When Franchising Magazine USA profiled our brand, we were ecstatic. The story captured what we wake up thinking about every day: restoration services that save money for clients, cut waste, and create meaningful franchise opportunities for people who want a skilled trade with strong income potential. It also reminded us that our mission is simple and powerful. Color Glo helps customers keep what they love by repairing it, and we help owners build a resilient, home-based restoration franchise around that promise.

Let's recap what the feature got right, then expand on how Color Glo International supports franchisees, where the demand is coming from, and what the numbers look like for someone exploring restoration franchise opportunities today.

Color Glo International CEO on the cover of Franchising Magazine — **Anthony Verch, CFO; Mike Alamimi, President; James C. Miller, CEO - Color Glo International**

What the magazine got right about our vision

At Color Glo, we restore instead of replace. That means leather, vinyl, cloth, velour, fabric, faux suede, hard plastics, carpet, and woodgrain in cars, boats, RVs, aircraft, offices, and homes. If it is an interior surface, there is a good chance our process can bring it back to like-new. The article called this out, and I’m glad it did, because that breadth is a huge part of why our owners stay busy.

We also built our system on eco-friendly restoration services, water-based chemistry. Clients love that we avoid harsh solvents and that our products dry quickly. Owners love that jobs turn faster and that eco-friendly restoration services stand out in searches. Sustainability is not a buzzword for us. It is a practical way to extend the life of everyday items and keep them out of landfills.

The feature mentioned our credentials, which matter in B2B relationships. FAA approvals for aircraft interior repair, ISO certification for quality, and an international footprint give our franchisees credibility when they meet with dealerships, furniture retailers, property managers, and fleet operators.

Why restoration services are primed for growth

Several trends line up in favor of restoration franchises. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is at a record age, which pushes more interior reconditioning. Dealers need cracked dashboards and worn seats fixed before resale. Fleet managers need their vehicles to present well without overspending on replacements. That is steady, repeatable work.

Home and commercial clients are leaning the same way. People are repairing heritage sofas and dining chairs, not tossing them. Offices are refreshing upholstery to avoid large capital purchases. The shift toward repair over replacement plays right into a full-spectrum leather and vinyl repair franchise. With mobile service, fast-drying products, and color-matched finishes, we can make assets last.

Economic cycles also tell a story. During slower periods, customers hold onto cars and furniture longer. During faster periods, retailers and dealers work to maximize resale value and speed. Both situations keep restoration services in demand, and that is exactly the kind of consistency franchise owners appreciate.

What sets our restoration franchise apart

The magazine touched on our differentiators. Here is how we explain them when someone asks why Color Glo is different from other franchise opportunities in restoration:

Patented, water-based chemistry: Our lab formulates proprietary products that cure fast, hold color, and stay flexible. The work is cleaner, safer, and repeatable.
FAA and ISO credentials: Aviation approvals and quality systems open doors with aircraft operators and give commercial clients confidence.
Full-spectrum interior coverage: Leather to plastic to woodgrain, plus cloth and carpet. One toolbox, many revenue streams across auto, marine, RV, aviation, residential, and commercial.
Mobile, on-site service: We go to the customer. No storefront required, no landlord worries, and minimal overhead.
Exclusive territories: Each U.S. franchise has a protected area, so owners invest with clarity.

We also hear from franchisees that our “no direct competition” claim feels real in local markets. Detailing shops clean. Upholsterers replace. Our franchisees repair and refinish with factory-style results, which is a different lane and a very searchable specialty.

Color Glo Specialists restoring leather aircraft seats from a private jet

The numbers new owners ask about

Prospects usually want a clear picture of cost and ongoing fees. We keep it straightforward, and the magazine’s coverage matched what we share daily.

Total estimated startup range around $63,000 to $68,375
4% royalty (or $300 monthly minimum)
$2,500 annual license and product obligation
Home-based operation, no retail buildout
Startup kit, custom website, branding, and marketing assets included

The upfront franchise fee is $40,000. The startup kit runs about $21,500 and includes equipment and initial inventory. Travel for training is modest, because we cover most materials and you work from a home base. The difference with our category is overhead. With a mobile restoration franchise, your biggest investments are skills, quality control, and relationships, not rent.

Training, support, and built-in demand

CGO Trainers spend a lot of time with new owners during training, and we can say with confidence that our curriculum is deep and practical. Two weeks at our training center give you hands-on reps with every major surface, from burn repair in cloth to color-matching leather to rebuilding vinyl and hard plastics. After that, we join you in your territory for a week of live jobs, which cements the muscle memory and helps you open accounts.

