If you are considering starting your own window tinting business, there are a great many variables to consider. You have to know exactly what you are doing, where you are going to operate, and have the capital and equipment to get your business off the ground.
Before you begin, here we will take a look at what could be involved, the types of window tint, and whether it is even a profitable idea in the first place.
Is window tinting a profitable business?
In essence, window tinting can indeed be a profitable business. There is a growing demand for window tints for so many reasons, not least because of the money you can save on your energy bills with treated windows, as well as for your health and the increased privacy.
An experienced and well-trained professional can make good money, and a company that excels in installing window tints can do well by providing an excellent service at a fair price that leaves everyone happy. The customer gets fantastic looking and treated windows, and the business makes money.
If, however, you are not perfectly trained and experienced in the field, and your window tints are not perfectly installed, then you will have a problem. People expect the best when they pay for installation, and a few negative reviews could very quickly ruin your fledgling business.
You cannot simply buy the equipment and start tinting windows off the bat. A professional job is so well done that you often cannot tell that anything has been done at all, if that is what the customer wants.
For those thinking about starting their own window tinting firm, it is advisable to first work for a prolonged period in an existing company and learn all you need to know before branching out on your own.
What are the different types of tinting?
You can categorize window tints in a few ways, including what you are hoping to achieve by treating them, and the materials involved. Here are some of the key types of tinting available to install:
- Decorative tint – primarily installed for aesthetic purposes, unless stated this tint does not have many of the better qualities of tinting like blocking UV rays.
- Metalized window films – one of the top choices for all-around performance, the metal particles not only reflect both light and heat, but they also strengthen your windows for added security.
- Carbon film tints – as stated these films are made of carbon, and help protect against UV rays and a lot of heat as well.
- Ceramic window films – another excellent if slightly pricey choice, these films last and last, increase security, protect against UV rays, and are one of the best types to install.
- Frosted window films – these window films are made to allow light to penetrate while obscuring what you can see, allowing for high levels of privacy among other benefits.
With all these and other options available, you can see how important it is to know what you are doing, what each type offers, and how to install them all before offering window tinting services.
How do you start a window tinting company?
There are a great many steps and a whole lot of work that would go into starting your own window tinting company, with some that are fairly generic to most businesses, and others that are more specific. Here are a few pointers to help get you going:
- Research what is involved – there is no point in trying to launch a business that you don’t know anything about. Find out what equipment you will need, what expertise, if you need a licence in your area, and so on and so on. There are a million questions and until you feel comfortable about the answers, you shouldn’t dive in.
- Come up with a business plan – if you are serious about starting your business, write it all down, starting with the costs involved and how you will appeal to and reach customers.
- Secure funding – once you know how much it will cost you to get started, get the equipment you need and all the rest, you will need to know that you have enough money to get your business off the ground.
- Location, location, location – deciding where you will start your business is essential. You need to know there is a demand for window tinting, and that the market is not already saturated with excellent companies that can do what you want to do cheaper. In Sydney, for example, Solar Graph Glass Tinting already does an exceptional job at fantastic prices, so you could struggle to compete.
- Come up with a name – once you have decided where you want your business you need to know what to call it. Do you go with something classy? Catchy? Even a pun or two? Make sure that they are available with the right domain name before you decide.
- Legalize your business – it is imperative that you sort out the legalities necessary before you begin. If you aren’t an expert or are unsure which option is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer or accountant who can set up your business for you.
- Locate your suppliers – to be competitive you will need to shop around, find all the products that you will need, and make sure that you have backups in place in case of closure or any other issues arising. If you can’t deliver once you open, people certainly won’t use you and your business will fail.
- Think about hiring employees – you may be planning on running everything yourself, or starting a larger business with a staff of your own. It is important to keep your costs down when you are starting out, but the right team of well-trained and capable individuals can be a huge bonus to any business.
These are just some of the steps to take as you set up your window tinting business, so if you feel like this is too much, or are still unsure, have a consultation with the experts before taking any major steps forward and really decide if this is the route for you.
Conclusion
Window tinting can be a profitable business but there is a huge amount of knowledge and skill that goes into it, and a great many steps to take, before you can get your company off the ground. If you are thinking about taking the leap, make sure that you have all the skills and expertise to deliver an incredible finished product each and every time.