Join The EBL Family as a Licensed Location!
The Idea
Focus on a family oriented adventure experience;
Drive consistency and safety between all locations;
Provide for an interactive adventure experience accessible to many people;
Bring the adventure closer to the homes of our patrons;
Provide a quality experience for all types of outdoor enthusiasts
How We Stand Out
Wholesome Family Fun!
A meaningful and purposeful way for a family to interact and share a memory that will last a lifetime.
Great Locations
Locations across the USA from the deep south in Florida, to the rich mountains for Idaho and the Sierra Nevada’s, connected by the rolling prairies in between.
The Ultimate Adventure Experience
Energized, interactive, superior guide quality, engineered systems, opportunities for multi return visitors: The Ultimate Outdoor Experience™.
Superior Safety Systems
First courses to specialize in half inch zip cables, strongest engineered pulleys, and custom sewn equipment to properly fit our construction designs.
Outdoor Theme, Close to Home
Selective locations within a half gas tank 9or less) drive from you current residence.
The EBL Guide
Delivering our unique brand of service, safety, interaction, and often corny jokes! Night time and themed tours create a fun atmosphere and repeat business.
Standard Safety Systems
Provides for greater consistency of safety on each branded course, ensuring the same high standards across every EBL licensed location.
Leadership/Support
An educated management and support team of seasoned, adventure industry and franchise professionals.
Exceptional Demographic Reach
2013 EBL brand reach within 75 miles of any EBL brand location; 1.62 million average residents with an estimated combined 125 million annual tourists.
Licensed Qualifications
At EBL canopy zipline tours we believe that the success of our brand will be a linked result of the dedication of our operators and locations. Our selection process starts with choosing only the best candidates who share our commitment and enthusiasm for providing for the best adventurer experience possible; safer than other operators in the industry segment.
Criteria
EBL Licensed Locations should meet the following criteria to be considered for a position in the EBL brand:
Initial Investment
$350,000 – $750,000
Financial Requirements
Potential for Multi-location developers (ability to develop two or more tour locations): $350,000 liquid (per tour); $750,000 net worth (per location).
Strong banking relationships and ability to secure funding.
Management and Operating Requirements
At least five years business and customer service in other like or similar business with development experience. The ability to deliver a superb customer experience while maintaining a dedication to develop the EBL brand and culture.
Live very near your market and have established strong ties to the community.
The ability to create and manage an location that recruits, self- trains, retains and motivates people effectively. Dedication to operations excellence is a must!
Licensed Location Agreement Details
License fee: $20,000 per location
License agreement term: 15 years with renewal of 15 years
Royalty: 5% of gross monthly revenue
Advertising/marketing fee: 3%
Location Criteria
Ideally we want to have one solid 9-12 month active location in premium markets. We have a preference to expand to states adjacent to current locations, yet not closer than 2 hours to existing operations. Conversions of existing tours sometimes present the best opportunities. EBL tours are used for family reunions, birthday parties, individual recreation, bucket lists, corporate events, and seasonal themed tours. As such, we prefer esthetically pleasing and natural beauty focus locations near to high population areas.
AREA CHARACTERISTICS
Areas with strong recreational needs having voids in current outdoor adventure activities.
A good mix of industrial, high tech, service, manufacturing, management, and customer service jobs.
Total population of +400k within 15 miles.
Average household income of +$50k, but preferably $75k+.
SITE CRITERIA
Preference for 30+ acres of open forest, lush tree canopy, with in-dispersed open spaces. Rolling terrain a plus, but not required.
Paved or improved road access to roughly 50 parking spaces.
Room to install (or use current spaced) for a check-in facility; patio space is a plus.
Excellent signage and visibility.
Utilities and potable water hooks -ups present a strong plus!
Partnership with local municipal governments (park districts) a plus.
Tour GENERATORS
Mean weather temperatures at least 8-9 months out of the year between 40 – 89 degrees. Other regional conditions such as elevation, rain fall, snow fall, humidity, wind / breeze, shade available, should be considered.
Strong family and residential settings with good school district.
Strong sense of community.
Very limited crime or gang activity.
Natural buffers such as golf courses, nature preserves, creeks, etc. in relation to tour property.
Regional, super-regional malls within 10 miles of tour location.
Movie theaters.
Leadership
Steve Gustafson (CEO) handles concept development, location development, marketing and strategy for EBL. Steve has overseen the growth of EBL 1996 as a start-up company to the current 11 location conglomerate it is today. He was also a founder and President on Board of Directors for the ANSI Accredited Professional Ropes Course Association standards developer. He is previously experienced in ropes challenge course construction, the YMCA operations and services, along with being an avid SCUBA diver.
Wade Beane (Regional Manager) oversees the operations of two current EBL operated locations and serves as trainer and coach for all the licensed locations. He is a default COO but avoids the title so he can still escape for long trips and feel like he is not tied down to “the man.” He has been with EBL now for over a dozen years, filling roles as a builder, trainer, manager, zipline guide, and SCUBA diving friend. Before joining EBL full time, he worked in animal rescue, is a registered SCUBA Dive Master, and has traveled all across the United States.
Amber Fager oversees the accounting and payroll of the numerous EBL operated locations. She enjoys data entry, running the numbers, and keeping all our tax forms filed on time. She also serves as a trainer and advance crew assisting local businesses open new bar and restaurant operations, while working directly with multiple CPA firms during tax season.
Clayton Spiess serves in a builder and trainer role with EBL, flying around the country adjusting ziplines and managing crews during new installations. With a back ground in carpentry and house builder for years on a crew in Northern Wisconsin, he also acts as our resident expert on deer, duck and goose hunting, all while catching those large Musky’s during his fishing trips to Canada. Go Packers!
What it all means…
Fortunate for us, not many Zipline Vendors have good business models, nor over 27 years of experience in the industry. At EBL our exciting and attractive business model, along with our value engineering and operations experience, is a our biggest selling point! How many have applied it to the zipline tour business? Lucky for us, not many. And that results in opportunities for course development and expansion.
EBL does not compete directly with “ropes challenge courses” or “aerial adventure parks” nor really with other zipline tours. Instead, we are in a less developed but more attractive niche that requires a more family friendly operation approach, better premier locations, and on the cutting edge of trends for locations, both rural and urban. Our carefully engineered systems simplify the EBL operation, empowering skilled adventure professionals to dominate our segment in their local markets.
We award licensed locations to only the best candidates in each region of expansion. The continued growth and success of our brand depends on our licensed locations, and our industry experienced leadership team works side by side with them to deliver the support needed to excel in each market.
If you think you’ve got game as a top-level EBL Licensed Location candidate, please feel free to contact our office at info@EBL.org to request more information and schedule an initial discovery interview conversation. Following a due diligence period, we will contact you to discuss the opportunities which may be available!