The COVID-19 pandemic may have instilled a bleak perspective on the economy. However, as several countries start to flatten the curve, many business opportunities are trudging to get back up. And if there’s one industry that will emerge amidst this pandemic, it’s the cleaning business. 

Regardless of what the economic situation is, a cleaning service will continue to thrive in the market. In fact, the cleaning business market size is estimated at around $74,299 million in 2022. And if you want to gain traction in this industry, a cleaning franchise would be an excellent idea. 

Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best cleaning franchises to buy this year. 

1. ServiceMaster

As with any other business, ServiceMaster aims to provide exceptional customer service. Their core responsibilities are floor, carpet, janitorial, and upholstery cleaning services. ServiceMaster’s franchising system comes with extensive research, comprehensive training programs, specially developed products, ongoing support, and more. ServiceMaster offers three different franchise models: Disaster Restoration Services, Janitorial Services, and Recovery Management Services. Each model varies in startup costs.

Estimated Initial Investment: $76,500 – $86,500 (Janitorial Services; $144,500 – $189,500 (Disaster Restoration Services); and $165,150 – $274,150 (Recovery Management Services)
Royalty: 5% (not applicable for Recovery Management Services)

2. Jan-Pro

Jan-Pro offers various franchise options. But whatever you choose, the esteemed company boasts of the Jan-Pro Guarantee. Jan-Pro believes that for a cleaning service to thrive, it must have a seamless system in place. The Jan-Pro Guarantee includes three systems that they consider as the core of their business:

• Signature Clean
• Technics
• Tracker

Franchisees may also choose from three options: International Master Franchise, Executive Business, and Home-Based Franchise. 

Estimated Initial Investment: $127,500 – $768,000
Royalty: 4%

3. Molly Maid

When choosing a cleaning franchise, opt for a company that has a decades-long experience. Molly Maid has been servicing clients for over 30 years. Molly Maid provides home cleaning services on a weekly schedule. The company never fails to adhere to the CDC sanitization guidelines as well. In fact, their professional-grade products are EPA-approved against the Coronavirus. 

Estimated Initial Investment: $110,200 – $155,200
Royalty: 3 – 6.5%

4. Vanguard Cleaning Systems

Vanguard Cleaning Systems takes pride in its unparalleled service, which centers on integrity, trust, execution, and quality. Since 1984, Vanguard Cleaning Systems has been providing commercial cleaning services to businesses and corporate clients in North America. You can depend on their customer support staff, and account liaison for a seamless partnership.

Estimated Initial Investment: $147,375 to $460,750
Royalty: 5%

5. College Hunks Hauling Junk 

College Hunks Hauling Junk is the cleaning franchise for you if you find gold in moving and hauling junk. They are a tech-enabled, purpose-driven, values-based, and a socially conscious team of junk haulers. Plus, the company promises an enthusiastic and fun culture for franchisees and clients alike. Join a team of HUNKS, which means Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service.

Estimated Initial Investment: $95,700- $231,200
Royalty: 7%

6. Maid Simple

Maid Simple boast of cleaning services that are “made simple.” By letting clients customize their cleaning services, they ensure all needs and preferences are met. The company offers cleaning services to both residential and commercial clients. Here are the services they provide:

• General maid services
• Home or residential cleaning
• Apartment and condo cleaning
• Small office cleaning
• Green cleaning

Estimated Initial Investment:
Royalty:

7. Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

If you want to focus on carpet cleaning solely, this company is an excellent choice. You can tell from over the 125,000 world-class reviews on their website alone. Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning takes pride in oxygen-powered products, an hour of dry time, and sustainability. Their commitment to the environment means the company supports Water.org to resolve the global water crisis. 

Estimated Initial Investment: $45,465 – $75,690
Royalty: N/A

8. Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning

Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning has over 35,000 franchises in more than 53 countries. It’s deemed as the biggest cleaning franchise the world over. Moreover, Chem-Dry Carpet Cleaning is the best upholstery and carpet cleaning franchise in more than 30 decades. In fact, the company’s bottom line is experiencing a fast growth of three percent year on year. 

Estimated Initial Investment: $67,645 – $185,757
Royalty: N/A

9. Renew Crew

Another specialty cleaning service will gain traction in the next years, and it’s the outdoor cleaning business. Renew Crew is the name to count on when it comes to cleaning, protecting, and sealing the outdoor surfaces. The company caters to both commercial and residential properties. Plus, they use a pressure washer system that provides these three unique services:

• Exclusive eco-friendly products
• Unique three-step process
• Extensive services for every homeowner’s needs

Estimated Initial Investment: $39,175 – $92,625
Royalty: 7% ($1,000 monthly minimum)

10. Buildingstars

Since its inception in 1994, Buildingstars has been providing commercial cleaning services in Houston, Austin, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Charlotte, New York, and more. They offer services such as green cleaning, nightly cleaning, floor care, carpet maintenance, and even consulting services. 

