Territory · TX

How to Own a Texas Window Tint Franchise in 2026 — Polar Tint franchise in Texas

How to Own a Texas Window Tint Franchise in 2026

Open for award 30 metros open 210 submarkets mapped

Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio territories are open for award — explore all 27 mapped Texas markets below.

SBA Franchise Directory listed
IFA member
SEMA member
25% veteran & first-responder discount

Apply for TX Run the numbers

Texas service areas

Major cities in Texas.

Explore Polar Tint franchise opportunities across Texas's major metros. We serve these markets and their surrounding submarkets.

#pt-city-grid-more button { display: none; }See every Texas market on the territory map →

City photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributors

Why buyers pick Polar Tint

Get in for less. Keep more of every job.

The big auto-styling franchises ask more going in — and most shops buy film through a distributor. Polar Tint was built by operators to fix both.

Lowest-cost way in

Total initial investment of $136,588–$259,950 (FDD Item 7) — below the larger multi-service auto-styling franchises. One owner can run six revenue lines from a compact bay.

Manufacturer-direct margin

Window film, ceramic coating, and PPF ship from affiliate Glacier Manufacturing — no distributor layer between your shop and its material cost. That margin stays in your P&L, job after job.

Built for first-timers & veterans

25% off the initial franchise fee for veterans and first responders, a listing on the SBA Franchise Directory for streamlined 7(a) financing, and hands-on training before you open.

TX territory inquiry

Get a real market analysis for your specific zip code.

→ Territory availability for your exact zip code
→ The FDD Item 7 investment breakdown
→ Financing paths — SBA 7(a), ROBS, conventional
→ The conversion path if you already run a shop

Ready now? Apply for TX →

Apply for TX Call

Quick answer

What does a Polar Tint franchise in Texas involve?

A Polar Tint franchise in Texas is a window film, ceramic coating, and paint protection (PPF) shop that can run from one bay or more, depending on your market. One owner runs six revenue lines from it. Film, coatings, and PPF ship manufacturer-direct through affiliate Glacier Manufacturing. You get a protected territory, hands-on training, and an SBA-listed path to financing.

It is one of the lowest-cost ways into the window tint business. The total initial investment is $136,588–$259,950 (FDD Item 7) — well below the larger auto-styling, multi-service, and repair franchises in the category. Manufacturer-direct supply through affiliate Glacier Manufacturing keeps the cost basis lean, and the model is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory for faster 7(a) financing.

Is it open? Yes. Texas is open for franchise development right now. Polar Tint awards territories to qualified applicants. The application takes under 60 seconds. The development team replies within one business day.

📊 Total initial investment: $136,588–$259,950 (FDD Item 7, 2026 FDD)
🪙 Initial franchise fee: disclosed in FDD Item 5 (with a reduced fee for converting an existing tint shop)
🔁 Royalty: an industry-competitive percentage of gross sales, paid weekly (FDD Item 6)
📅 Initial term: 5 years (2026 FDD)
🇺🇸 Veteran / first-responder discount: 25% off the initial franchise fee
📍 Metros open in Texas: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, McAllen / RGV, Tyler / East TX, Waco, College Station, Sherman, Coppell, McAllen, Killeen, Beaumont, Plano, Laredo, Irving, Garland, Tyler, Frisco, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Rockwall, The Colony, Huntsville

Polar Tint is a national window film, ceramic coating, and PPF franchise. See the full window tint franchise opportunity — the model, the economics, and how protected territories are awarded. Comparing brands? See how Polar Tint ranks among the best window tint franchises and the full window tint franchise cost breakdown.

State compliance

Texas — what the state requires.

File state

Business Opportunity Exemption Notice to be filed.

The network behind the award

A running system, not a concept.

Polar Tint is operator-built — built on affiliate Las Vegas tint shops that have run continuously since 2015 (as Pro Tint USA) — the same playbook, suppliers, and install standards a Texas franchisee would open with.

The brand also co-owns affiliated manufacturer Glacier Manufacturing, so film, ceramic coating, and PPF ship manufacturer-direct to every shop in the network. The current Franchise Disclosure Document — outlets, obligations, and all — is available on qualified inquiry.

