WINDOW TINTING
BULLET RESISTANT WINDOW FILM FOR HIGH-END CLIENTS
BULLET RESISTANT WINDOW FILM FOR HIGH-END CLIENTS
Tintacar.com has unbreakable window film.
Spokane Solar Solutions offers unbreakable window film. Again, offer this to high-end clients who want and need high-levels of security.
MAKE YOUR TINTING BUSINESS MOBILE
Consider a mobile tinting business. Read these comments:
While you could put the cutter and computer in a van (and in fact the tinting company I used this morning does offer mobile service and have their equipment in a Sprinter van), it would be easier to schedule clients the day before you went mobile, and cut all the patterns needed and take them with you. End of comments.
WHAT ABOUT WARRANTIES? HOW LONG SHOULD THEY BE?
"A reputable installer will provide a 3-year written warranty against scratches, bubbles or other problems."
The tinting used these days isn't likely to scratch, and if you have it installed by a reputable installer, they will usually provide a three year written warranty against scratches, bubbles or other problems.
And you are correct, most of these shops either don't understand or don't care what they look like or how customers may perceive their professionalism.
That's why a clean, well lit shop with good signage and professional looking staff can attract all the business it wants in most cities.
TRIPLE YOUR PROFITS WITH CERAMIC FILM
While at the tint shop this morning, we learned about 'ceramic' embeded film, which blocks UV and Infrared, and is available in tint as well as clear.
One of the customers there was having this clear Ceramic film put on her windshield, and she told us that it not only blocks heat, but it blocks out reflections from other vehicles. She said she had small cataracts, and without the clear ceramic tint on her windshield, it was hard for her to drive on sunny days due to the sun reflections.
But with the clear ceramic tint, her car stayed cool and she could drive without problems.
The tint shop manager said once people saw what ceramic film could do for them, almost everyone bought it.
He also discouraged the use of 'metallic' embedded film offered by some, as it negatively affected cell phone reception inside the car.
The short video below tells more about ceramic film used by window tinters.
TINT GRADE: WHAT IS LEGAL IN YOUR AREA?
Prius already comes with UVA blocking glass.
Back windows are a bit darker than front.
Some states are pretty strict about enforcing tint laws. Tint shops can be fined for applying tint that exceeds standards, so most legitimate shops won't do it.
HOW TO ACHIEVE TOP TINTING RESULTS?
It's the brand and type of film that affects the outcome most.
WHICH PLOTTER/CUTTER INSTALLER TO USE: VINYL EXPRESS Q SERIES or a ROLAND?
Videos on how these cutters work:
TINT A PORSCHE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE
HERE'S HOW TO BEAT YOUR COMPETITION
When it comes to competition, many of the shops that do this aren't in the best neighborhoods, are in run down buildings, and don't really inspire a lot of confidence. In fact, many of the installers run the business from their home.
If I were to get into this business, I'd find a location in a highly visible traffic area, make sure the shop looks clean and safe, and make sure customers felt confident that they were getting first class service and results.
Also, many of these tinting companies do windows at homes and businesses as well as cars. In those cases, having a van with a cutter (or an experienced worker with a sharp knife) can pay off.
I don't think it is a seasonal business - at least in areas where the sun shines year round. Also, many people get their windows tinted for security reasons - so would-be thieves can't look into the car. Another thing offered by tint shops is 'invisible bras'. These are a clear film put on the front of the car to prevent paint chips from road debris. Our Prius has one of these invisible bras. Dealers charge the car buyer $200 or more for these, and then have them installed by tint shops for $100. Most car dealers don't have the staff to offer their own tinting or custom car bra installation, so they use local services and pass on the cost (along with a healthy profit) to the customer. Car wraps are quite a bit more involved than window tinting. We had a friend in this business, and she found that getting the customer to approve a wrap design, then creating the wrap, then applying it to car, required too much time and effort in order to charge a reasonable price. On the other hand, specialty cut car window decals were a big part of her business. These are sold to small businesses, car clubs, and others who want something different on their car. I do like this kind of business. Little investment to get in, ability to go mobile, low cost of materials, and a continual supply of customers.
While at the tint shop this morning, we learned about 'ceramic' embeded film, which blocks UV and Infrared, and is available in tint as well as clear.
