Profitable Cleaning Service Franchises in the USA

The value of the global cleaning industry is impressive and astounding. We are talking about anticipations for the commercial cleaning industry to reach around $468.2 billion by 2027 and the residential cleaning industry to reach $40.3 billion by 2025.

Narrowing down our focus to North America, it has become the world leader in cleaning companies. There are nearly 1.1 million companies in the US that offered janitorial services in 2021, employing nearly 2.4 million individuals in 2023 with an average growth of 2.9% per year. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the field of janitors and building cleaners will increase by 7% by 2028. Overall, professional cleaning in the US is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% from 2020 to 2026.

All this is driven by the fact that more and more households and businesses are seeking cleaning assistance. In fact, it is predicted that a massive 80% of households will have home cleaning assistance in their home. This is because of the growth in dual-income households and an increase in the aging population. Cleaning franchise opportunities in this industry are therefore perfectly positioned to cater to this growing demand. So, if you are looking for a cleaning franchise for sale, this is your perfect starting place.

However, when one thinks about cleaning franchises, it’s not just about home cleaning. In fact, the industry is divided into several subcategories, each of which specializes in different niches and services. Here is a brief overview of what opportunities you might consider:

• Restoration: these cleaning franchises focus on recovery periods after certain events such as fires, floods, or natural disasters. These services, however, can also assist clients with dealing with hoarding, decontamination, etc.
• Specialty cleaning services: these are highly niche businesses that can help with junk removal, upholstery cleaning, dry cleaning, disposal of cooking oil, restoration of hardwood floors, etc.

• Residential cleaning: this includes maid services and housekeepers who clean private homes tidily by doing things such as cleaning floors, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.

• Commercial cleaning: this sector is performed by janitors and cleaners who help offices, businesses, buildings, retail stores, and others keep their premises clean. Other examples include schools, gyms, hospitals, etc. Services generally include cleaning carpets, window cleaning, pressure washing, and general cleaning. Other services may include janitorial services, floor care, and even security.

With regard to commercial cleaning, it is worth noting that in the US, the industry is worth approximately $90.1 billion and employs over two million people. In 2020, 36,000 franchised outlets in the US provided professional office cleaning services.

Cleaning industry trends in 2026-2027

With so many opportunities available with cleaning franchises, it’s also worth considering how the industry is adapting to trends and developments. Some of the recent cleaning industry trends include the following:

• Eco-friendly cleaning: There is a growing consciousness and interest in eco-friendly cleaning companies that follow practices that are not harmful to the environment. This can be achieved through using less harmful cleaning products or natural products with organic ingredients. This enables clients to protect the environment and live their ethos and commitment to keeping the world safer and cleaner for future generations. These services often come at a premium, and some cleaning franchise opportunities enable you to enter this niche market of green cleaning services quite seamlessly.
• Cleaning for health: As there is an increased focus on disease transmission in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more individuals and businesses are focusing on eliminating germs in their homes and in the workplace. This is another niche worth exploring as you consider various cleaning franchises for sale.

• Health and disinfection education: as a result of the above, franchise owners will be looking ever more closely at educating their employees on disease control, disinfection, and high-contact surfaces.

• New technology: like many other industries, your carpet cleaning franchise will also need to adopt new technology in various areas of your business, so that you don’t only manage and market your business digitally, but also implement aspects such as robotic vacuum cleaners and other cleaning equipment.

Is a cleaning franchise worth it?

Cleaning franchises present a proven path to business ownership, with high demand fueled by dual-income families, commercial market expansion, and a rising elderly population. Franchisees benefit from established systems, marketing support, and access to a built-in client base for select opportunities such as Image One and The Maids, which provide recurring contracts and ongoing client acquisition support.

How much does a cleaning franchise cost to open?

Start-up costs vary by specialization, region, and business model, with initial investment as low as $9,900 for Pink’s Window Services, around $14,999 for 360clean, and over $110,000 for green-focused brands like EcoMaids.

