Franchise opportunities compared
Window Hero vs Zips
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.
- Zips 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 (Window Hero: 6, Zips: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.
| Disclosure |  Window Hero | ZZips |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $206,244 – $363,744 Total 2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31 | $226,200 – $1,287,000 2026 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $59,900 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14 | $40,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 7% · percent of Gross Revenue; or applicable Minimum Monthly Royalty Fee, whichever is greater Royalty Fee 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 | 6% Royalty rate 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 2% of gross revenue Brand Fund Contribution 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17 | 2% National marketing fund current contribution — 2% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 64 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75 | 72 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | +29 Calculated: 35 at end of 2023 → 64 at end of 2025 | +3 Calculated: 69 at end of 2023 → 72 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) | 2022 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 1 | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | 2021 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 1 | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Franchised (10 franchise) — other measures — 10 franchise locations operating in 32 territories that operated all 12 months… $838,978 other Accepted Contract Amount · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 69 Franchised (11 franchise) — other measures $377,039 other Accepted Contract Amount · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 69 Franchised (11 locations) — adjusted operating results $824,105 mean Revenue · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 70 +3 more groups in the full report | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — ZIPS Cleaners Businesses Plant Stores operated by franchisees during January 1,… $337,721 other Gross Margin · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 31 franchised ZIPS Cleaners Businesses Plant Stores open and operating during J… 7 businesses other Production Supplies · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 54 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — ZIPS Cleaners Businesses Drop Stores operated by franchisees during January 1,… $520,292 other Revenue · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 55 |
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.
Window Hero vs Zips: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Window Hero or Zips?
- Window Hero: $206,244 – $363,744 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31); Zips: $226,200 – $1,287,000 (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 Hero. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Window Hero and Zips royalties compare?
- Window Hero: 7% · percent of Gross Revenue; or applicable Minimum Monthly Royalty Fee, whichever is greater (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Zips: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Window Hero or Zips?
- Window Hero: 64 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 75); Zips: 72 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Window Hero and Zips disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Window Hero has reviewed Item 19 figures for 6 location groups; Zips has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 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.