Made in the Shade Blinds

Transform your entrepreneurial drive into a thriving home-based business serving homeowners’ window fashion needs. Made in the Shade Blinds and More has empowered entrepreneurs across North America for over 20 years with convenient shop-at-home service for custom blinds, shades, shutters, and draperies. Join the only window covering franchise offering zero ongoing royalties while building your protected territory with name-brand products!

Made in the Shade at a Glance:

• Only window covering franchise in US/Canada with zero ongoing royalties
• Home-based business model with protected exclusive territory
• Investment $74.5K-$101K including $64K franchise fee, no monthly royalties
• Name-brand partnerships: Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman, and industry leaders
• Entrepreneur Top 500 and Top 100 Franchises 2024
• No design, decorating, or sales experience required—comprehensive training included

Made In The Shade Franchise

Founded in 1994 and franchising since 2013, Made in the Shade revolutionized window covering retail by eliminating expensive showrooms and bringing premium custom window fashions directly to customers’ homes. As the fastest-growing home-based window covering franchise in North America, we’ve built strategic partnerships with top manufacturers—Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman—delivering name-brand products at deepest industry discounts. Our shop-at-home model eliminates inventory carrying costs while providing customers personalized service in the comfort of their homes where decisions actually get made.

Why Franchise With Made In The Shade?

Our proven zero-royalty model delivers maximum profit retention and operational flexibility impossible with traditional retail or royalty-based franchises.

• Zero Ongoing Royalties: Keep 100% of profits beyond product costs with one-time franchise fee and no monthly royalty payments draining revenue like traditional franchises require.
• Protected Exclusive Territory: Never compete with other MITS dealers in clearly defined geographical area making sense for your marketplace, ensuring competitive edge and customer loyalty.
• Home-Based Low Overhead: Operate from home with no expensive storefront lease, utility costs, retail staffing, or inventory carrying requirements reducing overhead by 60-80% versus traditional retail.
• Name-Brand Product Advantage: Access Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman, and premium manufacturers at industry’s deepest discounts, backed by lifetime limited warranties making sales consultative not price-driven.
• Comprehensive Perpetual Training: Master product knowledge, consultation techniques, measuring, installation, pricing, and closing through hands-on training plus ongoing vendor webinars and annual conferences throughout business lifetime.
• Recession-Resistant Demand: Every home and business needs window coverings regardless of economy, with remodeling market 4-5x larger than new construction creating sustained demand across all economic cycles.

Success Stories

Zero-Royalty Profit Advantage: Made in the Shade’s unique zero-royalty structure means franchisees keep 100% of gross profits beyond product costs. Traditional franchises charging 5-8% ongoing royalties transfer $50K-$80K annually to corporate on $1M revenue businesses—money MITS franchisees retain for reinvestment, savings, or personal income.

Rapid ROI Achievement: Home-based model with minimal overhead enables franchisees to reach break-even rapidly, often within first 12-18 months. Low fixed costs mean every job contributes significantly to profitability rather than simply covering retail space expenses and royalty payments.

Scalable Territory Growth: Franchisees successfully build six-figure businesses by cultivating referral networks, builder relationships, and commercial accounts within protected territories. Some owners expand to retail showrooms when market demands justify additional visibility, while others maintain lean home-based operations maximizing profit margins.

Training & Support

Made in the Shade ensures franchise partner success through comprehensive hands-on training and perpetual ongoing support throughout your business lifecycle.

• Comprehensive Launch Training: Hands-on session covering product lines, marketing and lead generation, customer consultation techniques, measuring and basic installation, pricing and profit margin management, order placement, and closing sales—designed for zero prior experience.
• Vendor Partnership Training: Exclusive webinars conducted by Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman, and partner manufacturers introducing new products, installation techniques, and promotional opportunities keeping franchisees current on industry innovations.
• Marketing & Lead Generation: Proven digital and print marketing roadmap developed over 20 years, including website templates, SEO strategies, social media content, and local advertising campaigns driving customers to your business without reinventing approaches.
• Technology & Operations: Complete systems for client management, job pricing, order processing, and business tracking, plus accounting support ensuring accurate financial management and tax preparation assistance.
• Annual Conference & Community: Yearly gatherings bringing owners face-to-face with vendor executives, industry experts, and peers for strategy sharing, success celebration, challenge problem-solving, and lifetime friendship building within family-focused culture.
• Ongoing Consultation Support: Regular video conferences connecting owners for idea sharing, best practice development, marketing trend awareness, and peer support maintaining engagement and continuous improvement throughout franchise ownership.

