Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Budget Blinds Inc.

Window covering retailer and installer

Year began: 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, CA 92865

Phone: (800)420-5374
Fax: (714)637-1400

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

Franchise Growth

Year

2008
2007
2006
2005
2004

U.S. Franchises

1,009
1,047
1,062
915
730

Canadian Franchises

74
32
25
0
0

Foreign Franchises

0
3
3
3
0

Company
Owned

1
1
3
3
3

Where Seeking Franchisees

Nationwide

Outside the U.S.:

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

Costs & Fees

Total investment: $79.7K-153.1K
Franchise fee: $24.9K
Ongoing royalty fee: Varies
Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable
Renewal fee: $5K

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 & Support

TRAINING

Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
At franchisee's location: Optional
Ongoing training and support

ONGOING SUPPORT

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

MARKETING SUPPORT

Co-op advertising
Ad slicks
National media
Regional advertising

Rankings in Entrepreneur magazine 2004-2008

Franchise 500® rank:
#60 (2008); #29 (2007); #50 (2006); #50 (2005); #75 (2004);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2008; 2007; 2006; 2005; 2004;

Fastest-Growing Franchises:
#15 (2007); #25 (2006); #13 (2005); #25 (2004);

Top home based franchises:
#12 (2008); #6 (2007); #11 (2006); #11 (2005); #15 (2004);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#74 (2008); #28 (2007); #48 (2006); #50 (2005); #68 (2004);

Last Updated: 3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM