* application, and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) for accessing real time Ghostbusters International® information.

*Tobin's Spirit Guide


Slime Blower (With Slime Discharge Unit)

$11,000

ø The Slime Blower streams psychomagnetheric mood slime from the Slime Discharge Unit. The mood slime is positively reinforced.

Slime Discharge Unit

$3,500 USD

ø If your mood slime turns on you or your SDU isn't repairable, a new SDU can be purchased for your Slime Blower. Includes pressure regulator and main cable control kit.


Note

ø Pricing has been adjusted and may be again.

[GBNJ-Bill]

I don't have a problem with the pricing on most of the items. Rich makes a great point about discontinued items. Less the availability, higher the price. Though GBI could take a page from the automotive industry. Some car companies have licensed out side vendors to reproduce parts for classic cars. Perhaps GBI has purchased the discontinued items and allowed outside vendors to replicate the parts.

PKE- I think the PKE meter, or at least the original version, would be relatively inexpensive. I think the pricing of building the actual prop is adequate. Brian Fear puts it around $750. I think that would be correct. After all an EMF ranges from $50-$200 depending on the quality. Basically the shell doesn't matter, so mainly were just dealing with the cost of electronics. Obviously the more functionality that is added the higher the price will go. I'm just talking about the basic rudimentary PKE from the early '80's

Traps- This is where I need a clarification question. What happens to the trap cartridge once it is inserted into the ECU? If they are reusable I would estimate $2,500-$3,750 (I basically added a zero to the cost of a prop trap from ebay) If the carts cannot be reused I think the cost would be much less. The parts would need to be purchased in bulk, which would lower the average price per trap to $1,500-$2,000 per.

[jason knetge]

I think you can reuses the traps

[Spengs]

I know GBI had vendors (small companies) to make complete equipment, except for the ECU. Due to high costs between those companies, the manufacturers of certain parts, and the dwindling number of vendors, GBI has its own facilities to build equipment. With separate areas for building just the ECUs and storing parts. I know corporate has contracts with certain companies who still manufacturer existing parts. I'm not certain how GBI handles original discontinued items. I believe Bill is right that they have purchased all remaining original inventory. They are the same newer parts, perhaps from different manufacturers. However those companies and GBI work out their prices may impact the cost of a proton pack for example. Probably not by much.

Bill - Great point about the PKE Meter.

I hadn't thought about the original shell. Its 'easy' to mass produce it from the company. I agree that the electronics would bring the price up somewhat. This would be for the standard issue PKE Meter. $750 USD for standard issue PKE Meter sounds right. Price will be adjusted.

Its been a long time, as the boss, Bill nor myself have to load traps into the ECU. Its kinda easy to forget. "Welcome aboard." The trap cartridge is reusable. Ghostbusters International® is a green kind of company. What if a complete trap cost $3,500 USD? The trap cartridge (we can assume that they do get damaged to the point they they're no longer usable) costs $250 USD. The trap pedal would still cost $500 USD.

What about a Slime Blower and a Geiga (sp?) Meter? What would they cost?

[Dr. Fritz V. Baugh]

I've always written my case files under the assumption that the trap cartridges are reusable, but I agree that it makes sense they would wear out from extensive use.

The Slime Blower could go either way, but I tend to put it at around the same ballpark as the proton pack. It's bigger and heftier than the Proton Pack, and some of it's components could be of more common vintage (pressure tanks being a lot more common and easier to obtain than nuclear accellerators) though components designed with the special dificulties of mood slime in mind could be even rarer and more specialized than proton pack parts.

The Giga-meter I haven't put much thought into; I tend to view it's functions as being eventually being added to the normal PKE Meters (certainly the EGB 2.1 and the fan fic 3.0; I guess I have this bias because it was never used in any of the animation or comics) My personal view: the Giga-meter basically "is" an upgraded PKE Meter with a different shell to get around the court injunction against using Ghostbuster equipment. ("I created this design after Ghostbusters was shut down--thus it is not covered by the court order.") So the PKE Meter cost could be a good ballpark for that also.

[Spengs]

When I thought about the Slime Blower for this topic originally for oh 2.5 seconds, I figured because of its size and parts, it would cost more then a proton pack. Considering mood slime isn't often used and might be hard to obtain (another topic perhaps) would that help to price a Slime Blower above $10Gs USD?

Agreeing with Fritz about the availability of acquiring pressure tanks, I looked into the costs. Which are priced in the $300-$1,200 USD range from one source. Depending on the size. I haven't checked in ages, if we knew the size of the tanks, it might help with a more realistic pricing. I'll look into it also when I'm able to.

