Bedliner franchise vs. independent dealer: what each one costs

The short answer

A LINE-X franchise costs far more up front than an independent dealer package, and it takes a share of your sales after you open. LINE-X's franchise site lists a $50,000 franchise fee and a total initial investment of $401,815 to $1,002,652 as of October 2026. Rhino Linings and ArmorThane both sell equipment packages with no franchise fee and no royalty, starting at $12,000 and $25,000.

Those numbers are not apples to apples. LINE-X's range estimates the cost of opening a whole franchised store. The dealer prices are where equipment packages start, and they leave out the building, the air compressor and your working capital.

What a franchise is, and what a dealer is

A franchise is a legal category, not a marketing word. Under the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule, an arrangement is generally a franchise when it has three parts:

• You run a business under the franchisor's trademark.
• The franchisor has significant control over how you operate, or gives you significant help.
• You pay the franchisor or its affiliate a required fee to get started.

When all three are present, the franchisor must give you a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) at least 14 days before you sign or pay anything, according to the FTC. The FDD has 23 required items, covering fees, startup costs, lawsuits and a list of current and former owners.

A dealer or applicator relationship is simpler. You buy equipment and material from a manufacturer, get trained, and run the business under your own name, often advertising the product you spray. Rhino Linings and ArmorThane both say on their own sites that they are not franchises.

The label matters less than the paperwork. A dealer agreement can still carry purchase minimums or exit terms, so read it closely.

What a LINE-X franchise costs

LINE-X's own franchise site gives the clearest numbers. Its What It Takes page, last updated in May 2026 and checked in October 2026, lists these requirements:

• Franchise fee: $50,000, with a 25% discount for U.S. veterans (which works out to $37,500)
• Total initial investment: $401,815 to $1,002,652
• Liquid capital: $100,000
• Net worth: $350,000

That page does not list royalties or ad fund fees. Sites that summarize the FDD do, but they disagree with each other and with LINE-X's own page.

Some of the gaps may come from different FDD years. Don't guess. Ask LINE-X for its current FDD and read Items 5 through 7, which the FTC says cover the initial fee, ongoing fees and the full startup estimate.

Rhino Linings and ArmorThane: the dealer model

Rhino Linings

Rhino Linings states on its dealer FAQ that it is not a franchise and that owners never pay franchise fees or marketing royalties. Packages start at $12,000. The final price depends on how many beds you expect to spray each week.

• Training: 3 days on-site at your shop, plus ongoing help
• Financing: none in-house; Rhino works with third-party lenders
• Space: a recommended minimum of 1,000 sq ft, with a separate equipment room suggested
• Pricing: owners set their own prices

The FAQ does not say what the $12,000 package includes, and it does not mention territory. Ask a Rhino sales rep for both in writing.

ArmorThane

ArmorThane, this site's sponsor, says it charges no franchise fees, dealer fees or royalties. Its applicator systems start at $25,000 (2026). That price covers the proportioner, heated hose, gun, a first set of chemical, training and certification, prep and safety gear, consumables and lifetime tech support.

• Not included: air compressor and dryer, sander, lighting, and a vehicle to haul drums. A mobile setup also needs a generator and an enclosed trailer.
• Larger systems: ArmorThane's equipment guide (September 2026) puts low-pressure at about $25,000 and high-pressure closer to $50,000, plus $3,000-$8,000 to fit out a bare building.
• Training: on-site within 30 days of purchase, or a self-paced e-training course
• Territory: protected at no extra cost for fixed-location dealers, sized by the population you can serve
• Financing: third-party equipment lenders only, with no published rates

Side-by-side comparison

Here are each company's published terms in one place. Where a company publishes nothing, the table says so.

What a 6% royalty costs you each year

Royalties come off gross revenue, not profit. You pay them in slow months too. The Franzy listing of LINE-X's 2026 FDD shows a 6% royalty plus a 1.5% brand fund, which adds up to 7.5% of sales.

Neither listing shows LINE-X average sales, so the sales levels below are round examples, not LINE-X results. The $600 bed price sits inside published retail ranges: ArmorThane's cost guide puts most beds at $525-$700, and one truck accessory shop lists standard liners at $549-$599.

Over ten years at $500,000 a year, that example adds up to $375,000, before any other fee in the FDD.

Run your own numbers in the calculator

What a franchise gives you, and what you give up

A franchise sells you a known name and a system. That can help with retail customers who already recognize the sign, and with owners who want a playbook instead of writing one.

The FTC warns that many franchise contracts can keep you from running a competing business for years after you leave. It also notes that an exclusive territory may not protect you from all competition.

Going independent has its own costs. You build your name from scratch and pay for your own marketing. Supplier support varies, so ask exactly what is covered after training.

Who each path suits

A franchise may fit if

• You clear the capital bar (LINE-X's site lists $100,000 liquid and $350,000 net worth)
• You want a full retail store with a recognized brand out front
• You would rather follow an existing system than design your own
• You are comfortable paying a share of sales for the life of the contract

An independent dealer package may fit if

• You have tens of thousands to invest, not hundreds of thousands
• You already run a body shop, truck accessory store or detail shop and want to add liners
• You want to set your own prices and pick the jobs you take
• You want to work from a mobile trailer rig

If you are still sizing up the whole business, start with the guide to starting a bedliner business.

Questions to ask any supplier before you sign

Ask every company the same questions, in writing, and compare the answers line by line.

• What is my total cost to open, including what the package leaves out?
• What exactly is included: proportioner, hoses, gun, first chemical, safety gear, training?
• What fees do I pay up front, monthly or yearly, including royalties, ad funds, software and renewal fees?
• Do I get a territory? How is it drawn, and does it cover mobile work?
• What is the current price per gallon of material, and must I buy only from you?
• How long is training, where is it held, and how soon after purchase?
• What support do I get after training, and does any of it cost extra?
• How long is the contract, how does renewal work, and what happens if I leave?
• Is there a non-compete, and what would it stop me from doing?
• Can I call three current owners and two who left?

For a franchise, the FTC says the FDD must reach you at least 14 days before you sign or pay. It suggests calling current and former owners listed in Item 20, and having an accountant and a lawyer review the deal. Do the same with a dealer agreement, even though no FDD is required.

Once you have quotes, run each one through the bedliner business calculator to see how many beds it takes to pay it back.