Automotive
Tint World Franchise
An automotive styling franchise specializing in window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection film, mobile electronics, wheels and tires, detailing, and ceramic coating. Positions itself as a multi-service "styling" concept rather than a single-service specialist, one of the older brands in this dataset, tracing its roots to 1982.
Every franchisor has to file a document called an FDD before they can legally sell you a franchise. Buried in it are the two things a sales rep won't volunteer: what you'll actually spend to open, and whether existing locations are opening or closing. That's what's below, pulled straight from Tint World's own filing.
What it costs to open
From the filing's investment breakdown -- not a "starting at" number a sales rep quoted you.
Franchise fee
$64,950
Total to open
$249,950–$479,950
Ongoing royalty
6% of gross sales
What you'd actually spend, over time
The upfront cost is only part of it. Plug in what you expect a location to bring in, and see the real total once royalties over a few years are added on top.
Defaulted to a rough automotive industry average, not a figure from Tint World's own FDD -- change it to your own estimate.
Total cost of ownership over 5 years
$444,950 – $674,950
Startup investment
$249,950–$479,950
Royalty per year (6%)
$39,000
Total royalty, 5yr
$195,000
When would you break even?
Revenue alone doesn't tell you this -- it depends on what's left after rent, labor, and everything else. Tint World's FDD doesn't disclose a reliable profit figure (most franchisors don't), so this starts from a typical automotive profit margin (~12%) and applies it to the revenue you entered above -- adjust the percentage to your own realistic estimate.
Defaulted to a general automotive industry benchmark, not a figure from Tint World's own filing -- this is a starting point to adjust, not a promise about what franchisees actually make.
At that profit, you'd break even in about
3.2–6.2 years
Weigh that payback period against what you already know: Tint World is opening more locations. A long payback period on a shrinking brand is a very different bet than the same payback period on a growing one.
Is Tint World actually growing?
Franchisors have to report, every year, how many locations opened, closed, or changed hands. Most franchise sites never show you this. Here it is:
Locations opened vs. closed, by year
GrowingFrom Item 20 of Tint World's FDD, the section franchisors use to disclose real openings and closings.
| Year | Franchised units, start | Franchised units, end | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 101 | 124 | +23 |
| 2024 | 124 | 138 | +14 |
| 2025 | 138 | 142 | +4 |
Most recent year (2025): gained 4 franchised units, ending the year at 142 total.
What you're actually signing up for
The cost and growth numbers above are only part of the picture. These three FDD items are the ones a prospective franchisee tends to weigh most heavily once they're past the sticker price.
Training & ongoing support (Item 11)
Tint World requires a multi-phase training program at its San Antonio, TX training center totaling 120 hours (70 classroom, 50 on-the-job), covering both technical skills (window tint, paint protection film, ceramic coating application) and business management, staffing, and dealership/national-account procedures.
Territory protection (Item 12)
Tint World's FDD states franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory and may face competition from other System franchisees, including ones authorized to provide Mobile Services in the same area. In practice there is a Designated Territory (minimum two-mile radius, smaller in dense areas) within which Tint World commits not to open another franchised Center -- but broad Reserved Rights let it sell via mobile outlets, co-branded locations, and internet/catalog/telemarketing channels inside or outside that territory without compensation.
Renewal & termination terms (Item 17)
The franchise term is 15 years with one 15-year renewal if requirements are met -- one of the longer term structures in this dataset. Franchisees have no contractual termination right beyond what state law independently permits; Tint World can terminate for a specific list of causes (including felony conviction, abandonment, unauthorized assignment). Disputes go to mandatory mediation/arbitration/litigation in Florida, with arbitration specifically in Palm Beach County (Tint World's home county, Boca Raton).
How Tint World compares to other Automotive franchises
Across the 9 automotive franchises we've hand-verified so far, the typical range to open runs $278,880–$790,285, with royalties averaging around 5.9% of gross sales (based on the 4 of them that charge a flat %-of-revenue royalty).
$515,250–$650,400 · non-%-of-revenue royalty
Midas$385,450–$940,050 · non-%-of-revenue royalty
CARSTAR$23,500–$165,300 · 5.5% royalty
Jiffy Lube$211,000–$510,000 · 4% royalty
Big O Tires$511,500–$1,882,500 · non-%-of-revenue royalty
Meineke$224,898–$1,200,818 · non-%-of-revenue royalty
Maaco$196,000–$644,000 · 8% royalty
Valvoline Instant Oil Change$192,375–$639,550 · non-%-of-revenue royalty
Tint World Franchise FAQ
How much does it cost to franchise a Tint World?
Based on Tint World's own FDD, total initial investment to open one location runs $249,950–$479,950, including the $64,950 franchise fee. California DFPI Registration Application, App ID APP00005292, filed 4/21/2026, effective 7/28/2026.
What is the Tint World franchise fee and royalty rate?
The initial franchise fee is $64,950, and the ongoing royalty is 6% of gross sales, per the filing on record.
Is the Tint World franchise growing or shrinking?
Growing. Across 2023–2025, Tint World added a net 41 franchised locations, per its own annual FDD filings.
Keep going
- Tint World and Meineke are both automotive franchises; Meineke's total investment starts about $25,052 lower than Tint World's. Meineke Franchise
- Tint World and Jiffy Lube are both automotive franchises; Jiffy Lube's total investment starts about $38,950 lower than Tint World's. Jiffy Lube Franchise
Where this came from: California DFPI Registration Application, App ID APP00005292, filed 4/21/2026, effective 7/28/2026. You can pull the same filing yourself from the California DFPI's public franchise search. Filed 2026-04-21. None of this is investment advice -- get the franchisor's current FDD and talk to a real attorney or accountant before you sign anything.
If you see a different unit count elsewhere: franchisors only have to refile their FDD annually, so the numbers here can run 6–18 months behind a franchisor's own real-time marketing claims -- which often aren't independently verified, and sometimes count signed-but-not-yet-open locations. A gap isn't necessarily an error on either side; it's two different snapshots in time from two different sources.