This June, Ziebart is celebrating those dads with its second annual 'Detail for Dad' contest, but Ziebart's connection with dads runs deeper than a clean car. Ziebart’s legacy is measured by not only the vehicles it protects, but also by the families, owners, employees, and communities that continue to grow with it.
Father's Day is a time to honor dads and father figures who keep families going, from driving to practice and commuting to work to making the family car feel like a second home.
This June, Ziebart is celebrating those dads with its second annual 'Detail for Dad' contest, surprising two father figures with a full interior and exterior detailing service. But for many families, Ziebart's connection with dads runs deeper than a clean car.
Celebrating the Dads Behind the Wheel 
Ziebart’s “Detail for Dad” celebrates fathers and father figures whose vehicles carry more than mileage. This year’s winners, Scott Sirianni of Streator, Illinois, and Byron Mays of Morrow, Ohio, were selected for stories that captured the heart behind those well-loved “dad mobiles.”
Scott was nominated by his son Camron, who shared how their bond grew from foster care to adoption and into a relationship built on love, trust, and countless fishing trips. "My dad, my fishing buddy, my best friend," Camron wrote, taking partial credit for the Ford Bronco in need of a deep clean after years of outdoor adventures together.
According to his 9-year-old son Zach, Byron is a Marine and Army veteran who "likes everything clean and neat." Zach also admitted he's the reason the car isn't, thanks to ice cream runs, fishing trips, and family outings. Still, his dad never complains: “Even when his car gets messy, he still takes me to do fun things with him.”
For Ziebart, vehicle care goes beyond appearance. It's about helping people protect something they rely on every day.
The “Dad” of the Automotive Franchise Industry
Ziebart, fondly known as the “dad of the automotive franchise industry,” helped define the vehicle appearance and protection category long before automotive aftercare became the established industry it is today.
Kurt Ziebart, a German immigrant mechanic who arrived in Detroit with $18 to his name, developed and patented a rustproofing process that eventually became the foundation for an entire category of automotive care franchising. After the first franchise was sold in 1962, Ziebart has now been in business for 67 years and operates over 400 locations, with 1,300 service centers, in 37 countries.
That history gives the franchise opportunity a strong foundation of brand recognition, operational systems, training and support, and a diversified service mix designed around how customers maintain and protect their vehicles over time.
Building a Business and Family Legacy 
Ziebart's connection to dads also mirrors one of the strongest parts of the Ziebart franchise story: family legacy.
Across the system, roughly one-third of Ziebart businesses are continually passed down to their children. Many franchisees are building a business with the next generation in mind, creating a place where their children could walk into one day and call it their own. With an average unit volume exceeding $1.4M, it's also a business worth passing down.
Ziebart’s model supports that long-term mindset through:
Brand recognition: Ziebart has spent decades becoming a trusted name in vehicle appearance and protection.
Diversified services: From rust and paint protection to detailing, tint, and accessories, the diversified menu creates multiple revenue streams.
Ongoing demand: As drivers keep their vehicles longer, protection and preservation services remain relevant through different stages of ownership.
Operational support: An immersive 8-week training, marketing resources, location guidance, and ongoing support help owners build with more confidence.
That’s what makes the Ziebart opportunity different. The brand’s legacy is measured by not only the vehicles it protects, but also by the families, owners, employees, and communities that continue to grow with it.
Learn more about Ziebart franchise opportunities and how you can build a business designed to last.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Ziebart built for multi-generational ownership?
A: Yes. Many Ziebart owners build with family legacy in mind, and roughly one-third of Ziebart businesses are passed down to the next generation. Its established brand, diversified services, and ongoing support create a foundation designed to last.
Q: How does Ziebart support long-term franchise ownership?
A: The demand for protection and preservation services remains strong. Ziebart supports owners in capturing that demand through an immersive training program, ongoing support, location guidance, and diversified services that creates multiple revenue streams.
Q: How long has Ziebart been in business?
A: Ziebart has been in business for 67 years. Founded on Kurt Ziebart’s patented rustproofing process, the brand began franchising in 1962 and has grown to more than 400 locations and 1,300 service centers across 37 countries.