RANKED · STRONG & STEADY ONLY · 20 BRANDS
Best cleaning & restoration franchises that can start under $500K
Only brands we rate Strong or Steady appear — from a current FDD (no more than two years old), with enough history to judge, and a loan record that doesn't cap the rating. Strong first. Verdicts are our opinion from the filed record, not investment advice.
Only the cheapest disclosed format is below this budget — the upper end of the range may be far above it. These are filing estimates, not a quote for your location.
- 1. SERVPROStrong
$263K–$386K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +7% · 2026 FDD
- 2. ENVIRO-MASTERStrong
$112K–$287K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +74% · 2026 FDD
- 3. Fleet CleanStrong
$188K–$459K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +13% · 2026 FDD
- 4. SQUEEGEE SQUADStrong
$70K–$264K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +38% · 2026 FDD
- 5. System 4Strong
$128K–$377K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +11% · 2026 FDD
- 6. TIDE CLEANERSStrong
$40K–$2.5M to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +8% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old
- 7. WaveMAX LaundryStrong
$356K–$1.6M to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +30% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old
- 8. PRISM SPECIALTIESSteady
$167K–$384K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +10% · 2026 FDD
$119K–$163K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +9% · 2026 FDD
$299K–$805K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +46% · 2026 FDD
- 11. DRYMEDICSteady
$196K–$319K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +77% · 2026 FDD
- 12. PUROCLEANSteady
$109K–$277K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +24% · 2026 FDD
- 13. THE MAIDSSteady
$118K–$141K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +5% · 2026 FDD
$46K–$171K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +7% · 2025 FDD
- 15. SERVICEMASTER CLEANSteady
$112K–$188K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -4% · 2026 FDD
$288K–$474K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -2% · 2026 FDD
- 17. Lapels Dry CleaningSteady
$391K–$730K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: +2% · 2024 FDD · 1+ year old
- 18. Maid BrigadeSteady
$155K–$190K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -3% · 2026 FDD
- 19. MOLLY MAIDSteady
$144K–$204K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -7% · 2026 FDD
- 20. MERRY MAIDSSteady
$127K–$169K to open · Filed FDD
Net units: -19% · 2026 FDD
| # | Units · latest run | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | SERVPRO $263K–$386K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Strong | +7% | |
| 02 | ENVIRO-MASTER $112K–$287K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCommercial janitorial & hygiene2026 FDD | Strong | +74% | |
| 03 | Fleet Clean $188K–$459K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCar & fleet wash2026 FDD | Strong | +13% | |
| 04 | SQUEEGEE SQUAD $70K–$264K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWindow cleaning & exterior washing2026 FDD | Strong | +38% | |
| 05 | System 4 $128K–$377K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCommercial janitorial & hygiene2026 FDD | Strong | +11% | |
| 06 | TIDE CLEANERS $40K–$2.5M to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDDry cleaning & garment care2024 FDD · 1+ year old | Strong | +8% | |
| 07 | WaveMAX Laundry $356K–$1.6M to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDLaundromats2024 FDD · 1+ year old | Strong | +30% | |
| 08 | PRISM SPECIALTIES $167K–$384K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Steady | +10% | |
| 09 | THE CLEANING AUTHORITY $119K–$163K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHouse cleaning / maid service2026 FDD | Steady | +9% | |
| 10 | Paul Davis Restoration $299K–$805K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Steady | +46% | |
| 11 | DRYMEDIC $196K–$319K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Steady | +77% | |
| 12 | PUROCLEAN $109K–$277K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Steady | +24% | |
| 13 | THE MAIDS $118K–$141K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHouse cleaning / maid service2026 FDD | Steady | +5% | |
| 14 | Aire-Master of America $46K–$171K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCommercial janitorial & hygiene2025 FDD | Steady | +7% | |
| 15 | SERVICEMASTER CLEAN $112K–$188K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDCommercial janitorial & hygiene2026 FDD | Steady | -4% | |
| 16 | SERVICEMASTER RESTORE $288K–$474K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDWater, fire & mold restoration2026 FDD | Steady | -2% | |
| 17 | Lapels Dry Cleaning $391K–$730K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDDry cleaning & garment care2024 FDD · 1+ year old | Steady | +2% | |
| 18 | Maid Brigade $155K–$190K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHouse cleaning / maid service2026 FDD | Steady | -3% | |
| 19 | MOLLY MAID $144K–$204K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHouse cleaning / maid service2026 FDD | Steady | -7% | |
| 20 | MERRY MAIDS $127K–$169K to open ✓ FROM FILED FDDHouse cleaning / maid service2026 FDD | Steady | -19% |
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing the numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.