Budget Blinds Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1992

Franchising Since: 1994

Headquarters: Irvine, California

Estimated Number of Units: 1,500

Franchise Description: Budget Blinds, LLC is the franchisor. Budget Blinds’ immediate parent company is Home Franchise Concepts, LLC. Budget Blinds franchisees operate a primarily mobile business for the sale and installation of window coverings. Franchisees use a van wrapped in brand livery the franchisor specifies to make sales calls and perform installation work.
Training Overview: Training consists of a combination of 10.5 days in-person academy training at the HFC Experience Center in Coppell, Texas as well as pre- and post-academy training that is conducted virtually. For the first franchise agreement, training for up to two people is provided without charge. The franchise principal(s) must personally complete the initial training program to the franchisor’s satisfaction before they begin operating the franchised business. Upon reasonable notice and at no charge to franchisees, the franchisor may require franchisees or designated personnel to attend additional training courses, seminars, conferences or other programs that the franchisor considers to be relevant or appropriate to the successful operation of the system.

Territory Granted: During the term of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisor will grant franchisees a protected territory. The franchisor will not establish another franchised business in the territory that sells and installs window coverings using the system and marks. The franchisor will not compete with franchisees in their territory from outlets that it owns using the system and marks. The territory will be described by United States Postal Service ZIP Codes in the Franchise Agreement. Each Tier 1 Territory will consist of a minimum of 36,000 households. Each Tier 2 Territory will consist of 25,000 to less than 36,000 households and each Tier 3 Territory will consist of less than 25,000 households. The ZIP codes making up the territory will not change even if their boundaries are expanded or contracted by the Postal Service or if the population within them decreases or increases. Franchisees will not receive an exclusive territory. Franchisees are prohibited from doing business in the contracted territory of other franchisees; however, the franchisor cannot guarantee that another franchisee will not breach the franchise agreement and do business in the territory.

Obligations and Restrictions: The franchisor prefers franchisees who plan to participate actively in the direct operation and daily affairs of the franchised business. The franchisor requires the franchisee to be a company or a corporation by the time business commences. If franchisees do not operate the franchised business themselves, they must employ at least one manager on a full time basis. The manager must complete the initial training program, devote his or her entire time during normal business hours to the management, operation, and development of the franchised business, maintain confidentiality of the franchisor’s trade secrets and conform to covenants not to compete. Franchisees may offer and sell in the franchised business only goods and services that the franchisor has authorized franchisees to sell. Franchisees do not have to sell all the products and services that the franchisor authorizes, but it is suggested that franchisees do so.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. Two additional, consecutive five-year terms are available, if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: If franchisees meet the franchisor’s credit standards, it will, at the franchisee’s request, provide financing for part of all of the initial franchise fee and part of the territory fee. The franchisor doesn’t receive any direct or indirect payments or other consideration from any person for the placement of financing. The franchisor does not guarantee any notes, leases, or obligations.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$19,950	$19,950
Initial Territory Fee	$30,000	$70,000
Travel and Living Expenses While Training	$1,500	$2,500
In-Person Training for Additional Personnel (per person)	$0	$1,500
Office/ Work Space	Varies
Business Address	Varies
Vehicle	$10,000	$48,000
Computer Equipment and Software	$1,500	$2,500
Credit Card Processing Technology	$50	$500
Auto Insurance	$750	$2,400
Commercial General Liability Insurance	$750	$2,400
Contractor's License and Bond	$0	$1,500
Professional Services	$750	$3,500
Initial Marketing	$10,000	$15,000
Additional Tools and Supplies	$250	$1,500
Additional Funds – before opening first three months	$25,000	$40,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL (does not include office/ workspace costs)	$100,500	$211,250

Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	Until December 31, 2025, each month franchisees must pay $2,500 for a Tier 1 Territory, $1,875 for a Tier 2 Territory or $1,250 for a Tier 3 Territory. From January 1, 2026, franchisees must pay the greater of the above amount or 3.5% of the gross revenue for the immediately preceding month.
National Advertising Fund Payment	Monthly payment: Tier 1 Territory - $1,000 until the franchisor has 1,500 territories and $1,500 from then on. Tier 2 Territory - $750 until the franchisor has 1,500 territories and $1,125 from then on. Tier 3 Territory - $500 until the franchisor has 1,500 territories and $750 from then on.
Technology Fee	Currently $600 per month for the first territory, additional $300 per additional territory, capped at $3,000 per month.
Training for Additional Personnel	The first 2 attendees are free. The franchisor will charge $1,500 per person for additional attendees it approves. Franchisees are responsible for costs of travel, accommodation and some meals for additional attendees.
Additional Territory Fee	An amount equal to the then-current initial territory fee if the franchisee buys an additional territory in the future.
Encroachment Payment	100% of gross sales in another franchisee’s territory.
Fees on Transfer	If selling to a new franchisee, transfer fee of $5,000 per territory or 6% of the sale price, whichever is greater, up to a maximum of $50,000 per transaction. If selling to an existing franchisee, $5,000 transfer fee per territory up to a maximum of $50,000.
Transfer Lead Referral Fee	If the buyer is found through the franchisor’s organic marketing efforts, the franchisee will pay the then-applicable transfer lead referral fee, currently $15,000. If the buyer is found through a third party, the franchisee must pay that third party’s lead fee. If franchisees find their own buyer, no transfer lead referral fee is payable.
Renewal Fee	$5,000
Insufficient or Late Payment Fee	$300
Late Reporting Administrative Fee	Currently $300, subject to change.
Convention Fee	Fee will vary depending on venue and location but will not exceed $2,000 annually.
Optional Meetings and Trainings	As determined by the franchisor, but generally $100 to $1,500 depending on venue and mode of delivery plus travel, accommodation and some meals.
Additional Training Requested by Franchisee	Currently $500 per day, plus travel and expenses.
Audit	Cost of inspection or audit.
Insurance	Franchisees must reimburse the franchisor’s costs.
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees	Varies.
Indemnification	Varies.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Budget Blinds. Year of FDD: 2025.
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