Still reading? Texas territories are open for award, and the development team can tell you about yours specifically.

Request info

A franchise offer is only ever made through a Franchise Disclosure Document.

How territories work

How does a Polar Tint territory work in Texas?

How big is the territory?

Each award is a Designated Territory mapped around your shop. FDD Item 12 describes the typical size: a population cap or a radius cap, whichever is smaller. So the math fits the market:

Dense Texas metros get a more compact zone.
Suburban and rural markets get a larger one.
Boundaries are set at award and written into your franchise agreement.
Protection applies during the term while you are not in default.

Will another Polar Tint shop open next to mine?

Not inside your territory, with limits. While your franchise agreement is in effect and you are not in default, Polar Tint will not open a Polar Tint franchise inside your Designated Territory. It will not let another franchisee open one there either (FDD Item 12). The territory is not exclusive. Polar Tint can still award franchises at non-traditional sites inside it, such as airports, hotels, and college campuses. Shops can also open anywhere outside your boundary.

Can I open more Texas locations later?

Possibly, with a new agreement and Polar Tint's approval. Your franchise agreement covers one Designated Territory. It grants no option or right of first refusal on more franchises (FDD Item 12). Each added Texas shop needs its own franchise agreement, signed on its own or under a Multi-Unit Development Agreement. You also need to meet Polar Tint's then-current site, territory, and franchisee requirements.

Window tint law

What are the window tint laws in Texas?

Texas Transportation Code § 547.613 (not § 547.608, which governs safety glazing and sets no tint limits): the side windows to the driver's immediate left and right and the wing vents must transmit 25% or more of visible light and have 25% or less luminous reflectance, measured as film plus glass. Under § 547.613(d), the Department of Public Safety may treat a front side window or wing vent as compliant when its transmission or reflectance varies by no more than three percent from those standards. The statute makes that determination discretionary. Under § 547.613(b)(2-a), subsection (a) does not apply to side windows behind the driver, so § 547.613 sets no transmission or reflectance limit for them. Under (b)(3), the rear window has no limit either if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side that gives the driver a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. For a vehicle without both mirrors, DPS rule 37 TAC § 21.3(c)(4)(B) requires a 25% light transmission value in the area of the rear window used for driver visibility (DPS's standards page says 25% or more). The rule allows a shade band at the top that may transmit less than 25% and caps reflectance at 25%. The statute does not treat passenger cars, SUVs, and pickups differently. However, § 547.613(b) exempts vehicles not registered in Texas, law-enforcement vehicles, vehicles regularly used to carry passengers for a fee under a local authority's license or permit, and, under (b)(16), commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 644.001. Those commercial vehicles fall instead under federal motor carrier rule 49 CFR § 393.60(d), which DPS adopts by reference in 37 TAC § 4.11. That rule allows tint on the windshield and on the windows to the driver's immediate left and right only if at least 70% of light passes through the tinted glazing, and it does not apply that limit to other windows. Tinted (sunscreening) windshield film may not extend below the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top. Measured together with the windshield glass, that strip must transmit 25% or more of visible light, reflect 25% or less, and not be red, blue, or amber. 37 TAC § 21.3(a)(1) excludes untinted UV-protection film from the definition of a sunscreening device, and DPS's Window Tinting Standards page states that clear, untinted UV film is allowed anywhere on the windshield without a medical exemption. DPS stopped issuing Window Tint Exemption Certificates as of January 1, 2019. Under 37 TAC § 21.3(e), however, a vehicle operated by, or regularly used to transport, a person whose medical condition makes them susceptible to harm or injury from sunlight or bright artificial light may have film below 25% transmission on every window except the windshield. The driver or an occupant must have a signed statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist that identifies that person and states the film is necessary to safeguard their health. DPS states that this statement suffices as proof and must be kept in the vehicle and shown to an officer at a traffic stop. Separately, § 547.613(e) makes it a defense to prosecution that the defendant or a passenger was required for a medical reason to be shielded from direct rays of the sun. Under § 547.613(a-1), a tint business that applies film without installing a label meeting § 547.609 between the film and the glass commits a misdemeanor. 37 TAC § 21.3(f)(5) requires that label, at minimum, at the lower rear corner of the driver's side window, legible from outside the vehicle.

