By Devan Williams, Founder of IronPeak Lighting. Last updated: July 2026. Program terms below are drawn from each company's published dealer pages as of July 2026 — always verify directly with the brand, because programs change.
Short answer: Getting into permanent lighting as an installer costs anywhere from $0 to $20,000+ depending on which program you join. JellyFish Lighting's authorized dealer program has been listed at $20,000. Gemstone Lights charges no fee but requires roughly $10,000–$15,000 in opening inventory. Trimlight uses exclusive territories with an annual footage quota. IronPeak charges $0 to start, with discounts earned by volume instead of bought at the door.
Why the program matters as much as the product
Most installers comparing permanent lighting brands compare the lights: chipsets, tracks, apps, warranties. That's the right instinct — but the business model you sign into will shape your company for years. Entry fees change your break-even. Inventory minimums change your cash flow. Territories and quotas change where and how much you can sell. The product decision is a one-job decision; the program decision compounds.
I run IronPeak, so I have a position here — I'll state it plainly at the end rather than pretend this is neutral. But the table below is factual, sourced from each company's own published materials, and these are all real products installed on tens of thousands of homes. The differences are in the terms.
Dealer program comparison table (2026)
| Program factor | JellyFish Lighting | Trimlight | Gemstone Lights | IronPeak Lighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost to join | Listed at $20,000 for authorized dealership | One-time upfront materials purchase (amount varies); no yearly fees or royalties | No dealer fee, but ~$10,000–$15,000 minimum opening inventory + first-install materials | $0 — sign up, place your first order at list price |
| Territory model | Dealer responsible for their market | Exclusive territories (starting ~10-mile radius); owner must live in territory | Dealer network by region | No territories to buy — sell where your customers are |
| Quotas / minimums | Opening purchase levels | Quota of 400 ft per zip code per year (per published dealer info) | Opening inventory minimum; first job approved by a company rep before you're authorized | No quotas. Tier discounts (5% / 10% / 15%) unlock as your rolling 12-month volume grows |
| Insurance requirement | Standard contractor requirements | Standard contractor requirements | $2M liability minimum | Carry general liability appropriate to your market (we recommend $1M+; it protects you, not just us) |
| Training | Onsite install + sales training included with dealership | Dealer knowledge base for dealers | Dealer portal with training videos after onboarding | Full installer academy free to anyone — no purchase, no signup gate on the curriculum |
| Who holds the customer relationship | Dealer, within program structure | Dealer, within territory rules | Dealer, within program structure | You. Your brand, your customers, your pricing |
Sources: JellyFish dealer page and franchise listing; Trimlight dealer page; Gemstone authorized dealer program. Terms as published July 2026 — confirm current terms with each company.
The three gatekeeping mechanisms — and what each one costs you
1. Entry fees
A $20,000 entry fee isn't just $20,000 — it's roughly four full residential installs' worth of profit that you owe before your first job. At an average project of ~$6,000 with healthy margins, that's your first one to two months of work going to the gate instead of your pocket. Entry fees made sense when the dealer was buying scarce knowledge. In 2026, install knowledge is not scarce — we publish ours for free.
2. Inventory minimums
"No fee, but buy $10,000–$15,000 of product first" is an entry fee with extra steps — the risk just sits on your shelf instead of their ledger. Ask: what happens to that inventory if you exit? Is there a buyback? Can you return unsold stock? A program that's confident in its product lets you buy job-by-job and earn better pricing as you grow, which is exactly how we structured IronPeak's tiers: list price at Base Camp, then 5%, 10%, and 15% as your rolling 12-month purchases pass each threshold.
3. Territories and quotas
Exclusive territory sounds like protection until you read the other side of the clause: quotas to keep it, residency requirements, and a ceiling on where you're allowed to grow. Trimlight's published model, for example, pairs exclusive territories with a 400-ft-per-zip-code annual quota. If your best referral is one zip code outside your line, that matters. There's a reason franchising works for burgers — but you should decide deliberately whether your lighting company is a franchise or a business you own.
