Fibrenew Asheville
Fibrenew franchise for sale in Mars Hill, North Carolina
List Price: $110,000 USD
Key Facts
Seasonal Business
No
Value of Inventory
Upon Inquiry
Value of Assets
Upon Inquiry
Year Established
2016
Business Operates From
My home
Location Is
N/A
Approx. Monthly Rent
N/A
Total Employees
Less than 10
About this Business
Fibrenew Asheville background and description from the owner, Julie Kapugi:
After years of working corporate killer hours at a computer desk job, I purchased the Fibrenew Asheville territory. This franchise has allowed me the flexibility of scheduling my own work hours, allowed me to travel, and also attend to my family obligations.
I have worked Fibrenew part-time to transition toward retirement. The movement and work within Fibrenew have improved my overall health and fitness level, and I sleep better. I have also developed excellent relationships with numerous businesses who make up my ongoing repeat customers. My business has an outstanding reputation for customer satisfaction as evidenced by more than fifty (50) 5-star Google reviews.
Growth opportunities
If I had been younger when I started Fibrenew and worked my business full-time, I would have added an administrative person and several technicians. There are more than enough untapped customers in this territory to support extensive business expansion. There are also significant growth opportunities in this area in furniture, medical, RV, and vinyl windows/doors (especially in new construction).
Asset Description
Vehicle negotiated separately - 2017 Nissan NV200 Cargo Van
Reason for Selling
The current owner of Fibrenew Asheville has been working part-time to transition towards retirement
Why I Love My Franchise
This franchise has allowed me the flexibility of scheduling my own work hours, allowed me to travel, and also attend to my family obligations.
About Fibrenew
Fibrenew is a mobile service franchise specializing in the repair, restoration, and renewal of leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and upholstery. Technicians work on-site across a broad mix of markets, including automotive, residential, commercial, medical, marine, and aviation. Customers range from homeowners with a worn leather sofa or car interior to businesses, clinics, restaurants, and lodges that need damaged surfaces restored rather than replaced.
Founded in 1985 and franchising since 1987, Fibrenew has grown to more than 300 locations worldwide, across the US, Canada, Mexico, and several international markets. The company has been family-owned since Michael and Fran Wilson acquired it in 1994. Fibrenew manufactures its own proprietary product line and has developed the repair techniques and color-matching technology its technicians use in the field, which it positions as the core of its advantage.
The model is mobile and home-based: franchisees operate from a branded service vehicle rather than a storefront, working a protected territory. With multiple service verticals and a green, replacement-alternative message, the business draws revenue from both one-off jobs and ongoing commercial accounts.
Franchisee Support
Initial training is 70 hours of classroom instruction delivered over two weeks at Fibrenew's Canadian head office, plus on-the-job training as needed to build hands-on repair skill. Ongoing support includes proprietary business software, a franchisee intranet, regular newsletters, and meetings and conventions. Marketing support covers national media, SEO, email and social campaigns, and ad templates owners can localize. Buyers of an existing Fibrenew unit should confirm what transfer training and software access the franchisor provides to incoming ownership, given the technical, color-matching nature of the work.
Brand Accolades & Awards
Fibrenew has ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 since 2017 and was named the #1 leather and vinyl repair franchise in the 2026 list, with recognition in its fastest-growing, home-based/mobile, and under-$100,000 categories. Franchise Business Review has repeatedly honored the brand, including 2025–2026 recognition for franchisee satisfaction, culture, innovation, veterans, and women in franchising, plus a Top 200 Franchises placement for 2026. Fibrenew is also a long-standing member of the International Franchise Association. For resale buyers, brand recognition should be weighed alongside a territory's local reviews and referrals.
Industry / Market
Fibrenew operates in the US furniture repair and reupholstery market, valued at around $2.0 billion in 2026 (IBISWorld), alongside adjacent demand in automotive, marine, and commercial restoration. The category is driven by the cost advantage of repair over replacement, which strengthens when households and businesses tighten budgets, plus growing interest in sustainable, waste-reducing alternatives. Demand spreads across many verticals rather than one, which can cushion local slowdowns. For resale buyers, the durability of a unit's commercial accounts and referral base signals how well a territory captures this demand.
Ideal Owner
Fibrenew suits hands-on, detail-oriented operators who enjoy skilled craft work and direct customer contact. No prior trade experience is required—owners come from teaching, engineering, sales, and many other backgrounds—but candidates must be willing to master the company's repair and color-matching techniques during training. Because the work depends on precise color matching, owners cannot be color blind. The role blends fieldwork with local marketing and relationship-building, so comfort developing commercial accounts and managing a mobile schedule matters as much as manual skill.