Supplier classes vs independent schools
Every hands-on class we list, with the price per day on the slab and the trade-offs of each model.
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Compare your epoxy training options
Free videos, supplier classes, independent schools, online courses, dealer programs and franchises all promise to get you started. Here is what each one costs, what you get and what comes attached.
Six routes in
What each route costs, and what comes attached
What each route typically costs and what comes with it. Follow the links for the detail.
| Route | Published cost | What you get | What comes attached | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free videos | $0 | Technique demonstrations from installers and suppliers | No feedback, no slab time; the business side is rarely covered | Seeing the steps before you spend anything |
| Supplier-run class | About $99–999 for 1–2 days; longer supplier courses about $1,350–1,750 for 3–5 days | Hands-on time on the host's products, often with materials | One product line; sometimes credited back as store credit | Contractors who will buy from that supplier anyway |
| Independent school | About $1,400–1,899 for 3–4 days; one-day classes from about $250 | Several days and several systems, not tied to one product line | Higher total price, travel and time off | People who want more slab time before choosing a supplier |
| Online course or membership | $199 one-time up to $99.99 a month | Theory, systems and (in some) the business side, at your own pace | No slab time; memberships keep billing until you cancel | Learning the reasons and the business before or after a class |
| Dealer program | About $9,995–75,000 to start, where the program publishes it | Training, a product line, marketing support, sometimes a protected area | Buying the brand's products; vetting before you're accepted | Owners who want a brand and a supply chain from day one |
| Franchise | In each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (Items 5–7) | A brand, an operating system, training, a territory | An initial fee and ongoing fees; a long contract | Owners who want a proven system and accept the fees |
| Epoxy Business School | Shared when you enroll | Full installations on video you can replay, the business side, and two days on the slab with a partner trainer | Classes open state by state; no product or territory | People who want to run the business, not just do the work |
Prices change; confirm with each provider before you book. Every class we list is on our training page.
In depth
The comparisons
Online epoxy courses compared
Seven online courses and memberships: price, format, how much of the business they cover, and the hands-on option.
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Franchise vs going independent
What a coating franchise gives you, what it costs to find out, and what independence costs instead.
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Epoxy dealer programs
How manufacturer dealer programs work, what they ask of you and what they give back.
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How to choose
Start from what you're missing
- Never touched a grinder? You need slab time: a hands-on class first, or right after a short online course.
- Can install, can't price? You need the business side: pricing, quoting, the sales call, warranties.
- Want a brand and a supply chain handed to you? Read dealer and franchise disclosures carefully, and price the fees over five years, not one.
- Not sure yet? Run the startup numbers first; the answer often changes once you see the total.
Questions, answered
What is the cheapest way to learn epoxy flooring?
Free videos cost nothing, and one-day classes start around $99–300. The cheapest route is rarely the cheapest business, though: the expensive mistakes in a coating company are pricing, prep and callbacks, which free videos and short classes cover least.
Do I need a franchise or dealership to start an epoxy business?
No. There is no license or certification that only franchises or dealers can get. A franchise or dealer program sells a brand, a product line, systems and sometimes a territory; going independent means building those yourself, at a lower upfront cost.
How do I compare franchise costs?
Read the Franchise Disclosure Document. The FTC requires that you receive it at least 14 days before you sign or pay anything, and its Items 5 through 7 set out what it costs to start and the fees you keep paying.
Where does Epoxy Business School fit?
We are an independent school. The Epoxy Playbook shows full installations on recorded video you can replay, along with pricing, quoting and selling. Hands-on classes then put you on real slabs with a partner trainer. No territory fee and no product you have to buy.
Talk it through with an owner
A one-on-one call with someone who runs a coating company, to plan your start and pick the right class.