Epcon Franchising

What Epcon Franchising does

Epcon Communities Franchising, Inc., operating as Epcon Franchising, is a U.S. private corporation headquartered in Dublin, Ohio that licenses a 55+ active adult home building franchise model to independent builders and developers. Founded in 1986 by Edward Bacome and Philip Fankhauser in Columbus, Ohio, the company formalized its franchising arm in 1995 after nearly a decade of direct home building and community development. Epcon's core product is a Business Blueprint combining copyrighted floor plans, standardized community development and construction processes (QualityMark, Standard Scopes of Work, 110-day build timeline), land acquisition guidance, marketing and sales toolkits, and a National Accounts Program aggregating purchasing volume across 18+ named suppliers such as Builders FirstSource, GE Appliances, Moen, Sherwin Williams, and Pella. A technology partnership with Higharc provides real-time 3D visualization of structural options and design changes for buyers and franchisees.

Revenue mechanics center on upfront franchise fees and ongoing royalties from franchisees, supplemented by participation in supplier rebates from the National Accounts Program; franchisees must meet $250K+ liquid capital and $500K-$2M+ net worth thresholds under multi-year contracts. Epcon does not sell homes directly to consumers; franchise builders develop communities and construct homes in their assigned exclusive territories. The network comprises 60-75+ franchise builders across 25-30+ states, with 450+ communities developed and 40,000+ homes built since 1986, producing 1,000+ homes per year through the system. The company's stated overview characterizes it as "$475 million," most plausibly referring to aggregate system-wide home sale volume rather than franchisor-level revenue.

Epcon sells to two end customers: (1) production and custom home builders, land developers, and real estate investors seeking to enter or expand within the 55+ housing segment (business customers purchasing the franchise), and (2) 55+ adult consumers seeking low-maintenance, single-story homes in amenity-rich communities (served indirectly through franchisees). The go-to-market is an enterprise field sales motion: informational calls, on-site market visits by the business development team, an Executive Showcase at headquarters, and attendance at industry events such as the International Builders' Show. Recognition includes ranking on Builder 100, Franchise Times Top 400, Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, the 2020 Franchise Innovation Award, and the 2022 Momentum ITSMA Marketing Excellence Award.

Name

Epcon Franchising

Legal name

Epcon Communities Franchising, Inc.

Website

https://epconfranchising.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Epcon Franchising licenses a 55+ active-adult home building franchise platform to independent builders and developers across 30+ U.S. states, providing copyrighted floor plans, standardized construction processes, marketing/sales tools, and an aggregated National Accounts purchasing program to its 60-75+ franchise builders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Home builders pay franchise fees to join the network and gain access to Epcon's business blueprint, copyrighted designs, training, marketing resources, and national accounts program
2. National Accounts Program: Volume discounts and rebates through national supplier partnerships shared with franchise builders

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Epcon Franchising licenses a home building franchise to production builders, custom builders, land developers, and real estate investors, granting them access to a 35+ year business blueprint for developing 55+ active adult communities. Franchisees receive copyrighted floor plans designed for 55+ buyers, land acquisition guidance, marketing resources, sales training, product design support, construction processes (including a 110-day build timeline), and a national accounts program that provides volume discounts on building materials through supplier partnerships.

Product overview

Epcon Franchising is a home building franchise company that offers a comprehensive business model for home builders and real estate developers to enter the 55+ active adult housing market. The core offering is the Epcon Home Building Franchise, which provides access to copyrighted floor plans, land acquisition guidance, marketing resources, sales training, product design, construction support, and a national accounts purchasing program. The company operates as a platform with interconnected service modules including Land Acquisition and Development, Marketing Resources and Strategy, Sales Tools and Training, Product Design and Development, Purchasing and National Accounts, and Community Development and Construction Support—all designed to help franchise builders build smarter, increase sales velocity, and scale faster in the 55+ housing segment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Epcon Home Building Franchise A franchise offering for home builders, land developers, and real estate investors that grants access to Epcon's copyrighted floor plans, 35+ year business blueprint, land acquisition and development guidance, marketing resources, sales training, national accounts purchasing program, and standardized community development and construction processes for building 55+ active adult communities in exclusive territories across 25+ U.S. states.

