Start a Ziebart Franchise in 2025

2025 Franchise 500 Rank: #180 Ranked #150 last year

Initial investment: $450K - $924K

Units as of 2024: 350 11% over 3 years

Ziebart is a popular provider of automotive appearance protection services, offering an array of solutions through an international network of over 350 franchises operating worldwide. There are over 80 franchises in the U.S. and more than 100 locations in Canada.

Ziebart boasts excellent proprietary products and services, as well as a dynamic business model that has been polished and proven to work since its beginning in 1959. The brand specializes in professional auto detailing, paint protection films, spray-on bed liners, and other related products and services.

Many times in the past few decades, Ziebart has been ranked in BIZ Experiences’s Franchise 500 based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Why You May Want to Start a Ziebart Franchise

On top of the excellent quality products and services that define the Ziebart brand, a lot of the success enjoyed by franchisees is the comprehensive and consistent support provided by the company, from store setup assistance to marketing to on-site account acquisition and more. Ziebart gives franchisees all the help and resources possible to help them take off from day one.

If you’re a vehicle dealer seeking new and profitable challenges or a potential franchisee looking for opportunities to diversify your portfolio, then opening a Ziebart franchise may be right for you. You can leverage the benefits of a reliable international brand when you franchise with Ziebart. Automotive experience isn't necessary, and the franchise fees may be waived for qualified veterans, thanks to the company’s 5-Star VetFran membership.

What Might Make a Ziebart Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Ziebart team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How Do You Open a Ziebart Franchise?

While Ziebart is hardly your regular automotive franchise, the application process is pretty standard. You can reach out to the company easily through an inquiry form. They may respond with a phone or virtual call to begin the information exchange process. You can ask questions, and they will do the same—particularly looking at your financial readiness to operate a franchise.

After you and the company have decided to pursue a partnership, they'll orient you on the business, giving you the chance to ask additional questions and meet the founders and the team. They'll send over a copy of the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document and give you the chance to talk to existing franchisees.

When you're ready, you'll sign the franchise agreement and pay the franchise fee and other necessary costs. Next, you will be onboarded for training, and after completion, you can finally open your brand new Ziebart franchise. Throughout the preparation process and even during your actual operations, a dedicated franchise team will be on hand to provide the help you need.

Company Overview

About Ziebart

Industry	Automotive
Related Categories	Automotive Appearance Services, Windshield Repair
Founded	1959
Parent Company	Ziebart Int'l. Corp.
Leadership	Thomas A. Wolfe, President/CEO
Corporate Address	1290 E. Maple Rd. Troy, MI 48083
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1962 (63 years)
# of employees at HQ	42
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises worldwide. This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
# of Units	350 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Ziebart franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$45,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$450,100 - $924,000
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$750,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$125,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	Franchise fee waived
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%/8%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

In-House Financing	Ziebart offers in-house financing to cover the following: accounts receivable
Third Party Financing	Ziebart has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: startup costs, equipment, inventory, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	180 hours
Classroom Training	132 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	4
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes