Ask A Pro: Should You Train a New PPF Installer or Hire an Experienced One?

By Mike Burke

One of the questions I get asked most often by shop owners across the country is: “Should I hire an experienced Paint Protection Film installer, or should I train a new one from scratch?”

The answer? It’s complicated. And it depends on the type of shop you’re running.

Window Tint Shops Adding PPF

If you’re running a high-volume window tint shop that treats PPF as an add-on, the smart move is usually to hire an experienced installer. Why? Because you need immediate value. Your business model is built around speed, volume, and visibility.

PPF eats up space, slows down the workflow, and requires different tools and materials. If you try to train a newbie in that environment, you’ll lose opportunities and frustrate your core business. Bringing in someone who knows PPF from day one allows you to capture the profit without missing a beat—and it’s worth paying them a very good salary.

Detailing Shops Growing into PPF

On the other hand, if you started out in detailing or ceramic coatings, your setup is very different. You’ve already got a warehouse-style shop, you’re used to keeping cars for days, and your customers are used to multi-stage services.

For that environment, training someone in-house often makes more sense. If the owner already understands PPF, you can take a detailer or paint correction tech, have them start small—mirrors, door edges, maybe a hood—and in a couple of months they’re laying bumpers and wrapping full cars. That path builds loyalty, grows your team’s skill set, and makes the most of your slower-paced, detail-oriented business model.

The Hard Truth for Business Owners

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Being a small business owner means you’re constantly facing tough choices—balancing overhead, answering phones, handling customers, and, yes, building the right team.

Hiring and training is like drafting a football team every year. You’re always looking for the right players in the right positions so you can win your version of the championship. Sometimes that means paying top dollar for a seasoned pro. Other times it means investing months into grooming a rookie.

The key is deciding what game you’re playing. Are you a tint shop that happens to offer PPF, or are you building a PPF and coating company that happens to offer tint?

You can sell burgers or chicken sandwiches—but trying to master both usually doesn’t work.

Bottom line:

  • Tint shops usually benefit from hiring experienced PPF installers.
  • Detail shops often benefit from training in-house talent.
  • Owners must know their core business and play to their strengths.