Estimated Initial Investment: $2,200 – $53,200

Wrap Up 

If you want to venture into an industry that will survive amidst any pandemic, try out the cleaning business. Opting for a cleaning franchise means you’ll have a turnkey opportunity to start a lucrative business without the heavy lifting.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. unveiled the new Comfort Rise & Shine prototype as the next milestone for its flagship, upper midscale brand. The prototype celebrates the successes of the iconic brand as Comfort marks its 40 th anniversary this year, and positions the brand for continued performance and system growth. The first new construction Rise & Shine prototype hotels are expected to open in 2023.

“At Choice, we’re always building, innovating and evolving, with guest satisfaction and owner return at the forefront of what we do,” said Pat Pacious, president and chief executive officer, Choice Hotels. “After finishing Comfort’s multi-year, $2.5 billion transformative journey, which resulted in upgraded guest rooms and public spaces, as well as a new logo and signage, the ongoing success of the brand is proof positive that we invest for the long term. Over the last 40 years, our strong franchisee collaboration and guest loyalty has built one of the industry’s leading brands in the upper midscale segment — a brand that has time and again shown its strength and resiliency through dynamic economic climates. Now that the Comfort refresh is complete, we are introducing the next milestone for our flagship brand: an exciting, new prototype that is designed to maximize return on investment.”

The new Comfort Rise & Shine prototype builds on the features that have made the brand a long-time favorite of developers in the upper midscale segment including:

An efficient footprint : With reduced square footage, the Rise & Shine prototype delivers elevated fit and finish while maintaining Comfort’s efficient, cost-effective operating advantage.Innovative functionality : From a welcoming outdoor porch to an innovative new flex room that easily transforms from additional breakfast space to meeting and event space, the new prototype offers versatile spaces that can create additional revenue opportunities.Flexible and fresh design : Backed by extensive consumer research and developer feedback, the Rise & Shine design package comes in three color schemes, allowing developers to customize their choice to fit the needs of their local market, all while retaining the warm and welcoming personality for which Comfort is known. Developers can choose among the following:

City – bold yet approachable with rich wood tones and an energized color palette. Sea – calm and soothing with muted colors and light wood tones. Sun – vibrant and cheerful with a relaxed yet optimistic feel.

“Upper midscale and midscale are Choice Hotels’ sweet spots, and no one knows these segments better than we do,” said David Pepper, chief development officer, Choice Hotels. “More than ever, developers and guests are gravitating towards established brands they know and trust — brands like Comfort. Whether looking to build new construction or convert existing businesses, the Comfort Rise & Shine prototype was flexibly designed to accommodate a broad spectrum of investment opportunities coupled with access to Choice’s industry-leading resources and technology. As owners look to build for tomorrow, they will be well served by building Comfort.”

The new prototype was designed in response to evolving guest needs with tailored spaces for travelers to relax, work, sleep and get ready for their day. New and existing elements of the design combine to maintain connective threads to the best of the current offering, while adapting to meet the changing needs of today’s traveler. Some of these updates include:

Outdoor patios anchored by an indoor/outdoor fireplace, designed to give guests a warm welcome and make them feel at home.Open, airy and active public spaces with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural lighting.A multi-purpose flex room that seamlessly converts to serve a variety of uses.Guestrooms featuring upgraded fixtures and furniture, including semi-open closets and new “on the go” stations at the door.Functional yet uplifting lighting throughout the prototype including the front desk welcome wall, public space millwork shelving, exclusive up-lighting on the guest room headboard wall and media panel and on the prototype exterior.

“As the name ‘Rise & Shine’ suggests, light is integral to the new design, inspired in part by our refreshed brand identity and new signage serving as a beacon for the brand,” said Megan Brumagim, vice president, brand management, design and compliance, Choice Hotels. “The prototype combines the features, design and amenities that guests want, with the efficiency, functionality and flexibility that developers expect. It offers spaces that can transform from day to night and serve a broad range of guest stays, whether business or leisure. The new prototype reinforces the brand’s strong value proposition with guests and owners by blending form and function to help optimize the guest experience and developers’ investment.”

Whether hosting a family on a road trip or a business traveler with an important client meeting, Comfort guests will continue to enjoy the spacious guestrooms, complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi and 100% smoke-free facilities that they expect from the brand.