A plain-language summary of the statute text, checked against the source in September 2026. Tint law is amended from time to time and enforcement varies; confirm the current statute before quoting a customer. This is general information, not legal advice.

Every Polar Tint territory

Explore window tint franchise territories in every state:

See the full territory map →

Window tint franchise guides

Polar Tint Franchise in Texas — what you need to know

Quick answer: Polar Tint is awarding window film, ceramic coating, and paint protection (PPF) franchise territories in Texas. It is one of the lowest-cost ways into the window tint business: the total initial investment disclosed in FDD Item 7 sits well below the larger auto-styling and repair franchises, because one owner runs six revenue lines from a shop with one bay or more, sized 2,000–2,500 sq ft. Film, coatings, and PPF ship manufacturer-direct through affiliate Glacier Manufacturing, so the cost basis stays lean. The franchise fee and the weekly royalty are disclosed in the current FDD (Items 5 and 6), and the system is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory for faster 7(a) financing.

Does Texas require a state filing?

Business Opportunity Exemption Notice to be filed.

Which Texas metros is Polar Tint awarding in?

Texas has 13 major metros where Polar Tint is building now. Each award is a Designated Territory mapped around the shop. FDD Item 12 sets its size, using a population cap and a radius cap, whichever is smaller. The boundary is written into the franchise agreement from day one.

Houston — submarkets include Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Katy, Pearland, Spring, Cypress, Memorial, River Oaks, Bellaire, Friendswood, League City, Clear Lake, Kingwood, Atascocita, Tomball, Magnolia, Conroe, Humble, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond, Rosenberg, Fulshear, Baytown, Galveston, Webster, Pasadena.
Dallas — submarkets include Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Richardson, Highland Park, University Park, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Addison, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Rockwall, Rowlett, Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Irving, Las Colinas.
Fort Worth — submarkets include Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, Grapevine, Bedford, Euless, Hurst, North Richland Hills, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Westlake, Saginaw, Crowley, Burleson, Cleburne, Aledo, Weatherford, Granbury.
Austin — submarkets include Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Lakeway, Westlake, Bee Cave, Hutto, Leander, Liberty Hill, Manor, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, Wimberley.
San Antonio — submarkets include New Braunfels, Boerne, Schertz, Helotes, Cibolo, Stone Oak, Universal City, Converse, Live Oak, Selma, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Seguin, Canyon Lake, Fair Oaks Ranch.
El Paso — submarkets include Horizon City, Socorro, San Elizario, Anthony, Sunland Park, Las Cruces, Canutillo.
Lubbock — submarkets include Wolfforth, Shallowater, Idalou, New Deal.
Amarillo — submarkets include Canyon, Bushland, Borger, Pampa.
Corpus Christi — submarkets include Portland, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Kingsville, Robstown.
McAllen / RGV — submarkets include Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco, San Benito.
Tyler / East TX — submarkets include Longview, Marshall, Kilgore, Lindale, Whitehouse.
Waco — submarkets include Hewitt, Woodway, Bellmead, McGregor.
College Station — submarkets include Bryan, Navasota.

How much of Texas does a shop cover?

Across Texas, Polar Tint can route mobile auto-tint service to roughly 217 named cities and towns. Each shop covers a 25–40 mile radius from its hub. Apply with your zip code and the development team confirms fit within one business day.

Why do operators choose Polar Tint in Texas?

Wholesale supplier pricing. Franchisees buy film, ceramic coatings, and PPF manufacturer-direct through affiliate Glacier Manufacturing. That is wholesale, not retail. Independent Texas shops rarely match this cost basis.
Six revenue lines from one bay or more. One shop runs window tint, PPF, ceramic, commercial film, residential film, and wraps. A customer who comes in for tint can leave with ceramic or PPF on the same ticket.
SBA-listed financing. Polar Tint LLC is on the SBA Franchise Directory. SBA 7(a) lenders skip a full franchise review, so loans can close faster.
Operator-built, not consultant-built. The system grew out of Las Vegas tint shops operating since 2015. Every standard, training module, and KPI was tested in a real shop first.
A protected, renewable territory. Your Designated Territory is yours for the initial term, with renewal options.