ABF Exclusive Insights

Market Analysis: Window coverings market growing from $12B to $17B by 2030 while home improvement sector reaches $510B by 2024, with spending increasing 200% faster than other sectors. Remodeling market 4-5x larger than new construction creates sustained demand independent of housing starts, making this recession-resistant opportunity.

Competitive Advantage: Zero-royalty structure provides 5-8% profit margin advantage over competing franchises, translating to $50K-$80K annual savings on $1M revenue. Home-based model eliminates $60K-$120K annual retail overhead while shop-at-home consultations close sales where customers make decisions—in their own homes visualizing actual windows.

ABF Investment Tip: Focus on building contractor, builder, and interior designer relationships early for consistent commercial flow. Residential remodeling provides 4-5x more opportunity than new construction. Protected territory ensures referrals stay within your business. Quick customer payment collection (50% deposit at sale, 50% at installation) creates positive cash flow from day one.

Who Thrives as a Made in the Shade Franchisee?

Made in the Shade seeks entrepreneurs valuing freedom, flexibility, and maximum profit retention while building recession-resistant service businesses.

• You want freedom & flexibility – Make your own rules, set your own policies, control your schedule around family and personal activities
• You want to work for yourself – Tired of corporate world and making money for someone else, ready to reap rewards of your own success
• You value quality products – Appreciate partnerships with Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman and industry’s best manufacturers with generous warranties
• You want zero royalties – Keep 100% of profits beyond product costs rather than paying 5-8% ongoing royalties draining revenue every month
• No experience required – No design, decorating, or sales background needed—we teach you to become the territory expert through comprehensive training
• You want low overhead – Home-based operation eliminates expensive storefront, retail staff, and inventory carrying costs maximizing profit margins

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the zero-royalty structure such a significant advantage?

A: Traditional franchises charge 5-8% ongoing royalties on gross revenue. On $1M annual revenue, that’s $50K-$80K paid to corporate annually—forever. Made in the Shade charges one-time $64K franchise fee with zero ongoing royalties, meaning you keep 100% of profits beyond product costs. Over 10 years, that’s $500K-$800K staying in your business versus transferred to franchise corporate.

Q: Do I need design, decorating, or sales experience to succeed?

A: No prior experience required. Our comprehensive training teaches everything—product knowledge, consultation techniques, measuring, installation basics, pricing strategies, and closing sales. Many successful franchisees came from completely different industries. We provide proven systems, ongoing vendor training, and perpetual support transforming motivated entrepreneurs into territory experts.

Q: What are the complete investment requirements and what’s included?

A: Total investment $74,500-$101,200 including $64,000 franchise fee. No ongoing royalties—ever. Investment covers comprehensive training, exclusive protected territory rights, vendor partnership access at industry’s deepest discounts, marketing materials and systems, technology platforms, initial sample inventory, and ongoing support. Only monthly fees are optional marketing programs, accounting support, and technology subscriptions detailed in FDD.

Q: How does the home-based model work without a showroom?

A: Shop-at-home consultations bring the showroom to customers. You meet clients in their homes with sample books and materials, measuring actual windows and discussing needs in the rooms being transformed. This eliminates $60K-$120K annual retail overhead (rent, utilities, retail staff) while closing sales where decisions happen—customers visualizing products on their actual windows rather than imagining how showroom samples translate to their homes.

Q: How do I get paid and what are typical profit margins?

A: You collect directly from customers—typically 50% deposit at point of sale, 50% balance at installation. You pay manufacturers directly for product costs. You control pricing, sale terms, and profit margins. Training teaches effective pricing maximizing profits while remaining competitive. The zero-royalty structure means every dollar beyond product costs stays with you, creating significantly higher net margins than royalty-based franchises.

Q: What does the protected territory include?

A: Exclusive geographical territory with clear boundaries making sense for your marketplace. No other MITS dealers will operate in your territory—ever. Territory sizing ensures adequate population and opportunity for six-figure business potential while remaining manageable for single-owner operation or small team.

Next Steps

Ready to join the only zero-royalty window covering franchise and build a recession-resistant home-based business keeping maximum profits in your pocket? Complete the form below to talk to our franchise development team and to discuss specific details and territory availability for this top franchise brand.

This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Consult the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details about fees, obligations, financial performance, and all franchise terms before making any investment decision.