Franchise Founder Attracts 142 Buyout Bids Before Selling Stake to Growth Firm

Tint World founder sells part of business to Susquehanna Growth Equity after scaling brand from half a dozen shops to roughly 150 and keeping the CEO post

Charles Bonfiglio finalized a deal with Susquehanna Growth Equity on July 4, 2025, after more than 140 private-equity suitors signaled interest in his automotive-accessories franchise. Bonfiglio, now in his 60s, retained the chief executive role and said the new investor has added senior operators to help accelerate expansion.

Bonfiglio’s path to that point began decades earlier. He first cut his teeth as an area developer for Meineke in 1983, building and running six centers. He later bought Tint World, began franchising it in 2007 and expanded the chain from about six locations to roughly 150 before bringing in outside capital in 2025. The company also secured municipal business, including work on police vehicles, by cultivating relationships with local governments and offering discounts to public-sector groups.

The sale process was unusually crowded. Bonfiglio said he received interest from 142 private-equity firms and winnowed the field to a single partner that matched his goals. He credited fast closing to meticulous record-keeping and a detailed offering package that advisers called among the most thorough they had seen — a factor that shortened the usual due-diligence timetable by months.

His playbook for growth combined operational rigor with brand and technology investments. Early on he focused on building repeatable procedures so that operators with limited experience could run outlets successfully. He then prioritized the customer-facing aspects — store interiors, a refreshed website and social channels — and layered in software to track and market to consumers. Bonfiglio said he flipped the typical advertising split: whereas his old franchisor spent about two-thirds of its fund on broad brand work and one-third on local outlets, he now directs roughly one-fifth to brand awareness and the remaining four-fifths to direct-marketing leads for franchisees.

Industry observers say the deal reflects wider interest in franchised service chains that show consistent demand and clear unit economics. A mergers-and-acquisitions adviser not involved in the sale noted that predictable cash flow, recurring customers and visible municipal contracts make such chains attractive to growth investors. And preparedness matters: another deal professional said sellers who deliver organized documentation typically see faster, cleaner closings. Bonfiglio, for his part, says he plans continued expansion with the new team in place and expects the injection of executive talent to push Tint World into its next phase of growth.