Questions to ask any dealer program before you sign
Whatever brand you're considering — including mine — get written answers to these:
- What is the total cash required before my first paying install — fees, inventory, training, and required tools?
- If I stop selling your brand, what happens? Buyback terms, contract length, non-compete clauses?
- Am I restricted in where I can sell, and what do I have to do to keep that territory?
- What do replacement parts cost me out of warranty, and how fast do you ship them? (Your service reputation depends on their logistics.)
- How does power injection work on long runs — and does it require field splicing? (This one question tells you more about callback rates than any brochure. Here's why.)
- What's your answer for roof peaks? If the answer is "cut the track and center it by eye," that's your quality ceiling on every job.
- Can I see the full price list before I commit? If pricing is only revealed after you sign, ask yourself why.
Where IronPeak stands — stated plainly
I built IronPeak's program as the answer I wanted when I was the guy Googling this exact article. Here's the whole model, no discovery call required:
- $0 to start. Sign up as a Base Camp Dealer, order your first kit at list price, get the badge, the directory listing, and training from day one.
- Earned tiers, published openly: 5% off at $5,000 in rolling 12-month purchases (Authorized Dealer), 10% at $10,000 (Certified Pro), 15% at $35,000 (Summit Partner). No negotiation, no secret pricing.
- No territories, no quotas, no royalties. Your customers are yours. Your brand is yours.
- Training is free to everyone — dealer or not — at our installer academy, because gatekept knowledge is the thing I'm most tired of in this industry.
- All pricing is public on the site right now: 100 ft kit $1,299, 150 ft $1,762.50, 200 ft $2,399, 300 ft $3,499, plus 25 ft/50 ft add-ons so you can quote exact footage instead of overbuying kits.
The trade-off, honestly stated: we're the newer, founder-run company. You won't get a 10-mile protected circle on a map from me. What you get is a 24V system engineered by an installer, the only patent-pending factory peak solution on the market, and a program where every dollar you spend goes into product on a roof — not a gate.
FAQ
How much does it cost to become a JellyFish Lighting dealer?
JellyFish Lighting's authorized dealer opportunity has been publicly listed at $20,000, with varying opening purchase levels and no additional franchise or territory fees. The program includes onsite installation and sales training. Verify current terms directly with JellyFish, as programs change.
How much does it cost to become a Trimlight dealer?
Trimlight's published dealer model uses a one-time upfront materials purchase rather than franchise fees or royalties, paired with exclusive territories (starting around a 10-mile radius), an owner-residency requirement, and an annual quota of 400 feet of product per zip code. Confirm current requirements with Trimlight directly.
How much does it cost to become a Gemstone Lights dealer?
Gemstone Lights charges no dealer fee but requires approximately $10,000–$15,000 in minimum opening inventory plus materials for a first install, $2M in liability insurance, and completion of a first job approved by a Gemstone rep before full authorization.
How much does it cost to become an IronPeak dealer?
$0. Base Camp Dealer status starts with signup and a first order at list price — training, badge, and directory listing included. Discounts are earned by rolling 12-month purchase volume: 5% at $5,000, 10% at $10,000, and 15% at $35,000. There are no territories, quotas, or royalties.
Is a permanent lighting dealership worth it?
The category economics are strong — $20–$40 per installed foot and 40–60% typical gross margins — so the question is really which program structure fits you. If you value a protected map and don't mind quotas, a territory model may fit. If you want to own your customer list and keep startup cash in your business, a no-fee earned-tier program keeps your downside near zero.
Next reads: How to Start a Permanent Christmas Light Business covers the full launch path, and the pricing guide shows what to charge. Questions about the IronPeak program? Email me directly: devan@ironpeaklighting.com.
Devan Williams is the founder of IronPeak Lighting Systems and a working installer. IronPeak's dealer terms cited here are current as of July 2026 and published in full at ironpeaklighting.com/pages/dealer-hq.