How do I apply for Texas territory?

Polar Tint awards territories to qualified applicants. The application takes under 60 seconds. The development team replies within one business day.

Apply for Texas territory Run the ROI numbers

FAQ

Polar Tint Franchise in Texas — common questions

Is Polar Tint awarding franchises in Texas?

Yes. Texas is currently open for Polar Tint franchise development. Apply at polartintfranchise.com/apply with your specific zip code, and the development team confirms territory availability within one business day. Qualified applicants get a discovery call inside 48 hours.

Does Polar Tint need a state filing to sell franchises in Texas?

Business Opportunity Exemption Notice to be filed. Polar Tint is actively awarding territories in Texas.

How many states is Polar Tint currently open in?

Polar Tint is currently awarding franchises in 31 US states. Texas is one of those open states. The complete map is at polartintfranchise.com/territory.

How much does a Polar Tint franchise cost in Texas?

The estimated initial investment in Texas is disclosed in FDD Item 7. That covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory, training, and three months of working capital. Item 7 gives one estimate for every state, based on an affiliate-owned tint business in Nevada. Your actual costs in Texas may differ from that estimate because of local rent, labor, construction, and licensing costs, state building codes, the approved location you select, and the other factors listed in FDD Item 7, Notes 5 and 12.

What is the franchise fee for a Texas Polar Tint shop?

The initial franchise fee for a new Texas shop is disclosed in FDD Item 5, with a reduced conversion fee if you are converting an existing tint, ceramic, or PPF shop. Veterans and first responders get an additional 25% reduction.

Is the SBA-loan path available for Texas franchisees?

Yes. Polar Tint LLC is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, so qualified Texas buyers can pursue SBA 7(a) financing. Borrower eligibility, approval, terms, and timing are determined by the SBA and your lender, not by Polar Tint. Polar Tint does not offer or guarantee financing (FDD Item 10).

What's the royalty and ongoing fees for a Texas Polar Tint shop?

The royalty is charged weekly on gross sales via ACH. A national brand-marketing fund contribution and a flat monthly technology fee (POS, scheduling, CRM, reporting) also apply, along with a local-marketing minimum set in FDD Item 6. All recurring fees apply uniformly across states, including Texas. Exact figures are disclosed in FDD Items 5 and 6.

How long is the franchise term in Texas?

The initial term is renewable (2026 FDD) for every Polar Tint franchise, including Texas. Renewal terms are set out in FDD Item 17.

Which Texas metros is Polar Tint focused on?

Polar Tint is currently awarding territories in 30 Texas metros: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, McAllen / RGV, Tyler / East TX, Waco, College Station, Sherman, Coppell, McAllen, Killeen, Beaumont, Plano, Laredo, Irving, Garland, Tyler, Frisco, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Rockwall, The Colony, Huntsville. Each award is a Designated Territory mapped around the shop per FDD Item 12.

What if my preferred Texas city is already taken?

Larger Texas metros can hold more than one Designated Territory, because a typical Designated Territory is the lesser of a population count and a radius (FDD Item 12). If a specific area is already awarded, the development team can walk you through other open areas in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin. Polar Tint approves each site and territory against its then-current criteria.

How is a Texas Polar Tint territory defined?

Each Texas award is a Designated Territory mapped around the shop, typically sized by the population-and-radius cap in FDD Item 12 — the lesser of the two — so denser metros yield more compact zones while suburban and rural markets yield larger ones. Polar Tint sets the boundaries after your site is approved, which can be after you sign, and records them in Schedule 1 of your franchise agreement. The territory is not exclusive; while you are not in default, Polar Tint will not open or franchise another Polar Tint location inside it, subject to the rights it reserves in FDD Item 12.

Can I operate multiple Polar Tint locations in Texas?

