Is Budget Blinds right for you?
Protected Territory
Franchisees receive an exclusive ZIP-code territory defined by household count. The franchisor will not open another Budget Blinds location inside the territory.
Hybrid Training Program
Six weeks of self-paced virtual pre-academy, five days of in-person academy training in Coppell, Texas, and three weeks of post-academy virtual instruction totaling 72.5 hours.
the financial-performance disclosure Disclosure
Historical gross sales data reported for 612 franchisees representing 82 percent of units open the full year. Performance varies significantly by number of territories owned.
About Budget Blinds
Budget Blinds is a mobile franchise concept founded in 1992 and headquartered in Irvine, California. The company is a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Franchisees sell and install interior and exterior window coverings including blinds, shades, shutters, drapes and related treatments to both residential and commercial customers within protected ZIP-code territories.
Franchisees operate a primarily mobile business from a branded van. They generate leads through local marketing, receive products shipped directly from approved vendors, and perform in-home or on-site measurements, sales consultations and installations. The model requires adherence to all applicable contractor licensing, bonding and safety regulations in the assigned territory.
JMF is our ultimate parent and controls HFC (our immediate parent) through multiple holding entities; JMF is majority-owned by the James M. Moran Intervivos Trust Number Two.
The business model
How a Budget Blinds territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Fees
Initial franchise fee is $19,950. Territory fee ranges from $30,000 for Tier 3 territories to $70,000 for Tier 1 territories based on household count. Veterans receive a 15 percent discount on both fees.
Ongoing Fees
Royalty is the greater of 3.5 percent of gross revenue or a monthly minimum that varies by tier ($2,500 Tier 1, $1,875 Tier 2, $1,250 Tier 3). National advertising contribution ranges from $500 to $1,500 per month by tier. Technology fee is currently $600 per month for the first territory.
Initial Investment
Total initial investment for a single territory ranges from $100,500 to $211,250. Major components include vehicle ($10,000-$48,000), initial marketing ($10,000-$15,000), and three months of additional funds ($25,000-$40,000). Office or workspace costs are not included.
Supply Chain
Franchisees must purchase all window coverings, components and branded materials exclusively from the franchisor, its affiliates or approved suppliers. The franchisor retains all supplier rebates and transaction fees.
Territory Structure
Territories are defined by USPS ZIP codes with minimum household thresholds. Tier 1 requires 36,000 or more households, Tier 2 between 25,000 and 36,000, and Tier 3 fewer than 25,000. Multi-territory operators represent a meaningful portion of the system.
Support Model
Ongoing support includes new-product training, consultation during business hours, national advertising fund administration, and optional paid on-site training. Annual convention attendance is mandatory.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$19,950
Total investment range
$100,500 to $211,250
Royalty
3.50% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
n/a
Founded
1992
Headquarters
Irvine, CA
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Onboarding covering technology platforms, policies, operations manual, and company overview (2.25 classroom hours, virtual).
- +Pre-Academy virtual curriculum on industry overview, marketing fundamentals, financials, consultative sales, product knowledge and core vendors (23.75 classroom hours).
- +Academy in-person training at the Coppell, Texas Experience Center including product deep dives, hands-on marketing, sales role play, procurement, installation and motorization (31.25 classroom hours).
- +Post-Academy virtual sessions on time management, team leadership, advanced sales, inventory management, additional product categories and CRM setup (21 classroom hours).
- +Ongoing training on new products, services and methods plus optional refresher training available at additional cost.
- +Mandatory annual convention and access to national advertising fund resources.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not provide on-site training at the franchisee's location as part of the initial program. Any requested additional or refresher on-site training is provided at $500 per day plus travel expenses.
Multi-unit growth path
the financial-performance disclosure data shows that multi-territory operators are common. In the reported cohort, 202 franchisees operated two territories and 128 operated three or more. Additional territories carry a separate territory fee and an incremental technology fee of $300 per month. Development of additional territories is subject to franchisor approval and availability of suitable adjacent ZIP-code areas.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
Veterans Discount
Qualifying veterans receive a 15 percent discount on the initial franchise fee and territory fee.
