Franchise opportunities compared
The Glass Guru vs Window World
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Window World discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (The Glass Guru: 3, Window World: 10). Different groups are not directly comparable.
| Disclosure |  The Glass Guru |  Window World |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $155,805 – $385,280 TOTAL 2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22 | $123,200 – $362,500 2026 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $49,500 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11 | $45,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 19 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 7% · percent of Gross Sales; minimum of $1,750 per month after first 180 days of operations Royalty Fee 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13 | $75 Royalty — high per option or unit 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 2% of gross sales; minimum of $500 per month after first 180 days of operations Brand Fee 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13 | Not available No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 74 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54 | 211 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 78 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | +2 Calculated: 72 at end of 2023 → 74 at end of 2025 | −1 Calculated: 212 at end of 2023 → 211 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | 2007 for predecessor; franchisor began following 2021 merger 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9 | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | 2021; predecessor formed in 2006 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9 | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Franchised (64 franchisees) — revenue — All qualifying franchised outlets during 2025; 64 franchisees are included $609,939 other Sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 49 Franchised (64 locations) — revenue and other measures $2,127,510 other Sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 49 Franchised (64 franchisees) — revenue — All qualifying franchised outlets during 2025; 64 franchisees are included; the… $694,661 other Sales · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 49 | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Metro-market franchisee businesses, single-market reports 10,740 units other Metro-market franchisee businesses · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 77 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Small-market franchisee businesses, single-market reports $3,253,942 other Small-market franchisee businesses · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 75 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Combined-market franchisee businesses (18 franchises owned by 5 franchisees, re… $18,098,524 other Combined-market franchisee businesses · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 76 +7 more groups in the full report |
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
The Glass Guru vs Window World: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Glass Guru or Window World?
- The Glass Guru: $155,805 – $385,280 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 22); Window World: $123,200 – $362,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Window World. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Glass Guru and Window World royalties compare?
- The Glass Guru: 7% · percent of Gross Sales; minimum of $1,750 per month after first 180 days of operations (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13); Window World: $75 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, The Glass Guru or Window World?
- The Glass Guru: 74 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54); Window World: 211 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 78). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Glass Guru and Window World disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Glass Guru has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups; Window World has reviewed Item 19 figures for 10 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.