Auto appearance and protection service provider Ziebart has placed on the Franchise 500 list from Entrepreneur for the 38th year in a row, coming in at number 189 for 2019 thanks to the loyalty of its franchisees and continued growth. With around 400 franchise business locations across 34 countries and even more expansion to come, this brand had a record US unit growth year for 2018.
Brand President and CEO Thomas E. Wolfe said the company was excited by its team's efforts, which led to this year's ranking. According to Wolfe, 2019 is on track to be another outstanding year for the franchise and all its franchisees, both at home and internationally.
The annual ranking of franchise opportunities by Entrepreneur is thorough. All the franchises who receive a spot on the list are evaluated against the same set of criteria, which includes brand power, stability, financial strength and unit growth. The length of time of the franchise arm of a brand, how many years it has been operating, terminations percentage, litigation, costs for startup and the availability of company-provided franchising are also weighed.
A brand with 60 years of history behind it, Ziebart has a legacy that is known worldwide and currently offers single location and master franchise opportunities to applicants who qualify. The level of interest in this brand in the United States is continuing to boom, with new locations opening up in Indiana, Texas and West Virginia in early 2019.
Headquartered in Michigan, this expanding yet already established franchise started with its rust protections services back in 1959 and has since expanded its offerings to help clients preserve and enhance the appearance of their trucks and cars. The total initial investment with this franchise ranges from $228,200 to $450,500.