Third-Party Lenders
Many franchisees finance the vehicle, computer equipment and a portion of the initial investment through banks, SBA lenders or specialty franchise finance companies.
Equipment & Vehicle Leasing
The branded van and certain technology items can be leased, reducing upfront capital requirements.
Working Capital Planning
The franchisor recommends maintaining at least $100,000 in liquid capital to cover operating expenses during the first year.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor leadership, and validate the opportunity against personal goals and capital availability.
Application & Approval
Submit formal application. Franchisor reviews background, financial qualifications and territory interest.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign franchise agreement and pay initial franchise fee of $19,950 plus selected territory fee.
Pre-Academy Training
Complete six weeks of self-paced virtual onboarding and pre-academy curriculum covering fundamentals.
Academy & Post-Academy
Attend five-day in-person academy in Coppell, Texas followed by three weeks of virtual post-academy training.
Vehicle & Setup
Acquire or lease branded vehicle, obtain required licenses and insurance, and complete initial local marketing launch.
Grand Opening & First 90 Days
Begin lead generation, sales and installations with franchisor support for initial post-opening promotion.
Match assessment
Are you a Budget Blinds match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Budget Blinds franchise cost?
Total initial investment ranges from $100,500 to $211,250 for a single territory according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. This includes the $19,950 franchise fee and a territory fee between $30,000 and $70,000 depending on tier.
What are the royalty and advertising fees for Budget Blinds?
Royalty is the greater of 3.5 percent of gross revenue or a monthly minimum that varies by territory tier. National advertising fund contribution ranges from $500 to $1,500 per month by tier. A technology fee of $600 per month applies to the first territory.
Does Budget Blinds provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses historical gross sales for 612 franchisees open the full year in 2024 and 2025, representing 82 percent of the reporting base. Average, median and percentile data are provided by number of territories owned. No net profit figures are disclosed.
Is the Budget Blinds territory exclusive?
Franchisees receive a protected territory defined by ZIP codes. The franchisor will not open another franchised or company-owned Budget Blinds unit inside the territory. However, the franchisor reserves rights to sell through online, direct and key-account channels without installation.
How long is Budget Blinds initial training?
The hybrid program totals approximately 72.5 hours of instruction: six weeks virtual pre-academy, five days in-person academy in Coppell, Texas, and three weeks virtual post-academy.
What is the difference between Budget Blinds territory tiers?
Tiers are based on household count: Tier 1 (36,000+ households) carries the highest territory fee and minimum royalty; Tier 2 (25,000-36,000 households) is mid-range; Tier 3 (fewer than 25,000 households) has the lowest fee and minimums.
Can I own multiple Budget Blinds territories?
Yes. A substantial number of franchisees operate two or more territories. Additional territories require separate approval and incur incremental territory and technology fees.
Does Budget Blinds require prior experience in window treatments?
No specific industry experience is required. The comprehensive training program covers product knowledge, sales, installation and business operations.
How does Budget Blinds support franchisees after opening?
Support includes ongoing product and sales training, consultation during business hours, national advertising fund management, lead routing through the system website, and optional paid on-site training.
What suppliers must Budget Blinds franchisees use?
Franchisees must purchase all window coverings, components and branded materials exclusively from the franchisor, its affiliates or approved suppliers listed in the operations manual.
How many Budget Blinds franchises are there?
the financial-performance disclosure data reflects 612 franchisees who were open and reporting for the full year in 2025. The system includes both single- and multi-territory operators.
Is financing available for a Budget Blinds franchise?
Franchisees commonly finance vehicles and equipment through third-party lenders or leasing programs. The franchisor does not offer direct financing but provides information on SBA and specialty franchise lenders.
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