Quantifiable outcome

• Build homes in as little as 110 days, faster than industry average for developments with more than 20 units
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Builders FirstSourcecoreTechnology or IntegrationNational accounts partner providing competitive pricing and rebates on building materials and supplies for franchise builders
• Carter LumbercoreTechnology or IntegrationNational accounts partner for lumber and building materials with volume discounts for franchise builders
• DaltilecoreTechnology or IntegrationTile and flooring products through national accounts program with preferred pricing
• Delta FaucetscoreTechnology or IntegrationPlumbing fixtures supplier with national account pricing for franchise builders
• GE AppliancescoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor appliance supplier providing competitive pricing through national accounts program
• James HardiecoreTechnology or IntegrationSiding and exterior cladding products with volume discount pricing
• KraftMaid CabinetrycoreTechnology or IntegrationCabinetry supplier with competitive pricing through national accounts
• LennoxcoreTechnology or IntegrationHVAC equipment supplier with preferred pricing for franchise network
• MoencoreTechnology or IntegrationPlumbing fixtures and accessories through national accounts program
• Pella Windows and DoorscoreTechnology or IntegrationWindows and doors supplier with volume discount pricing for franchise builders
• Sherwin WilliamscoreTechnology or IntegrationPaint and coatings supplier with national account pricing
• HigharccoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership enabling real-time visualization of structural options and design changes with the click of a button; allows franchise builders to showcase product changes instantly
• Florida TilecoreTechnology or IntegrationTile products supplier with preferred national account pricing
• LP Building SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiding, trim, and engineered wood products supplier
• Mohawk FlooringcoreTechnology or IntegrationFlooring products through national accounts with volume discounts
• MSI SurfacescoreTechnology or IntegrationCountertop and surface materials supplier with national account pricing
• Quality CabinetscoreTechnology or IntegrationCabinetry supplier with competitive pricing through franchise network
• SchlagecoreTechnology or IntegrationDoor hardware and locksets supplier with preferred pricing
• Rite RugcoreTechnology or IntegrationFlooring products through national accounts program
• Zip System (Huberwood)coreTechnology or IntegrationBuilding envelope products supplier with volume discount pricing

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Del Webb (PulteGroup): Del Webb, a PulteGroup brand, is the leading U.S. builder of 55+ active-adult communities, directly competing with Epcon's franchise network for the same demographic and product category (single-story, low-maintenance homes in amenity-rich communities).
• Shea Homes (Trilogy): Shea Homes' Trilogy brand is one of the largest dedicated 55+ active-adult community operators in the U.S., competing directly with Epcon builders in markets such as Arizona, California, Florida, and the Carolinas for the same ranch/courtyard home buyer.
• Taylor Morrison: Taylor Morrison operates a dedicated active-adult division (TRIO and similar brands) that builds 55+ communities nationwide, overlapping with Epcon's franchise builder footprint in the Sun Belt and Midwest.
• Tri Pointe Homes: Tri Pointe Homes operates a focused active-adult and 55+ product segment through brands like Pardee and Maracay, with a similar product positioning (ranch homes in master-planned active-adult communities) to Epcon's franchise builders.

Broad incumbents

• Toll Brothers: Toll Brothers is a large national luxury home builder with an active-adult and 55+ product offering within a much broader premium portfolio, directly competing with Epcon franchisees in higher-priced courtyard-ranch product.
• PulteGroup: PulteGroup is the parent of Del Webb and one of the largest U.S. home builders; its Centex, Pulte, and Del Webb brands span first-time through 55+ active-adult segments and overlap with Epcon's franchise territory on active-adult product.
• Lennar: Lennar is one of the largest U.S. home builders and operates active-adult communities (notably through its Next Gen and 55+ product lines), competing with Epcon builders in many of the same metropolitan markets.
• Centex (PulteGroup brand): Centex, a PulteGroup brand, focuses on first-time and move-up buyers but its parent competes in active-adult segments; less directly comparable on 55+ product, but contextually relevant given PulteGroup's broad footprint.
• KB Home: KB Home is a large national home builder with selected active-adult and 55+ offerings in select Sun Belt markets, partially overlapping with Epcon's franchise footprint.

Emerging players

• Beazer Homes: Beazer Homes operates selected active-adult and 55+ product lines in select U.S. markets with a smaller dedicated focus than larger peers, making it an emerging comparable to Epcon's franchise network on the active-adult segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epconfranchise
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EpconFranchisingInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/epconfranchising
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epcon-communities-franchising-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epcon Franchising