Which type is the most profitable: residential or commercial?

• Commercial cleaning (e.g., Enviro-Master, Image One) often offers higher contract values and more predictable revenue via janitorial contracts.
• Residential cleaning (Two Maids, The Maids) can provide strong repeat business and lower operational complexity, especially in growing suburban or urban areas.

Residential vs. Commercial Cleaning Profitability

Commercial cleaning franchises tend to deliver larger, longer-term contracts, while residential franchises often achieve higher margins per service through premium offerings and frequent visits. Both segments show steady growth—select the model that matches your market and lifestyle goals.

Cleaning franchises with built-in client base:

Brands like Image One emphasize franchisee support in securing and maintaining a steady client pipeline, offering guaranteed or recurring business opportunities—ideal for new owners seeking a faster ramp-up.

Why you should consider a cleaning franchise opportunity

There are numerous and varied cleaning franchise opportunities that you can choose from. But one thing that remains constant across most of them is the fact that you can enjoy a wide range of benefits when you choose the cleaning franchise business model. Here are just a few of these opportunities that you can take advantage of:

• Grow your revenue: Cleaning franchise opportunities enable you to take hold of your financial situation and boost your earning potential. It’s all about the effort you put into the business to ensure your cleaning franchise business is successful. Ultimately, you can earn as much or as little as you want. It’s your choice.
• Flexibility: many cleaning franchises for sale enable you to work at your own pace and sometimes even from your own place. You therefore can take advantage of running your business from home, while choosing which jobs you take on and which ones you don’t. In addition, you get to be your own boss and choose your own schedule, meaning greater flexibility in terms of your lifestyle. You can also choose between full-time and part-time options.

• Support: With many cleaning franchises, you get extensive support in addition to a recognized brand name. This support can extend to certification programs, uniforms, IDs, starter supplies and equipment, customer accounts, etc. Also, this training and support enable you to focus on the core of providing a service as opposed to looking for new customers from scratch.

• High-demand service: Since nearly 80% of US homes are expected to seek out the services of professional cleaners and the rise in sanitation and degerming requirements, cleaning services are high in demand, and this is unlikely to change in the near future.

• Low barriers to entry: Many other franchise businesses can be quite costly to get started with. However, with a cleaning franchise, the initial investment is usually quite low and competitive, meaning that you don’t need hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to get started.

• A variety of options: Prospective business owners don’t need to focus on residential cleaning. Office cleaning is big business, too, as are janitorial services, junk removal, and other highly niche cleaning services such as the restoration of hardwood floors, window washing, and others.

• Recession-resistant business: There are many businesses that require constant and ongoing cleaning services. Examples include hospitals and schools. Because these businesses will never stop using cleaning services, you have a business model that is strong and recession-resistant.

• No need for industry experience or specialized education: because of the extensive training and ongoing support that you receive from your franchisor, you don’t need to have any specialized education or industry experience in order to get started. You will learn everything there is to know about the business and the job by learning the basics first and then going into more depth. All this is provided by your franchisor, who will equip you with all the skills you need to get started.
• A supportive franchisee network: with a cleaning franchise to your name, you also benefit from all the advice and support the extensive franchisee network provides. This means you can tap into the collective knowledge of your peers and avoid making mistakes that first-time business owners make because they simply don’t have the support structure to help them through challenging times.

Cleaning franchise opportunities across the U.S.

To assist you in identifying ideal locations for your cleaning franchise, we’ve divided the United States into four key regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Each region offers unique market opportunities for franchise expansion and growth.

Northeast:

• New York
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire

Midwest:

• Illinois
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Indiana
• Wisconsin
• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Missouri
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas

South:

• Florida
• Georgia
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Virginia
• Maryland
• West Virginia
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Texas
• Oklahoma

West:

• California
• Nevada
• Arizona
• Washington
• Colorado
• Oregon
• Utah
• Idaho
• New Mexico
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Montana
• Wyoming

Read more Read less