Want to "be your own boss" in the bedliner industry?  The industry has several “franchise” offerings. Are they right for you? Let’s take a look.

Some require enormous up front investment from you. This could be as high as $75,000 before you even spray your first bed liner or they will finance you which adds additional overhead burden each month. Additionally some even get “royalties” from YOUR hard work. You do all the work and they want a piece of each truck you do. You are required to use the equipment, material and add-on's they TELL you to use.

There are companies in the market that will offer a small “low pressure” machine and boasts in their brochure; “Lowest Start-up cost of any professional spray-on truck liner system……” I agree that they do offer the lowest “Start-up” cost machine. BUT!, now ask them how much it costs to continue business after the “Low Start-up Cost” You will find it’s not so low.

They offer this machine for around $3,000 as part of the “start-up” package. They do not nor will they sell just the machine for $3,000. As part of the “package” you must first sign a legal contract dictating on what YOU can and cannot do in YOUR business. You are required, and it is mandatory by contract, to buy material from them for high cost per gallon, $32.00 and up. Decide to buy material elsewhere? NO, you cannot. By the contract you legally can only buy material from them. I might ask again, whose business is this???? Doesn't sound like yours to me!

Additionally you are charged a “Flat” freight cost regardless of volume ordered. Let’s say you order 5 ten gallon pail sets (50 gallons). You will pay, from last I was told, $425.00 shipping regardless. So, if they charge 30 bucks a gallon for the material and then you add the “Flat Rate” shipping, you are now paying $38.50 per gallon for the material. They will tell you to order more and that reduces the freight cost per gallon. Wait a minute, whose business is this, yours or theirs?  Guess who owns who!

Let me explain “True Incurred” shipping costs. Chemical companies call freight companies for competitive quotes before they ship your material. They take the best rate, add 5-10% normally for the pallet, shrink wrap and labels. Cost: From, for example, Texas to Ohio a shipment of 60 gallons/ 650 lbs. would cost approximately $200.00. Let’s do the math: $425.00 “Flat Rate” - $200.00 “True incurred” = $225 in someone else’s pocket, not yours. Additionally you are required (remember the contract) to buy all of your support items from them as well. YOU do not have a choice. These support items are not inexpensive either.

I thought the whole idea behind starting your own business was to have more control over your own business and independence. Sign one of these deals and you just reduced your “independence”. May as well be working for someone else at that point because you ARE!