Franchise Deep Dive: Blingle! Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

This outdoor lighting franchise, owned by Horsepower Brands, claims to be much more than just Christmas lights. But some franchisees are less than satisfied.

By Luca Piacentini1851 Franchise Managing Editor

8:08AM • 06/02/24

LAST UPDATED: March 2024
FRANCHISE WEBSITE: https://www.blingle.com/franchising/
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 48
REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $281,000 to $419,000
REPORTED ROI (Item 19): N/A

Blingle! is a premier outdoor lighting franchise, offering dazzling holiday, event, landscape and commercial lighting solutions. Backed by the support and experience of HorsePower Brands, a portfolio company of franchise brands (iFoam and Mighty Dog Roofing) in the service industry, Blingle! stands out for its commitment to providing memorable illuminations using state-of-the-art designs and products??.

How Many Blingle! Locations Are There?

In 2021, business partners Zach Beutler and Josh Skolnick acquired a holiday lighting business and rebranded it to Blingle! —"bling" and "jingle" combined — and began franchising it. Beutler founded Horsepower in 2020 with the goal of acquiring 25 home service brands by 2025. Skolnick is also the founder of Monster Tree Service, which he sold to Authority Brands in 2020.

The Blingle! business model now includes additional services, such as landscape lighting and event lighting. Bingle! has already claimed a spot on Entrepreneur's Fastest-Growing Franchises list, landing at No. 144 in 2023. Today, the brand has 48 locations open and hundreds of territories awarded across the country.

But the brand’s history hasn’t been all sunshine. A group of eight Horsepower Brands franchisees recently filed a lawsuit against Blingle!, calling the franchise a scheme to “get rich quick by preying on unsuspecting consumers.” The franchisees claim the franchisor charged owners exorbitant and unnecessary fees, set unrealistic expectations and did not provide adequate training.

What Is Blingle!’s Business Model?

Blingle! specializes in a wide range of outdoor lighting services, including holiday, event, landscape, patio and commercial lighting??. After the holiday season, franchisees can leverage landscape lighting and event lighting to diversify and enjoy a year-round business.

Support includes direct access to sister company Lights for Christmas and its 50,000-square-foot warehouse of Christmas lights in order to lower supply chain costs.

How Much Can Blingle! Franchise Owners Make?

Blingle! does not make any representations about a franchisee’s future financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets.

Two-unit franchisee Alex Quataert, a member of Blingle’s franchise advisory council, told Franchise Times that his revenue in the first year was about $500,000.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Blingle! Franchise?

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Blingle! business ranges from $280,966 to $419,001, which includes $202,594 to $212,594 in fees that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates prior to opening. The franchisor also offers qualified parties the right to enter into multiple franchise agreements at once and subsequently operate multiple Blingle! businesses.

The total initial investment to operate two to three Blingle! businesses is $340,966 to $534,001, which includes fees of $242,594 to $287,594 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates prior to opening.

The total initial investment to operate four to five Blingle! businesses is $445,966 to $634,001, which includes $307,594 to $347,594 in fees that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates prior to opening.

What Is the Franchise Fee for Blingle!?

The franchise fee required to open a Blingle! franchise is $59,500.

Who’s On Blingle!’s Leadership Team?

What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More About Blingle!?

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