Best Cleaning Franchises
Compare the best residential and commercial cleaning franchise opportunities. FDD-verified investment ranges, royalty rates, and earnings data for 2026.
Cleaning franchises are among the most accessible and financially predictable in the franchise universe. Entry investment is typically $20,000–$100,000, customer churn is low (cleaning is habitual), and the service is recession-resilient. Our corpus shows cleaning franchise net unit growth averaging 12% annually - outpacing most other service categories.
The sector divides cleanly between residential and commercial models. Residential cleaning franchises (Molly Maid, The Maids, Two Maids) focus on recurring home cleaning with subscriptions. Commercial cleaning brands (Jan-Pro, Coverall, Buildingstars) sell master franchise rights and unit franchises to clean commercial buildings. The economics and required capital differ significantly between these models.
Royalty structures in cleaning are higher than average - often 8–12% - because franchisors provide the customer acquisition that makes the business work. The question is whether the marketing machine actually delivers. Ask any franchisor you evaluate for specific customer acquisition metrics: cost per new account, average account lifetime value, and churn rate.
How to use this list
1. Start with total cash required
The franchise fee is only one line item. Compare the full investment range, build-out, equipment, opening inventory, and working capital before you shortlist a brand.
2. Check earnings disclosure
Prioritize brands with Item 19 data, stable unit growth, and transparent franchisee economics. A cheap franchise without revenue disclosure is not automatically a good deal.
3. Pressure-test risk
Use SBA default rates, royalty burden, and payback period to separate affordable franchises from fragile ones.
| # | Brand | Investment Min |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stratus Building Solutions of The Bronx Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataLow Confidence | N/A |
| 2 | Action Duct Cleaning Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataLow Confidence | $3K |
| 3 | Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Virginia Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $6K |
| 4 | Stratus Building Solutions of Long Island, Inc. Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $5K |
| 5 | Jan-Pro Franchise Development of Los Angeles Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $5K |
| 6 | Buildingstars Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $2K |
| 7 | MTOclean Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $8K |
| 8 | CASEY’S CLEANING Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $14K |
| 9 | Valcourt Building Services of Washington, DC, LC Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $23K |
| 10 | Valcourt Building Services of Virginia, LC Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $23K |
| 11 | Commercial Cleaning Solutions Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $5K |
| 12 | CleanNet Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $14K |
| 13 | Jan-Pro Of Upstate New York Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $4K |
| 14 | Tina Maids Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $28K |
| 15 | Jan-Pro Washington, D.C. Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $4K |
| 16 | Jan-Pro of Washington, D.C. Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $4K |
| 17 | JAN-PRO of Hampton Roads Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $6K |
| 18 | Jan-Pro of the Capital District Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $8K |
| 19 | Jan-Pro Cleaning & Disinfecting Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $3K |
| 20 | Anago Of The Hudson Valley Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $11K |
| 21 | GERMINATOR MOBILE SANITIZING® Cleaning/Janitorial No Item 19Medium Confidence | $28K |
| 22 | COVERALL COMMERCIAL CLEANING Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $18K |
| 23 | Coverall Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $18K |
| 24 | ANAGO Of MINNEAPOLIS Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $13K |
| 25 | Coverall North America Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $18K |
| 26 | Jan-Pro of Milwaukee Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataMedium Confidence | $5K |
| 27 | Stratus Building Solutions of Sonoma, LLC Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $4K |
| 28 | Stratus Building Solutions of Central Virginia Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $4K |
| 29 | Stratus Building Solutions of North Chicago Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $4K |
| 30 | Stratus Building Solutions of Greater Madison Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $5K |
| 31 | Stratus Building Solutions of Hampton Roads Cleaning/Janitorial High Confidence | $5K |
| 32 | Jan-Pro Of St Louis And Central Mo Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $6K |
| 33 | Home Cleaning Centers of America Cleaning/Janitorial No Item 19Medium Confidence | $43K |
| 34 | Pro One Janitorial Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $11K |
| 35 | bioPURE Cleaning/Janitorial Revenue OnlyHigh Confidence | $23K |
| 36 | 360clean Cleaning/Janitorial Revenue OnlyHigh Confidence | $43K |
| 37 | JANI-KING OF MILWAUKEE Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $23K |
| 38 | Lemon Fresh Cleaners Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $43K |
| 39 | MaidThis Cleaning/Janitorial Limited DataHigh Confidence | $50K |
| 40 | Tri-Way Cleaning Cleaning/Janitorial Medium Confidence | $52K |
Showing 40 of 150 brands. View all →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a cleaning franchise cost?
Cleaning franchise investments range from $15,000 for a basic residential cleaning unit franchise to $150,000+ for a master franchise or commercial cleaning territory. Most residential cleaning franchises fall in the $50,000–$100,000 total investment range.
Are cleaning franchises profitable?
Cleaning franchises can be highly profitable due to low overhead and recurring revenue. Owner-operators in residential cleaning typically earn $60,000–$120,000 annually in their first 2–3 years. As you scale and hire crews, multi-territory operators often earn considerably more.
What is the difference between residential and commercial cleaning franchises?
Residential cleaning franchises focus on home cleaning with individual household customers. Commercial cleaning franchises clean offices, retail stores, and industrial facilities - often operating on night schedules with contract-based billing. Commercial contracts tend to be larger and more stable but require more equipment.
Can I run a cleaning franchise part-time?
The initial phase is usually full-time, especially if you're an owner-operator. Once you've hired and trained crews and established your client base, many franchisees transition to a management role requiring 20–30 hours per week.
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Last updated: April 2026