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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Budget Blinds Inc.

Window coverings

Background

Founded: 1992 Franchising since: 1994
Founded in 1992 by five young entrepreneurs, Budget Blinds allows customers to shop at home for window coverings. Tony Forbes, Brent Hallock, Chad Hallock, Todd Jackson and David Lewis had been working for a California-based window-covering retailer when changes in ownership forced them to leave the company. Using the experience they had gained, the co-workers started their own business and began franchising two years later.

Budget Blinds offers customers free in-home consultations, taking measurements and selling a variety of name brand window coverings. The company also handles installations.

1927 N. Glassell St.
Orange, California 92865
Phone:
(800)420-5374/ (714)637-2100


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 86 employee(s); 7 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 797 87 0 1
2008 954 81 0 1
2007 1,047 32 3 1
2006 1,062 25 3 3
2005 915 0 3 3

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Outside the U.S.: Canada

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Approximately 30,000 households

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $82.4K-173K
Franchise fee: $14.95K
Ongoing royalty fee: Varies
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee Yes No
Startup Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Cash liquidity requirement: $54.7K-86.1K
Business Experience:
  • Industry experience
  • Marketing skills

Operations
  • Franchise can be run from home
  • 42% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 3
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
  • Ongoing training and support

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • National media
  • Regional advertising

Other marketing support
  • Online, lead generation

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#63 (2009); #60 (2008); #29 (2007); #50 (2006); #50 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2009; 2008; 2007; 2006; 2005;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#15 (2007); #25 (2006); #13 (2005);

Top Home Based Franchises:
#13 (2009); #12 (2008); #6 (2007); #11 (2006); #11 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#54 (2009); #74 (2008); #28 (2007); #48 (2006); #50 (2005);