One of the customers there was having this clear Ceramic film put on her windshield, and she told us that it not only blocks heat, but it blocks out reflections from other vehicles. She said she had small cataracts, and without the clear ceramic tint on her windshield, it was hard for her to drive on sunny days due to the sun reflections.
But with the clear ceramic tint, her car stayed cool and she could drive without problems.
The tint shop manager said once people saw what ceramic film could do for them, almost everyone bought it.
He also discouraged the use of 'metallic' embedded film offered by some, as it negatively affected cell phone reception inside the car.
The short video below tells more about ceramic film used by window tinters.
Here's a video showing how the cutter and software work.
This morning, we took Sonya's new Prius V to have the windows tinted. I had called the Tinting shop earlier and made an appointment for 9:00am.
I expected the job to take all day, as the Prius V has 9 windows that needed to be tinted.
But I was wrong.
When I got there at nine, the manager said they had four cars ahead of Sonya's, so it'd be about an hour before mine would be ready.
An hour? How in the world would they be able to tint all the windows in the Prius, and do another 4 cars and be done in a hour?
The manager showed me his secret.
He has a vinyl plotter/cutter connected to a laptop loaded with software that has window patterns for every vehicle sold in the US.
All he has to do is enter the make, model and year of the vehicle, and the cutter automatically cuts the exact patterns for all the windows in the vehicle.
With these very precise ready-to-apply films in hand, his installers don't have to waste time cutting and trimming window tint. They just wet down the window, lay up the film, squeegee out the bubbles, use a heat gun to set the film, and they are done. It takes less than two minutes per window.
The manager had a remote camera set up in his shop so customers could watch his two employees apply the Window tint. And as we watched, it took them less than 15 minutes to do all the windows in a BMW 535 M series.
The manager said they do most of the window tinting for the local auto dealers, and typically will do 25 to 30 cars a day. Average price per car is $170. Which works out to a little over $4000 income per day.
The cost of the automated vinyl cutter and software is less than $3,000 (much less if you purchase a slower cutter). The cost of film used per car usually is less than $15.00.
Here in Florida, where you need window tinting to protect from the sun, there is no shortage of customers.
I really like this business model. Invest $4,000 in equipment, and you're in business.
Spokane Solar Solutions offers unbreakable window film. Again, offer this to high-end clients who want and need high-levels of security.
MAKE YOUR TINTING BUSINESS MOBILE
Consider a mobile tinting business. Read these comments:
While you could put the cutter and computer in a van (and in fact the tinting company I used this morning does offer mobile service and have their equipment in a Sprinter van), it would be easier to schedule clients the day before you went mobile, and cut all the patterns needed and take them with you. End of comments.
WHAT ABOUT WARRANTIES? HOW LONG SHOULD THEY BE?
"A reputable installer will provide a 3-year written warranty against scratches, bubbles or other problems."
The tinting used these days isn't likely to scratch, and if you have it installed by a reputable installer, they will usually provide a three year written warranty against scratches, bubbles or other problems.
And you are correct, most of these shops either don't understand or don't care what they look like or how customers may perceive their professionalism.
That's why a clean, well lit shop with good signage and professional looking staff can attract all the business it wants in most cities.
TRIPLE YOUR PROFITS WITH CERAMIC FILM
While at the tint shop this morning, we learned about 'ceramic' embeded film, which blocks UV and Infrared, and is available in tint as well as clear.
One of the customers there was having this clear Ceramic film put on her windshield, and she told us that it not only blocks heat, but it blocks out reflections from other vehicles. She said she had small cataracts, and without the clear ceramic tint on her windshield, it was hard for her to drive on sunny days due to the sun reflections.
But with the clear ceramic tint, her car stayed cool and she could drive without problems.
The tint shop manager said once people saw what ceramic film could do for them, almost everyone bought it.
He also discouraged the use of 'metallic' embedded film offered by some, as it negatively affected cell phone reception inside the car.
The short video below tells more about ceramic film used by window tinters.
TINT GRADE: WHAT IS LEGAL IN YOUR AREA?
Prius already comes with UVA blocking glass.
Back windows are a bit darker than front.
Some states are pretty strict about enforcing tint laws. Tint shops can be fined for applying tint that exceeds standards, so most legitimate shops won't do it.