Support continues. You’ll have a login for our member portal with how-to videos, updated manuals, and marketing templates. Questions get answered quickly in our forums and WhatsApp groups, often by veteran owners who have solved the same problem. Our tech line is available when you need it. We meet at seminars and workshops to keep everyone current with new techniques and to strengthen the network.

A basic overview about our franchisee business outlook can be found at our article “Unlocking Success with a Color Glo Franchise”.

Marketing is not left to chance. We build your local site, optimize for keywords like restoration services, automotive interior restoration, and leather repair nearby, and route national web leads to your territory. We also register franchisees with warranty administrators for auto and furniture brands. When a customer files a covered claim, that work often lands in your queue. Many dealers rely on our owners to refurbish trade-ins. These channels create steady deal flow while you build your own B2B rounds.

How revenue flows in a Color Glo territory

Most owners start by targeting a few anchor segments. Auto dealers and used-car reconditioning can produce daily volume. Residential jobs stack up through Google search and social. Commercial upholstery restoration tends to be larger tickets and scheduled projects. Aviation and marine are excellent for markets that have them, because the work is specialized and valued.

Margins are a highlight. Materials cost is a small portion of each ticket, so well-trained owners keep substantial profit per job. The royalty is light compared with many service brands, which helps owners scale their income without adding heavy fixed costs. Some owners stay solo with part-time help. Others add a second vehicle, then a third, and later pick up an adjacent territory. Exclusive territories make that growth path feel rational.

Our model is not hands-off. Owners who engage with clients, keep their color systems organized, and follow the sales playbook see the best results. The work itself is satisfying. There is something both technical and artistic about restoring a worn leather armrest or bringing a faded headlight back to crystal clarity. Customers react immediately, and that fuels referrals.

Who thrives in this business

We have award-winning franchisees with very different backgrounds. A few were painters. Some came from automotive. Several had corporate careers and wanted a hands-on venture with a clear playbook. The common thread is curiosity, pride in workmanship, and a steady approach to building local relationships.

Craft mindset: You like precise work, care about finishes, and enjoy before-and-after results.
B2B comfort: You can visit dealers, property managers, and retailers and talk value without pressure.
Customer-first habits: You set expectations, communicate timelines, and follow up after the job.
Drive to learn: You practice color-matching, attend refreshers, and keep sharpening your skills.

If that sounds like you, restoration franchise opportunities offer a rare mix of freedom, stability, and creativity. You control your schedule, you grow through skill and process, and you help clients hold onto the things they use every day.

Where we operate and where we are opening next

Color Glo started in the United States and now serves customers in more than 50 countries. In the U.S. and Canada, territories are exclusive and defined by population, typically in the 300,000 to 500,000 range. International partners operate in regions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

We are actively opening new territories in areas where search demand for restoration services is high but qualified providers are scarce. That includes mid-sized metro areas with strong auto markets, regions with marine and RV activity, and cities where commercial furniture suppliers need reliable repair partners. Because our franchise is home-based, your launch footprint can be lean while you build a loyal route.

A few stories that fuel our optimism

One of our longest-tenured owners started in the late eighties. He built a reputation by showing up, doing clean work, and telling customers exactly what to expect. Word-of-mouth built a business that supported his family for decades. He still mentors new owners and still enjoys the craft.

Another franchisee opened in the early 2000s and hit the pavement with car dealers. Cold calls led to referrals. Referrals turned into a roster of accounts. He remains a solo operator by choice and leans on subcontractors when he needs extra hands. That flexibility is a strength of a mobile restoration franchise.

A more recent owner joined in 2021 with little technical background. She trusted the training path, leaned into our support groups, and now runs a busy territory with confidence. She often reminds me that the process works if you work the process. Those stories are not outliers. They are what happens when skill meets a proven model and an uncrowded niche.

What we tell anyone searching for a restoration franchise

Start by looking at who needs you in your market. Browse used car listings and notice how interiors look. Visit Facebook Marketplace and see the volume of furniture being resold. Walk showroom floors at local furniture stores and talk to managers about warranty claims. Ask marinas and RV dealers who they call for repairs. The need is hiding in plain sight.

Then evaluate the franchise systems you are considering. Do they equip you with proprietary tools and chemistry, or will you be competing with generic DIY kits? Do they supply real lead channels, like warranty networks and national SEO, or just a logo and a brochure? Do they offer ongoing training, peer forums, and fast help when you hit a tricky repair? Those answers matter more than a flashy sales pitch.

If you are actively researching franchise opportunities in restoration and want to see how Color Glo stacks up on training, costs, and territory availability, reach out. I am always glad to talk through the work, the income potential, and the game plan for a successful launch. The next restoration success story in our network could be yours.