Ziebart is an automotive aftercare franchise that specializes in detailing, films, and protective surfaces. Its first rustproofing shop opened in Detroit in 1959, using a sealant invented by the company’s founder, Kurt Ziebart. From there, the company has expanded to hundreds of outlets in dozens of countries. Its rust protection became famous over the decades through attention-grabbing marketing and an effective product, but the company faltered in the mid-2000s as dealers shifted to off-brand alternatives.
A shakeup of its franchising system in 2008 led to a simpler business format and stronger franchise opportunity, making it easier for franchisees to turn Ziebart technology into a profitable business. This was followed by a rebranding and the launch of new product lines in 2014. Since then, the brand has seen growth in the US and beyond.
As Americans save money by running their cars for longer, the average age of vehicles on the roads is growing, meaning that more vehicles than ever face the wear and tear of time. That provides more opportunities for companies like Ziebart and for entrepreneurs interested in automotive aftercare.
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Colin started as a team member at 21 and now owns 6 locations in Tampa Bay. Lisa came from marketing and built 21 in San Diego. The most successful multi-unit owners move early and secure markets with room to grow. Use our free tool to search multiple ZIP codes and find franchises where you can still stack locations, before someone else does. A franchise specialist will be in touch to present what's available.In this exclusive Franchise Chatter FDD Talk post, you’ll learn the following:
Section I – Estimated initial investment (franchise costs) for a Ziebart franchise, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD
Section II – Initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee for a Ziebart franchise, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD
Section III – Number of franchised and company-owned Ziebart outlets at the start of the year and the end of the year for 2022, 2023, and 2024, based on Item 20 of the company’s 2025 FDD
Section IV – News updates on the Ziebart franchise opportunity
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When I owned a UPS Store, I learned firsthand how much your ZIP code shapes your outcome. I sold my store at a premium because my territory was in a high-value area. The best areas go first, and once they're gone, they're gone. Enter your ZIP code, and a territory specialist will walk you through the franchises still available near you, drawing on information that isn't publicly accessible, saving you months of wasted research.🔴Free Webinar: 6 Under-the-Radar Franchise Concepts That Serious Buyers Should Know
Every month we feature 6 standout franchises that could be the opportunity you've been looking for, each evaluated on disclosed financials and matched to the type of buyer most likely to succeed with it. Can't attend live on October 27 at 6PM EST? Register now and we'll send you the full recording the next day. Reserve your spot here.Section V – Presentation and analysis of Ziebart’s financial performance representations (average revenues and/or profits), based on Item 19 of the company’s 2025 FDD, including information on the:
- 2024 average, median, highest, and lowest gross sales for the top 50%, bottom 50%, and all 82 Ziebart stores that operated from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Fiscal Year”) and that met the following criteria: (i) the Ziebart store had operated for at least 2 full years as of the end of the 2024 Fiscal Year; (ii) the Ziebart store operated as a full production (as opposed to limited) store; and (iii) the Ziebart store also reported gross sales data to Ziebart for the full 2024 Fiscal Year
- Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 average, median, highest, and lowest gross sales for the 4 Ziebart stores operated by franchisees that developed and opened their Ziebart stores during the 3-year period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024 and had been open and operating for at least 1 full year (grouped by the fiscal year they opened for business)
Section VI – Key ratios, comparables, computations, and analyses for the Ziebart franchise opportunity (exclusive content for Platinum subscribers)
Section I – Ziebart Franchise Costs
- Ziebart franchise costs, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD:
- Initial Franchise Fee: $45,000
- Exterior/Interior Décor Package, Including Signage: $30,000 to $100,000
- Equipment Package: $100,000 to $180,000
- Opening Inventory/Supplies: $32,000 to $50,000
- Leasehold Improvements: $80,000 to $300,000
- Computer Equipment: $2,000 to $4,000
- Utilities, Rent, and Deposits (first 3 months): $38,100 to $56,000
- Insurance: $3,000 to $9,000
- Opening Advertising: $7,000 to $10,000
- Travel Expenses for Initial Training: $3,000 to $5,000
- Miscellaneous Shop Expenses: $10,000 to $15,000
- Additional Funds (Initial Period): $100,000 to $150,000
- Total Estimated Ziebart Franchise Costs: $450,100 to $924,000
Section II – Ziebart’s Initial Franchise Fee, Royalty Fee, and Marketing Fee
- Ziebart’s initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD:
- Initial Franchise Fee: $45,000
- Royalty: 8% of gross sales, minimum $650 per week, on all products except those listed in Note A of Item 6. For those products, the Royalty is 5% of your total weekly gross sales.
- National Media Advertising (the Marketing Fund): 2% of total weekly gross sales via EFT, with a cap of $30,000 per year
Section III – Number of Franchised and Company-Owned Ziebart Outlets
Franchised
2022
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 81
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 86
- Net Change: +5
2023
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 86
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 85
- Net Change: -1
2024
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When I owned a UPS Store, I learned firsthand how much your ZIP code shapes your outcome. I sold my store at a premium because my territory was in a high-value area. The best areas go first, and once they're gone, they're gone. Enter your ZIP code, and a territory specialist will walk you through the franchises still available near you, drawing on information that isn't publicly accessible, saving you months of wasted research.📈Dreaming of Multi‑Unit Success? Lock In Prime Territories Before They're Gone.