Comfort has more than 1,600 hotels coast to coast in the U.S. and a pipeline of nearly 300 properties, about 80% of which are new construction. Choice Hotels listened closely to guests and owners when developing the new Comfort Rise & Shine prototype, and it has already received enthusiastic reviews from existing Comfort franchisees, who are eager to invest in the future of Choice Hotels’ flagship brand.

“It’s not every day you can say that you directly influenced a brand’s new product, but the Comfort prototype is a great example of how Choice Hotels’ collaboration with owners and developers ensures a win for everyone,” said Azim Saju, chief executive officer and president, HDG Hotels, and owner of 10 Choice-branded hotels. “I’m always looking for ways to optimize returns from my investments. I know Choice is too. I’m proud to have been a part of an incredible project that will be a game changer in the market for current and prospective owners as well as our guests.”

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DENVER: ONE Cannabis Group (OCG Inc.), the parent company to the cannabis dispensary franchise Unity Rd., announced today that it has been acquired by Item 9 Labs Corp. The newly formed entity is the first vertically integrated cannabis franchisor in the United States. The combined business will escalate lead flow for Unity Rd. franchise development and mitigate challenges new and existing dispensary owners face.

Founded in 2018, the cannabis franchise currently has multiple agreements with 10 entrepreneurial groups who are in various stages of development nationwide. As Unity Rd. continues to grow its network by awarding the franchise opportunity to qualified entrepreneurs across the country, Item 9 Labs will help solve an all-too-common challenge that many dispensaries face: securing access to a trusted supply chain. Since cannabis products cannot cross state lines, Item 9 Labs plans to develop or partner with cultivation facilities in states where Unity Rd. franchise partners open cannabis retail shops, giving them front-of-the-line access to award-winning products.

Known for its impressive catalogue of products, Item 9 Labs currently offers 75-plus active cannabis strains and more than 150 differentiated cannabis vape products as well as premium concentrates. The award-winning cannabis operator is headquartered in Arizona, where the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site – one of the largest properties in the state that is zoned to grow and cultivate flower. Just this January, adult-use was made legal in Arizona, revealing the health and promise of the industry at large.

”Item 9 Labs has garnered a reputation as a trusted source for high-quality cannabis products that also offer transparency, consistency and well-being to those relying on us,” said Item 9 Labs CEO Andrew Bowden. The company’s products are currently in nearly half of the cannabis dispensaries in Arizona. He added, “We’ve grown intentionally with all brands centered on helping others become the best versions of themselves. This fits well with Unity Rd.’s mission of inspiring confidence in the benefits of cannabis for all.”

Item 9 Labs also owns and operates DispensaryPermits.com and DispensaryTemplates.com, the leading online platforms for information surrounding cannabis business applications, regulations and state updates. The acquisition offers their customers a solution for long-term guidance and support through the Unity Rd. franchise opportunity. With news of the acquisition as it progressed as well as increased U.S. cannabis legalization, Unity Rd. has seen a surge in franchise lead activity over the past six months. The dispensary franchise is currently targeting Colorado, Oklahoma, Michigan, New Jersey, Maine, and Arizona among other markets, as part of its strategic franchise expansion plan.

Together, the combined team has a proven track record of winning cannabis licenses in 15 states. Mike Weinberger, COO of ONE Cannabis who is now appointed Chief Franchise Officer of Item 9 Labs Corp. with this announcement, explains, “Extending our in-house knowledge in dispensary applications will strengthen our traction in emerging markets. This, along with direct access to Item 9 Labs’ deep bench of premium products are added benefits that puts Unity Rd. franchise partners far ahead of any future competition.”

Unity Rd. offers the safest route for entrepreneurs looking to enter an industry that boasts unrivaled potential, helping franchise partners confidently enter the complex cannabis space. With a collective 120-plus years in the legal cannabis industry, the franchisor’s time-tested Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) guide franchise partners through every operational function of the business. The veteran team passes on their knowledge and trusted resources, as well as provides the ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary.

2020 was a defining year for cannabis as five states approved legalization during the November elections and the overall acceptance of cannabis flourished as several states deemed the industry essential. Despite economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, the demand for cannabis products surged to unprecedented levels with nearly every state experiencing record sales throughout the year. 2021 is poised to be a big year for cannabis law reform on both the state and federal levels – opening opportunities for the industry to explode, projected to top $24 billion by year-end.

”If there was ever a time to invest in the cannabis industry, it’s now,” added Weinberger. “With cannabis sales increasing during the pandemic and several states looking at how tax revenue from legal cannabis could greatly offset the economic damage caused by COVID-19, the industry is poised to take-off. Those eager to enter now will greatly benefit from the knowledge and support of a franchisor to help navigate the complexities and vast inconsistencies on how states regulate.”

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