What Ziebart International does

Ziebart International Corporation is a private, employee-owned (ESOP since 1994) automotive aftermarket services franchisor headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Founded in 1959 by Kurt Ziebart, the company has built a global franchise network of approximately 400 licensed locations operating 1,200+ service centers in 37 countries, specializing in vehicle appearance and structural protection services including rustproofing, paint protection film, ceramic coatings, window tinting, auto detailing, and spray-on bed liners under proprietary brand names such as Z-Shield® PPF, Z-Gloss®, Diamond Gloss®, Inner-Guard®, Germ Defender®, Z-Liner®, and Protect-a-Shine®.

The company's technology stack centers on proprietary automotive protection formulations and precision-application systems, anchored by patented rust-protection application tools, the proprietary Z-Cutting System for paint protection film precision cutting, a 6-mil self-healing polymer PPF (Z-Shield), and the Germ Defender antimicrobial system powered by Bioshield 75. Long-term exclusive supplier relationships — notably with Rhino Linings for spray-on bed liners — anchor the product offering.

Ziebart operates a franchise-licensing model as its primary revenue engine, generating income from initial franchise fees ($150,000–$500,000+ investment range), ongoing royalties (5%+ typical of category), and proprietary product sales to franchisees. End customers include individual vehicle owners (consumer-facing retail), car dealerships (B2B add-on services at point of sale), corporate and government fleets (military, schools, municipalities, banks), and specialty vehicle owners (motorcycles, yachts, corporate jets). Distribution is exclusively franchised — the company does not own retail outlets. Marketing is multi-channel, anchored by national branding campaigns, TV partnerships (ABC's Shifting Gears), event sponsorship (Woodward Dream Cruise), and digital content infrastructure provided to franchisees.

Name

Ziebart International

Legal name

Ziebart International Corporation

Website

https://ziebartworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ziebart International is a private, employee-owned franchisor of automotive appearance and structural protection services, operating roughly 400 franchise locations across 37 countries and serving individual vehicle owners, dealerships, and corporate fleets with proprietary rust protection, paint protection film, ceramic coatings, and detailing products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Protection Services

NAICS

Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (441330), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (4413)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessories & appearance products distribution (interior/exterior accessories, detailing, car care) (CRAOANAI)

Keywords

• Automotive protection services
• Vehicle rust protection
• Paint protection film
• Auto detailing services
• Car care franchising

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Revenue generated from franchise fees, ongoing royalties, and franchise development agreements. The company operates approximately 400 franchise locations worldwide generating recurring franchise income.
2. Product Sales to Franchisees: Sale of proprietary products and coatings to franchise locations including rust protection, paint sealants, window tint, protection films, and detailing products
3. Retail Services: Direct consumer revenue from vehicle detailing, protection services, rustproofing, and cosmetic services performed at franchise locations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ziebart International sells and franchises automotive aftermarket appearance and protection services, including rust protection, paint protection film, ceramic coatings, window tinting, interior protection, truck bed liners, and interior/exterior detailing. The company licenses its brand, proprietary products, and application methods to approximately 400 franchise locations across 37 countries, which in turn sell these services directly to vehicle owners, dealerships, and corporate fleets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Z-Shield® PPF: Proprietary paint protection film (PPF) designed to protect vehicle paint from stone chips, scratches, and road debris. Features self-healing polymer technology and is the thickest film in the industry at 6 mils.
• Diamond Gloss®
• Ceramic Z-Gloss®
• Inner-Guard®
• Germ Defender®
• Protect-a-Shine®
• Z-Liner®
• Spray-on Liner®

