INDUSTRY BENCHMARK · 25 SYSTEMS · FISCAL 2016–2025
Are cleaning & restoration franchises a good investment?
Across 25 cleaning & restoration franchise systems (5,277 franchised units), franchisees exited at an annualized rate of 3.1% in their latest FDD Item 20 filings, while new outlets opened at 7.6%. The median buy-in: a $50K franchise fee, 7.0% royalty, and a total investment of $128K–$236K.
People search for a “cleaning & restoration franchise failure rate,” but no such official number exists. What franchisors must disclose — in the Item 20 outlet tables of the FDD — is how many franchised outlets were terminated, not renewed, or “ceased operations — other reasons” each year. That annualized exit rate is the honest, measurable proxy: it slightly overstates failure (some exits are retirements or sales) and slightly understates distress (struggling units often sell before they close), but unlike survey numbers it comes from legally mandated disclosures.
3.1%
156 exits / 5,053 units at start
7.6%
384 outlets opened
25
verified FDD extractions
5,277
at latest fiscal year end
$50K
FDD Item 5
7.0%
FDD Item 6
$128K–$236K
FDD Item 7
19/25
systems disclosing an FPR
SOURCE: FDD ITEM 20 OUTLET TABLES FILED WITH STATE REGULATORS (MINNESOTA CARDS) · 25 SYSTEMS · 25 FILINGS · FISCAL 2016–2025
| Signal | Brand | Index | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRONGEST | Clean Your Dirty Face | Proven & strong | |
| STRONGEST | WINDOW HERO | Proven & strong | |
| STRONGEST | SHINE WINDOW CARE AND HOLIDAY LIGHTING | Proven & strong | |
| WEAKEST | BOR RESTORATION | Too new to judge | |
| WEAKEST | SHACK SHINE | Showing strain | |
| WEAKEST | Maid Brigade | Showing strain |
HEALTH INDEX: SOURCED 0–100 SCORE FROM EACH BRAND'S OWN FDD ITEM 20 · METHODOLOGY
Cleaning & Restoration franchise questions, answered from the filings
What percentage of cleaning & restoration franchises fail?
There is no official failure rate, but FDD Item 20 filings show the honest proxy: across 25 cleaning & restoration franchise systems, 156 franchised outlets left their systems (terminations, non-renewals, and "ceased operations — other") out of 5,053 open at the start of the year — an annualized exit rate of 3.1% in fiscal 2016–2025. Not every exit is a failure (some are retirements or sales), but it is the measurable floor.
How much does a cleaning & restoration franchise cost?
Across the latest FDD filings of 25 cleaning & restoration systems, the median initial franchise fee is $50K (Item 5) and the median total investment range is $128K–$236K (Item 7).
What royalty do cleaning & restoration franchises charge?
The median ongoing royalty across 25 cleaning & restoration franchise systems is 7.0% of gross sales, per Item 6 of their latest FDD filings.
Are cleaning & restoration franchises growing or shrinking?
In the latest Item 20 filings, cleaning & restoration systems opened new franchised outlets at an annualized rate of 7.6% while franchisees exited at 3.1%. Openings currently outpace exits in this industry.
What is the healthiest cleaning & restoration franchise?
By the Watch Desk verdict system (computed from FDD Item 20 with an evidence gate), the strongest verified cleaning & restoration system tracked is Clean Your Dirty Face.
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