In This Article
"I'm going to quit my job to tint car windows." Say that to your family and watch their faces. Most people think you've lost it. How could wrapping film around car glass possibly replace a stable salary with benefits?
But that's exactly what thousands of people have done — and for most of them, it's the best decision they ever made. Here are real stories from TSO students who made the jump.
Josh: From Factory Worker to $23K/Month
Josh was working in a manufacturing plant, earning around $38,000 a year. He was tired, bored, and knew there had to be something better. He found Tint School Online, enrolled, and started practicing in his garage after shifts.
Within 6 weeks, he had his first paying customer. Within 3 months, he was making $3,000/month on the side. When his tinting income matched his factory paycheck, he put in his two weeks. Today, Josh's business — Top Notch Tint in Yulee, Florida — brings in over $23,000 per month.
Josh's income increase: from $38K/year at the factory to over $275K/year tinting windows. That's a 7x increase — and he sets his own schedule.
Kenny: Trading His 9-5 for $20K Months
Kenny was working a regular office job in Boardman, Ohio. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing exciting either. He'd always been into cars and wanted to do something with his hands. Window tinting caught his attention because the startup costs were low and the margins were high.
He started mobile tinting on weekends, building a client base through word of mouth and Instagram. His side income grew from $1,000 to $3,000 to $8,000 per month over the course of about 6 months. He quit his job and never looked back. His business, Automotive Restyle, now generates nearly $20,000 per month.
What Surprised Them Most
We asked dozens of students who made the 9-5 to tinting transition what surprised them most. The answers were remarkably consistent:
- The demand is real. Most students were surprised by how much demand there is for window tinting. "I thought I'd have to beg for customers. Instead, I'm turning people away."
- The money comes fast. Unlike most businesses that take years to become profitable, tinting businesses can generate real income within weeks.
- Freedom is priceless. The ability to set your own hours, take a day off when you want, and answer to nobody — most said this matters even more than the money.
- It's not as hard as they expected. The actual skill of tinting, while it takes practice, is learnable by anyone with basic hand-eye coordination.
- Customers respect you. People are genuinely grateful for a good tint job. You're improving their car and their daily driving experience.
Addressing the Fear
Let's be real — quitting a stable job is scary. You're giving up a guaranteed paycheck for the unknown. Here's what we tell every student who's on the fence:
You don't have to quit tomorrow. Build the business on the side first. When your tinting income consistently matches or exceeds your salary for 2-3 months, that's your signal. At that point, you're not jumping into the unknown — you're jumping into something that's already working.
The safest path: keep your job, tint on evenings and weekends, save 3 months of expenses, and only quit when your tinting revenue is stable. Most of our successful students followed exactly this approach.
Would They Do It Again?
Every single student we've asked this question has said yes. Not a single one has gone back to their old job. That tells you everything you need to know.
The regret isn't quitting — it's not quitting sooner. If you're reading this while sitting at a desk job you don't love, that feeling in your gut isn't fear. It's your potential trying to get your attention.
Ready to Start Your Tinting Career?
Join 3,000+ graduates who turned window tinting into a full-time income.
