FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · MINNESOTA

THE CLEANING AUTHORITY franchise in Minnesota: what the public record shows

Franchisees of THE CLEANING AUTHORITY in Minnesota have taken 8 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $180,187). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. THE CLEANING AUTHORITY's national ratio is 0.8× (not clearly different from 1.0×). Its latest FDD Item 20 state table reports 3 franchised outlets in Minnesota (fiscal 2025) — about 0.05 per 100k residents.

SBA loan outcomes · Minnesotavs same-year franchise loans

Loans in MN

8

Charged off (all years)

0 of 6

Loss ratio in MN

—

Loss ratio nationally (not clear)

0.8×

Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = MN. Loss ratio = charge-offs among loans approved through FY2020 ÷ the charge-offs expected if each had defaulted at the national rate for franchise loans approved the same year; 1.0× is the same. Only charged-off and paid-in-full loans count. A ratio is shown at 30+ such loans; “not clear” marks a ratio chance alone could produce. The all-years count mixes every era and is evidence, not a rate to compare. Borrowers are matched to the brand by name and SBA franchise code; some matches may be wrong or missing.

Market density · Minnesota vs nationalTypical density

Businesses in this industry

1,554

statewide, all operators

Per 100k residents

26.8

national 26.7

Versus the country

+0%

denser

Every business in THE CLEANING AUTHORITY's industry operating in Minnesota — franchised and independent — from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (2023), against 2024 population estimates. Counter-intuitively, density is not a warning: across the brand-state cells in the loan data, denser markets have historically charged off less often than the thinnest (see the research page). A crowded market is usually proven demand; an empty one is often empty for a reason.

Labor cost · Minnesota vs nationalTypical wages

Avg weekly wage, this industry

$652

Minnesota, BLS QCEW 2025

National average

$659

same industry, all states

Versus the country

-1%

cheaper to staff

What THE CLEANING AUTHORITY's industry actually pays workers in Minnesota, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2025), employment-weighted across counties. This cost signal is independent of the FDD: a market can look demand-rich above and still carry a margin headwind here if local wages run hot for the sector.

Franchised outlets in Minnesota · FDD Item 20+0 over the disclosed window
Fiscal yearFranchisedCompany-owned
20233—
20243—
20253—
Same-sector systems with SBA loan history in Minnesota4 systems
SystemLoans in MNCharged off (all years)Loss ratio in MNUnits in MN
SERVPRO262 of 21—53
SERVICEMASTER RESTORE150 of 13—71
Fish Window Cleaning60 of 3——
Paul Davis Restoration50 of 1—5

Other systems in THE CLEANING AUTHORITY's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Minnesota. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.

Before you sign anythingfree · 30 min · no commission

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 CLEANING AUTHORITY’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.

Don Drummond, CPA — Virginia #43775 · what I charge

Book a free 30-minute call →