Window Covering Business Consulting
Build a Real
Business.
Skip the
Franchise.
You don't need a franchise to build a thriving window covering company. You need proven systems, the right vendor relationships, and a partner who stays with you until you've truly got it figured out.
Master the shade business.
Build it right.
Scale it your way.
Shade & Scale exists to help motivated individuals master the window covering business, build the right foundation from the start, and scale to whatever level they desire.
We work with every stage of the window covering business.
Whether you're starting from zero, launching a new product line, or trying to break through a growth ceiling. Shade & Scale has a path for you.
Starting From Scratch
You want to build a window covering business the right way, with real systems, real vendor relationships, and real support, without paying franchise fees forever. We guide you from day one through your first sale and far beyond.
New Business LaunchStuck in a Rut
You've been in the industry a while but growth has stalled. Revenue is flat, margins are thin, and you're not sure what to fix first. We diagnose the real problem and help you pull the right levers.
Business DevelopmentLaunching a New Product Line
Ready to add exterior shades, retractable awnings, drapery, or shutters but have never done it before? Detailed product training, project planning, and professional installation guidance, in person if needed.
Product ExpansionBuilding to Scale
Past the startup phase but still doing everything yourself? You need the structure, systems, and team to take your business from a job to a company that grows without you in every seat.
Scaling & Systems
Window covering franchises charge $75k–$150k upfront, then take 7–10% of every sale you make, forever. There is a better path.
The real cost of a window
covering franchise is staggering.
Most people considering a window covering franchise don't see the full picture until it's too late. Here's what they're actually signing up for, and why Shade & Scale is a fundamentally better path.
How it works
Simple. Straightforward. No surprises.
Discovery Call
A free, no-obligation conversation about where you are, where you want to go, and whether Shade & Scale is the right fit.
Custom Roadmap
We build a plan specific to your market, your goals, and your timeline. No two clients get the same plan.
Hands-On Support
Vendor introductions, product training, sales coaching, marketing, hiring, whatever your business needs most.
You Own It All
Every system, every relationship, every piece of knowledge. Yours. Shade & Scale holds no ownership in your business. Ever.
Built right
from day one.
Most window covering businesses don't fail because the owner wasn't talented. They fail because they didn't have the right foundation. The mistakes are predictable, and with the right guidance, completely avoidable.
Let's Talk →Let's have a conversation.
A free discovery call is just that, a real conversation. We'll learn about your situation and tell you honestly whether Shade & Scale is the right fit. No hard sell. No commitment required.
Email to Book a Discovery Call →Or reach us directly at info@shadescale.com
City Lifestyle Kansas City
Design KC Magazine
Meet Tim Sanders
I'm Tim Sanders, founder, president, and the person you'll be working with directly at Shade & Scale. My career in the window covering industry began in 2004 when I founded Sanders Install, a contract installation company based in Central Illinois. At its peak, Sanders Install was installing window covering products for over 65 companies across Central Illinois, and handling large-scale commercial projects in hotels, nursing homes, and hospitals. We operated Sanders Install from 2004 to 2016, and that experience is where my deepest product knowledge, problem-solving ability, and high-level installation processes were built and refined.
In 2006, while still running Sanders Install, I co-founded Solar Shield Blinds Shades Solutions with my wife Denise, a full-service window treatment company out of Peoria, Illinois. In 2016 we made a full pivot to the Solar Shield retail model, and in 2018 we expanded to Kansas City. Since then we've built a team of over 20 professionals spanning three states, earned thousands of 5-star Google reviews, and in 2025 were honored to be named Kansas City's Favorite Window Treatment Company.
Along the way I've provided advisory services to major window covering manufacturers, built and led commercial projects, launched every product line from shutters to exterior shades, and built every part of a real, scalable business from the ground up, covering the sales systems, the hiring processes, the vendor relationships, the marketing, and the operations. I've made the expensive mistakes so you don't have to.
Shade & Scale exists because I kept getting asked the same question: "How did you build this?" This is my answer, a structured, proven, hands-on consulting program that gives you the exact foundation I wish I'd had when I started. Without the franchise fees. Without the restrictions. Without anyone else's name on your door.
What I Bring to Every Client
20+ years of real-world experience, starting with contract installation in 2004, growing through retail, and building a multi-location company. Every recommendation comes from something I've actually lived.
Deep vendor relationships, including territory-protected lines I can personally introduce you to. The right intro at the right time saves you thousands.
Unmatched installation expertise: from 2004 to 2016, Sanders Install contracted for 65+ companies and handled large commercial projects in hotels, nursing homes, and hospitals. I've installed, trained individual installers, and built installation teams from the ground up.
A proven sales system, the same process our team uses to generate hundreds of 5-star reviews and close consistently. I'll teach you everything.
Genuine investment in your success. Shade & Scale earns more only when you earn more. I want to build something you're proud of.
Wherever you need help,
we've been there.
Shade & Scale consulting covers every major dimension of running a window covering business, from day one through year five and beyond.
Business Launch
Legal structure, banking, insurance, vendor accounts, software, brand, and online presence, mapped from the beginning so you're never guessing.
New BusinessesSales System
A proven, repeatable in-home sales process from first contact to signed contract. Close rate training, follow-up systems, and customer experience standards.
All ClientsMarketing & Lead Gen
Google Ads, referral programs, designer partnerships, realtor networks, social media, a diversified strategy that doesn't depend on any single source.
Growth StageExterior Shades & Awnings
Product training, project planning, and professional installation guidance for companies launching an exterior shade or retractable awning program. In-person training available.
Product ExpansionDrapery Programs
Fabric selection, hardware, measuring, ordering, and installation, complete guidance for window covering companies adding drapery for the first time.
Product ExpansionShutter Programs
Plantation shutter product knowledge, measurement nuances, ordering, and installation, everything you need to confidently add shutters to your offering.
Product ExpansionHR & Team Building
Hiring, onboarding, handbooks, FLSA compliance, payroll setup, and the culture that lets your team operate without you in every seat.
Scaling StageFinancial Health
Pricing strategy, margin tracking, monthly health metrics, tax guidance, and the financial clarity that lets you make confident decisions every month.
All StagesSystems & Scalability
Process documentation, software optimization, quality control, providing the operational structure that transforms a busy owner-operated shop into a business that can grow without you.
Growth & ScaleYour competition isn't waiting.
Neither should you.
The best time to build the right foundation was before you started. The second best time is right now.
Email to Book a Discovery Call →Free. No obligation. No hard sell. Just a real conversation.