HOW TO ACHIEVE TOP TINTING RESULTS?
It's the brand and type of film that affects the outcome most.
WHICH PLOTTER/CUTTER INSTALLER TO USE: VINYL EXPRESS Q SERIES or a ROLAND?
Videos on how these cutters work:
TINT A PORSCHE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE
HERE'S HOW TO BEAT YOUR COMPETITION
When it comes to competition, many of the shops that do this aren't in the best neighborhoods, are in run down buildings, and don't really inspire a lot of confidence. In fact, many of the installers run the business from their home.
If I were to get into this business, I'd find a location in a highly visible traffic area, make sure the shop looks clean and safe, and make sure customers felt confident that they were getting first class service and results.
Also, many of these tinting companies do windows at homes and businesses as well as cars. In those cases, having a van with a cutter (or an experienced worker with a sharp knife) can pay off.
I don't think it is a seasonal business - at least in areas where the sun shines year round. Also, many people get their windows tinted for security reasons - so would-be thieves can't look into the car. Another thing offered by tint shops is 'invisible bras'. These are a clear film put on the front of the car to prevent paint chips from road debris. Our Prius has one of these invisible bras. Dealers charge the car buyer $200 or more for these, and then have them installed by tint shops for $100. Most car dealers don't have the staff to offer their own tinting or custom car bra installation, so they use local services and pass on the cost (along with a healthy profit) to the customer. Car wraps are quite a bit more involved than window tinting. We had a friend in this business, and she found that getting the customer to approve a wrap design, then creating the wrap, then applying it to car, required too much time and effort in order to charge a reasonable price. On the other hand, specialty cut car window decals were a big part of her business. These are sold to small businesses, car clubs, and others who want something different on their car. I do like this kind of business. Little investment to get in, ability to go mobile, low cost of materials, and a continual supply of customers.
While at the tint shop this morning, we learned about 'ceramic' embeded film, which blocks UV and Infrared, and is available in tint as well as clear.
One of the customers there was having this clear Ceramic film put on her windshield, and she told us that it not only blocks heat, but it blocks out reflections from other vehicles. She said she had small cataracts, and without the clear ceramic tint on her windshield, it was hard for her to drive on sunny days due to the sun reflections.
But with the clear ceramic tint, her car stayed cool and she could drive without problems.
The tint shop manager said once people saw what ceramic film could do for them, almost everyone bought it.
He also discouraged the use of 'metallic' embedded film offered by some, as it negatively affected cell phone reception inside the car.
The short video below tells more about ceramic film used by window tinters.
Here's a video showing how the cutter and software work.
This morning, we took Sonya's new Prius V to have the windows tinted. I had called the Tinting shop earlier and made an appointment for 9:00am.
I expected the job to take all day, as the Prius V has 9 windows that needed to be tinted.
But I was wrong.
When I got there at nine, the manager said they had four cars ahead of Sonya's, so it'd be about an hour before mine would be ready.
An hour? How in the world would they be able to tint all the windows in the Prius, and do another 4 cars and be done in a hour?
The manager showed me his secret.
He has a vinyl plotter/cutter connected to a laptop loaded with software that has window patterns for every vehicle sold in the US.
All he has to do is enter the make, model and year of the vehicle, and the cutter automatically cuts the exact patterns for all the windows in the vehicle.
With these very precise ready-to-apply films in hand, his installers don't have to waste time cutting and trimming window tint. They just wet down the window, lay up the film, squeegee out the bubbles, use a heat gun to set the film, and they are done. It takes less than two minutes per window.
The manager had a remote camera set up in his shop so customers could watch his two employees apply the Window tint. And as we watched, it took them less than 15 minutes to do all the windows in a BMW 535 M series.
The manager said they do most of the window tinting for the local auto dealers, and typically will do 25 to 30 cars a day. Average price per car is $170. Which works out to a little over $4000 income per day.
The cost of the automated vinyl cutter and software is less than $3,000 (much less if you purchase a slower cutter). The cost of film used per car usually is less than $15.00.
Here in Florida, where you need window tinting to protect from the sun, there is no shortage of customers.
I really like this business model. Invest $4,000 in equipment, and you're in business.
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