Colin started as a team member at 21 and now owns 6 locations in Tampa Bay. Lisa came from marketing and built 21 in San Diego. The most successful multi-unit owners move early and secure markets with room to grow. Use our free tool to search multiple ZIP codes and find franchises where you can still stack locations, before someone else does. A franchise specialist will be in touch to present what's available.- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 85
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 85
- Net Change: 0
Company-Owned
2022
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 11
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 11
- Net Change: 0
2023
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 11
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 11
- Net Change: 0
2024
- Outlets at the Start of the Year: 11
- Outlets at the End of the Year: 11
- Net Change: 0
Section IV – News Updates on the Ziebart Franchise
Section V – Financial Performance Representations (Average Revenues and/or Profits) for the Ziebart Franchise (Item 19, 2025 FDD)
Part 1 – Gross Sales and Key Performance Indicators
- Part 1 of this financial performance representation includes historical average and historical median gross sales and certain key performance indicators for 82 Ziebart stores that operated from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Fiscal Year”) and that met the following criteria:
- (i) the Ziebart store had operated for at least 2 full years as of the end of the 2024 Fiscal Year;
- (ii) the Ziebart store operated as a full production (as opposed to limited) store; and
- (iii) the Ziebart store also reported gross sales data to Ziebart for the full 2024 Fiscal Year.
- As of the end of the 2024 Fiscal Year, there were a total of 91 Ziebart stores in operation. Ziebart excluded the performance of:
- (a) 1 Ziebart store because they had not been open and operating for at least 2 full years as of the end of the 2024 Fiscal Year; and
- (b) 8 Ziebart stores that operated as limited service or product sales only stores and therefore do not use the prototypical business format and operating procedures for a Ziebart store that form the basis of the franchise opportunity that Ziebart offers in the disclosure document.
- “Gross sales” includes the actual selling price of the products or services, whether for cash, credit, or exchange of services for value, from the franchised stores or any other store that bears the licensed trademarks or trade names, or which uses Ziebart’s trade secrets or know-how.
- Ziebart separated the 82 Ziebart stores into the top performing 50% and bottom performing 50% based on average gross sales, with the top performing 50% reflecting the results of those Ziebart stores with the highest average gross sales for the 2024 Fiscal Year, and the bottom performing 50% reflecting the results of those Ziebart stores with the lowest average gross sales for the 2024 Fiscal Year.
- The Ziebart stores in this financial performance representation operate throughout the United States in both urban and suburban areas and have operated for an average of 26 years.
Top 50%
- Number of Ziebart Stores: 41
- Average Gross Sales: $2,086,555
- Lowest Gross Sales: $1,015,266
- Highest Gross Sales: $4,977,161
- Median Gross Sales: $1,753,866
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 17 / 41%
Bottom 50%
- Number of Ziebart Stores: 41
- Average Gross Sales: $605,072
- Lowest Gross Sales: $252,820
- Highest Gross Sales: $1,014,156
- Median Gross Sales: $578,931
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 17 / 41%
Median for All Ziebart Stores
- Number of Ziebart Stores: 82
- Median Gross Sales: $1,014,711
Average for All Ziebart Stores
- Number of Ziebart Stores: 82
- Average Gross Sales: $1,345,813
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 29 / 35%
- There were 0 Ziebart stores that were open for more than 1 full year and less than 2 full years at the end of the 2024 Fiscal Year.
Part 2 – New Ziebart Store Gross Sales Ramp
- Part 2 of this financial performance representation reflects the historical average and historical median gross sales ramps for 4 Ziebart stores operated by franchisees that developed and opened their Ziebart stores during the 3-year period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
- There were 5 total new Ziebart stores that opened during this period. 1 Ziebart store was excluded from this financial performance gross sales ramp because they had not been open and operating for at least 1 full year.
- Ziebart separated the gross sales ramp results of 4 Ziebart stores in Part 2 of this financial performance representation by the fiscal year in which they opened for business as a Ziebart store within the Ziebart franchise network.
- In the charts below:
- (a) “FY 2022 Openings” include the gross sales ramp for the first 3 years of operation for those Ziebart stores that opened between January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Fiscal Year”); and
- (b) “FY 2023 Openings” include the gross sales ramp for the first 2 years of operation for those Ziebart stores that opened between January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Fiscal Year”).
- The beginning and ending dates of “Year 1”, “Year 2”, and “Year 3” in this financial performance representation differ for each Ziebart store because each Ziebart store opened for business on a different date.
FY 2022 Openings
Year 1
- Store Count: 4
- Average Gross Sales: $351,481
- Highest Gross Sales: $805,537
- Lowest Gross Sales: $94,188
- Median Gross Sales: $253,100
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 2 / 50%
Year 2
- Store Count: 4
- Average Gross Sales: $987,593
- Highest Gross Sales: $1,736,434
- Lowest Gross Sales: $597,697
- Median Gross Sales: $808,121
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 1 / 25%
Year 3
- Store Count: 4
- Average Gross Sales: $1,156,563
- Highest Gross Sales: $1,861,193
- Lowest Gross Sales: $620,096
- Median Gross Sales: $1,072,482
- Number and Percentage That Met or Exceeded Average: 2 / 50%
- Ziebart’s management prepared this financial performance representation based on gross sales reported by its franchisees. Some stores have sold this amount. There is no assurance you will do as well.
- This representation is an historic financial performance representation relating to Ziebart’s existing stores and includes the sales of its affiliate-owned stores as well as its franchisee-owned stores. This representation relates to all of the Ziebart System stores for which Ziebart has data. This information is unaudited.
Section VI – Ziebart Franchise Ratios, Comparables, Computations, and Analyses (Exclusive Content for Platinum Subscribers) ⬇️
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