ITEM 1 THE FRANCH1S0R,
AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES
To simplify the language in
this disclosure document, "we," "us," and "Dent
Doctor" means Dent Doctor, Inc., the franchisor. "You" means the
person or entity who buys the franchise and signs the Franchise Agreement; and
if the franchisee is an entity, then "you" includes the franchisee''s
principals, officers, and members. Dent Doctor, Inc. is an Arkansas corporation
that was incorporated in May, 1988. We do business under the name "Dent
Doctor". Our principal business address is 11301 W. Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211.
Dent Doctor has operated a paintfree automotive dent
removal business of the type to be operated by you since 1988. Dent Doctor has
offered franchises of the type to be operated by you since January, 1990. We
have not operated a franchise in any other line of business. Dent Doctor has no
parents, predecessors or affiliates.
We franchise the right to operate a business using the
Dent Doctor System from a retail service center (a "Center") along
with one or more Mobile Vans. You may open more than one retail service center
within the Protected Territory with no additional fees required. We have
developed a system of paintfree dent removal services and ancilliary automotive
appearance services. The Dent Doctor business features same day auto appearance
services and the removal of minor dents, door dings and hail damage from
vehicles with a process that requires "no painting" (the "Dent
Doctor Services"). The program includes specifications, standards and
operating procedures for conducting the Dent Doctor business (collectively the
"Dent Doctor System"). The service requires highly trained and
skilled professionals using special equipment and customized tools designed and
manufactured by Dent Doctor (the "Dent Doctor Custom Tools" or
"Custom Tools"). The dent removal services are provided to both
wholesale and retail vehicle owners through the use of a Dent Doctor mobile van
(the "Mobile Van") and from a Center.
Although not described in this
disclosure document in detail, and not offered as part of this franchise
offering, we also grant licenses for Dent Doctor branded services to
established auto body repair shops as an additional line of services to
complement their existing business. These add-on department licenses are known
as "Dent Doctor Express" locations. A disclosure document for
"Dent Doctor Express" is not available in all states.
Our agent for service of
process is disclosed in Exhibit A.
The market for automobile body
repair and other auto appearance services is well established. The business is
highly competitive with respect to price, service, location and quality and may
be affected by population and general economic conditions. Your principal
target markets are the general public, automobile dealerships and other
retailers of automotive services. You will compete in your market with
locally-owned appearance service businesses, automobile body repair shops and
mobile repair units, regional and national body repair chains, other franchise
systems, as well as automobile dealerships with body and service departments
and certain automobile manufacturers, offering the same or similar auto dent
removal and other auto appearance services.
There are no regulations
specific to this industry.
