How much does it cost to start a window tint business?

About $18,000-$35,000 for a lean one-bay operation with a used plotter, $55,000-$95,000 for a two-bay shop with modern equipment and a marketing launch, and $150,000 or more for a multi-bay retail build, per 2026 figures from Los Angeles-area shop owners. Core equipment: a plotter ($2,400-$7,800 new, $1,800-$4,500 used), a pre-cut pattern subscription ($129-$349/month), a two-tech tool kit ($1,800-$3,500), and $2,400-$5,500 of starting film. Payback on a standard build commonly takes 14-22 months.