Products and services

• Ceramic Z-Gloss Nano-ceramic 3-layer protective coating with enhanced gloss characteristics, applied to vehicle exterior paint to lock in shine for up to 4 years with Ziebart warranty.
• Diamond Gloss Hard resin-based paint protection coating that bonds to vehicle paint to create a protective barrier lasting up to one year.
• Protect-a-Shine Seasonal polish protection service lasting up to 12 months, combined with hand wash and paint protection coating.
• Inner-Guard Complete interior protection package combining Ziebart Ultra Fabric Protection and Ziebart Leather Conditioner with an annually renewable service agreement.
• Exterior Detailing Professional exterior vehicle detailing service performed at Ziebart franchise locations.
• Interior Detailing Professional interior vehicle detailing and conditioning service performed at Ziebart franchise locations.
• Germ Defender Anti-bacterial protection service for vehicle interiors, powered by Bioshield 75, EPA-approved to last a minimum of 90 days.
• Window Tint Nano ceramic performance window tint film with up to 60% solar energy rejection and no interference with GPS or mobile signals, applied to vehicle windows at Ziebart franchise locations.
• Z-Shield PPF Industry-leading paint protection film 6 mils thick with self-healing polymer technology, providing nearly invisible protection against stone chips, scratches, and road debris.
• Aesthetic Wraps Custom vehicle wraps and graphics for branding, fleets, and individual vehicle owners, designed and applied at Ziebart franchise locations.
• Color Change Wraps Complete vehicle color change wraps including carbon fiber accents, matte finishes, racing stripes, and custom designs applied at Ziebart franchise locations.
• Rust Protection Patented rust protection application using specially designed tools to treat hidden areas of vehicles, backed by a national limited full repair warranty.
• Spray-on Liner Permanent, watertight truck bed liner applied at Ziebart franchise locations using Rhino Linings polyurethane coating under exclusive partnership.
• Z-Liner Durable, non-skid truck bed liner coating that bonds directly to the truck bed forming a permanent protective layer.
• Sound Barrier Sound deadening treatment applied to vehicles to reduce cabin noise and provide a quieter ride.
• Advanced Wax Undercoating Formula Updated wax undercoating formulation introduced at Ziebart of Buffalo and Rochester in June 2025 to enhance vehicle rust protection performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% year-over-year growth in franchise development and retail leads in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Mattiacio GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025Largest franchise operating group for Ziebart with 26 stores across New York, Florida, Indiana, and Ohio. Acquired The Harris Group's 17 stores in July 2025. Led honorees at 2026 franchise conference with nine awards including Dealer of the Year Award.
• The Harris GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025Franchise group of 17 stores acquired by The Mattiacio Group in July 2025. Previously operated independently as a Ziebart franchise group.
• ABC's Shifting GearscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 January 2025Customer promotion deal with ABC's Shifting Gears television show starring Tim Allen, providing cross-promotional marketing and brand exposure.
• Mission 22minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 2024Charitable partner for Ziebart's Month of Giving initiative, benefiting veteran suicide prevention programs.
• Journey4ACureminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Ziebart's first U.S. National Charity partner, a non-profit pediatric cancer research organization.
• Woodward Dream CruisecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Woodward Dream Cruise, a major automotive event providing brand visibility and marketing exposure.
• International Franchise Association (IFA)minorOthersIndustry association membership providing franchise industry resources and advocacy.
• VetFranminorOthersVeteran franchise organization membership supporting veteran entrepreneurship in franchising.
• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)minorOthersIndustry association membership for automotive dealers.
• Rhino LiningscoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive partnership for spray-on bed liner products. Rhino Linings is the number one selling urethane spray-on bed liner in North America. Applied at Ziebart franchise locations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maaco: Maaco is the largest franchised auto paint, refinishing, and collision repair network in North America. It is directly comparable to Ziebart as a multi-unit automotive aftermarket services franchise with similar unit economics, franchise investment levels, and target customer base of vehicle owners seeking appearance and protection services.
• DetailXPerts: DetailXPerts is a mobile auto detailing franchise system offering interior and exterior detailing, paint correction, and ceramic coating services. It directly competes with Ziebart's detailing and Z-Gloss ceramic services through a similar franchise model, targeting overlapping SMB and consumer customers.
• Novus Glass: Novus Glass is a franchised auto glass repair and replacement network with operations across North America and internationally. It directly overlaps with Ziebart's window tint and windshield-adjacent services as a comparable automotive aftermarket services franchise with similar investment profile.
• Dent Wizard: Dent Wizard is the largest franchised provider of paintless dent repair (PDR) services in North America. It directly overlaps with Ziebart's paint protection services as a comparable automotive aftermarket franchise serving dealerships, fleets, and consumers.
• Color Glo International: Color Glo International is a franchise system specializing in on-site repair and restoration of leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric in vehicles. It is comparable to Ziebart as an automotive aftermarket restoration and appearance services franchise targeting similar end customers.
• Take 5 Car Wash: Take 5 Car Wash is an express car wash franchise with hundreds of locations across the US. It is comparable to Ziebart as a high-volume automotive appearance services franchise with overlapping consumer base and complementary exterior care offerings.
• Rhino Linings: Rhino Linings is a global franchise system and manufacturer of spray-on protective coatings, bed liners, and industrial coatings. It is directly comparable to Ziebart's Z-Liner/Spray-on Liner offerings as a franchised aftermarket coating brand and is already a partner supplier to Ziebart locations.

Broad incumbents

• Driven Brands: Driven Brands is the parent company of a portfolio of automotive aftermarket franchise brands including Maaco, Take 5 Car Wash, ICWG, and Meineke. It is broadly comparable to Ziebart as a multi-brand automotive aftermarket services platform, though it operates at a far larger scale with public-company resources.
• XPEL: XPEL is a publicly traded manufacturer of paint protection films, window tint, and ceramic coatings serving dealers and installers globally. It is comparable to Ziebart as a direct product competitor in PPF and tint, with overlapping dealership channel relationships, though it sells through dealers rather than owned/ franchised service centers.

Emerging players

• Ceramic Pro: Ceramic Pro operates a global network of certified installers offering nano-ceramic coatings and paint protection services. It directly competes with Ziebart's Z-Gloss ceramic coating and Z-Shield PPF products, with a younger but rapidly scaling franchise-style installer network.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ziebartusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/ziebart-international-185216571959
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ziebart-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ziebart International