Yes, with Polar Tint's approval. Each added shop needs its own franchise agreement, signed on its own or under a Multi-Unit Development Agreement, which sets a development schedule for a defined Development Area and a development fee for each additional unit (FDD Items 5 and 12). A single-unit agreement grants no right of first refusal on additional franchises (FDD Item 12).

Why is there demand for window film and ceramic coating in Texas?

Texas is a sun-belt market with long, hot summers and dense vehicle ownership. Window film demand runs through most of the year, and sun exposure gives owners a reason to consider PPF and ceramic coating to protect their vehicles.

What's the typical first-year revenue for a Texas Polar Tint shop?

Polar Tint does not state a typical first-year revenue for any market. Its financial performance representations are disclosed in Item 19 of the current FDD and cover the two affiliate-owned Las Vegas shops; your results will vary. The actual figures are delivered with the standard FDD package after the prequalification call.

How long does it take to open a Polar Tint shop in Texas?

Opening timelines vary by build-out scope and local permitting. Operator training (65 hours — 40 classroom plus 25 on-the-job, per FDD Item 11) runs alongside build-out. Your development contact can walk through a market-specific estimate.

What's the supplier relationship for Texas franchisees?

Every Texas Polar Tint franchisee sources film, ceramic, and PPF inventory directly through Glacier Manufacturing, our affiliate manufacturer. Operators pay just over manufacturing cost through Glacier Manufacturing — independent tint shops sourcing through standard distributor channels pay materially more. This wholesale cost basis is the structural advantage of the franchise.

Where does training happen for Texas Polar Tint operators?

Per FDD Item 11, training is delivered at our Henderson, NV HQ, virtually, or another location we designate. The initial program is 65 hours total — 40 classroom hours plus 25 on-the-job hours — over an approximate one-week period. Travel and lodging during any in-person portion are budgeted into FDD Item 7.

What ongoing support does Polar Tint provide Texas franchisees?

Quarterly field-support visits in year 1, semi-annual after that. An annual operator conference. Ongoing technical-team access for install questions. Marketing creative + campaign templates from Frostbite Marketing. Access to the manufacturer-direct wholesale catalog. Texas operators get a dedicated development contact during onboarding and a franchise business consultant for the first 12 months.

Is there a veteran or first-responder discount for Texas applicants?

Yes. Polar Tint offers a 25% reduction on the initial franchise fee disclosed in FDD Item 5 for honorably discharged US military veterans, active-duty service members, and active-duty first responders (police, fire, EMS, paramedic, 911 dispatch). This applies in every state, including Texas. Eligible veteran-owned businesses may separately qualify for the SBA's Veterans Advantage guarantee-fee benefits, determined by the SBA and the lender, not by Polar Tint.

How does Polar Tint compare to other window-tint franchises in Texas?

Polar Tint has three structural advantages over competitors in Texas. First, wholesale film, ceramic, and PPF pricing through affiliate Glacier Manufacturing, at just over cost. Second, six revenue lines from one bay or more (tint, PPF, ceramic, commercial film, residential film, and wraps), where many rivals offer one. Third, a listing on the SBA Franchise Directory, so qualified buyers can pursue SBA 7(a) financing.

Should I just open an independent tint shop in Texas instead of franchising?

It depends on your time horizon and capital position. Independents skip the franchise fee up front but source film without Polar Tint's manufacturer-direct wholesale pricing through Glacier Manufacturing. Financial performance is disclosed in FDD Item 19.

Can I sell my Texas Polar Tint franchise later?

Yes, subject to Polar Tint LLC approval of the buyer per FDD Item 17 (background check, financial qualification, training completion). A transfer fee applies. Polar Tint maintains a right of first refusal on transfers to outside buyers. Resale value depends on the individual shop's own operating history and the buyer pool at the time of sale.

How do I apply for a Texas Polar Tint franchise?

Submit the 60-second application at polartintfranchise.com/apply with your zip code, capital position, and prior business experience. Polar Tint responds within one business day for qualified Texas applicants. From there: 20-minute discovery call, FDD delivery (federal 14-day review), validation calls, and signing.