Tim Ham hit a breaking point just 48 hours into his retirement journey following the sale of his Atlanta-based, paint protection film (PPF)-focused business, Felony Film, in February 2024.
“I can’t exactly sit still,” Ham says with a laugh. “I was retired for a total of 48 hours. There’s only so many Legos a person can build and so many TV shows a person can watch.”
Two Lego sets and several TV shows in, 43-year-old Ham started brainstorming future business plans.
“I’m into real estate, so I bought a couple more properties,” Ham shares. “There are more ideas in the works, and I will share more in the future.”
Prison and Probation
Established in 2018, Felony Film draws its name from Ham’s ten felonies. He spent several years in prison and on probation.
“It was a BS name that shouldn’t have survived,” Ham says. “For some odd reason, I was able to build it up and sell it. All of my friends told me it was going to fail—well, I actually thought it would fail, too. But I wanted to see where it would go. And for some odd reason, it was the most successful thing that I’ve ever done.”
At Ham’s peak, he led a team of four PPF installers, achieving a daily project output that made many scratch their heads.
“I visited a dealer who had asked how many cars we do a day,” Ham says. “I said between 10 to 15 (full fronts). They told me that can’t be done. But with my team and my training, I know that it can be. It can be done depending on how you treat and train your employees. If they’re trained to be quick, a full-front is usually 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on make and model. A lot of people take a full day—if installers are being paid by the hour, they are going to take their time.”
As the Owner of Felony Film, Ham established strong relationships with Atlanta dealerships.
“If you can get a dealership on board and show them how much money they can make, success is feasible,” he says.
A Top Dealer
Ham is accustomed to dealing with naysayers. Following his inclusion at the top of PPFMag’s Top PPF Dealers list (PPFMag Summer 2023), many raised objections. One Facebook user posted the ranking in the Paint Protection Film (PPF) Professionals Facebook Group, generating 156 reactions and a whopping 281 comments.
Ham’s response to the doubters of his financial success? Priceless.
“Holy hell … we needa slow down,” shared Ham, who dropped out of high school in 9th grade.
Peace in the Process
Ham finds himself not only charting his next chapter but also reflecting on the moments that have shaped his 43-year life journey.
“There’s a lot of things to be remembered for,” Ham says. “I love helping other people and inspiring other businesses. I would always get phone calls and get asked questions. It puts a smile on my face when I can help someone else succeed.”
What does Ham miss the most?
“Preparing PPF kits late at night,” says Ham, who overcame youth homelessness. “During the day, my phone rang and buzzed nonstop. At night, I could relax, unwind, and plot my kits. I didn’t have to worry about answering my phone.”
Looking Forward
Ham has 10 felonies to his name, but he doesn’t run from them. Instead, he embraces his past missteps to propel others forward.
“It shows anyone can do this, no matter what your background is,” Ham says. “But it requires dedication. Some of my former team members were felons.”
Pausing, Ham adds, “It’s all about giving someone a chance to turn it around.”