*edit* I checked a set of accurate plans which has the measurements of the tanks. I haven't found the exact sizes of the real tanks on-line. As a prop, the prop makers in general aren't using real pressurized tanks. Oh, they're good. Also considering a Slime Blower has components such as a mother board, power cell, blower support, and the perhaps rare mood slime, I'm beginning to think Slime Blowers could cost a little more then a proton pack. I'm partial to the minimal amount of $11,000 USD myself. I don't see why Corp. couldn't also sell the "blower" separately.

I also like the thinking so far about how the Giga-Meter was in a sense an updated P.K.E Meter. With some additional features. I can see sometime after the judicial restraining order Drs. Spengler and Stantz upgrading the standard P.K.E Meter.

It seems like today our employers would sell an upgraded version of what was the standard PKE Meter. Which would include the functions of a Giga-Meter and more. Would we agree that the Giga-Meter as a stand alone piece of equipment is obsolete?

*edit* This also brings up a question, would a PKE Meter have some kind of hard drive? If it does, GBI could offer two versions of the P.K.E Meter. They would both offer the G.M upgrade, have the same capabilities, and would be capable of software upgrades. If the two models had different size hard drives, the larger HD PKE Meter would cost somewhat more.

If you disagree, feel free to discuss your thinking about it. The itemized pricing part of the franchise information page isn't final. It never will be in part because of what the value of our dollar is to another countries currency.

[jason knetge]

I see a lot of people are getting fancy cars when we start a franchise . I think that may be something that's draining a lot of ones budget.

[Dr. Charlie Richter]

Hmm, we havent had a great problem with cash.

I guess we started on a good high, Markus sold his Real Estate business, and he also owns our building.

Our new vehicle will be leased. Tax write off.

[Chace]

As far as the flashy cars go, though transportation is certainly important, I believe the franchises are getting the necessary equipment first then using whats left for the car (I hope so anyway)

On the P.K.E.'s What if instead of a large hard drive, the P.K.E. meter has a small drive and uses cards like a digital camera, to record the info on, so it can be removed and put into a P.C. (or mac) to scan, then the card erased and reused.

I know this wouldn't effect the price that dramatically but its a thought.

Also should there be a reccommended amount of money for experimental equipment? We have a blaster pistol we developed and a recently aquired pack that uses two pistol wands rather than a single thrower ((hopefully I'll have pics of both soon in the proper section)) But I think all franchises do, and should, research and develop new equipment, it helps us as a whole and certainly could help their specific needs at the time. A great example IS the slime blower, developed like all of our startup equipment by Franchise 1 but for a specific purpose....yet I know it's saved our skin and I'm sure it has others as well! So maybe an R+D budget of a few hundred to a grand tops. After all if we don't plan ahead we fall behind!

[GBNJ-Bill]

Chase, you beat me to it! The original Ghostbusters prided themselves on experimental equipment made from pasta strainers, spatulas, and other commonly found items. I'm positive Dr Stantz and Spengler would want each individual franchise to develop their own equipment to handle localized problems. Besides I believe there is a clause in the GBI franchise agreement that states that any new technology developed by any franchisee becomes property of GBI. So GBI should encourage experimentation, they'll get free R&D, and that'll make Dr. V very happy.

[jason knetge]

Hay , the slime pistol is cheeper then the slime pack to make . If you fined you sell running low on funds and don't wont to get the full pack just yet .

and the GBWC also has the N sabre .

[Louis Tully]

We offer general guidelines for a prospective franchise's business plan. In it we do suggest a certain amount of funding for R&D. This isn't a requirement. A franchise may want to develop new ghostbusting technology eventually. We advise new field agents and franchises to concentrate more on the fundamentals. R&D could always come into play later on. By then a successful franchise shouldn't have to scrape by or break even. Funds could then be allocated towards developing new ghostbusting methodology.


From our Frequently Asked Questions

Can a franchise create their own equipment and technology?

Ghostbusters International® encourages the creation of custom equipment and technology to better serve the needs of its clients. Individual offices can create and use equipment as needed. However, they'll be patented by and all rights will be owned by GBI.

[Spengs]

The thought has crossed our minds about adding a separate page with original equipment. It can be linked to the list of standard equipment with pricing. The idea of the franchise information page is to beak down the numbers in terms of cost that a potential field agent or franchise would need initially. This also includes the original, standard equipment. Corporates opinion varies, a new franchise for example doesn't need a proton pistol. Although we know that sometimes you don't know if you need specialized equipment until you're standing face-to-uh face with the spiritual entity.

After some more discussion around the office, we have new pricing for the P.K.E Meters. I'll be listing it soon in this thread. We think the original pricing structure is set. It could change either due to availability of parts or outside the US, the value of the US dollar.

On a related note, pricing will be listed on the site in USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and AUD. Countries not using "known" currency can use a calculator we'll provide for real time currency conversion.

* I edited my second post. Added P.K.E Meters, Slime Blower, and Slime Discharge Unit.