You’ve made the wise decision to own a franchise in the growing commercial cleaning industry, which is valued at $90 billion , according to IBISWorld. The growth in the industry — attributed to the combination of increasing demand, specialized expertise, time-saving benefits, and a focus on maintaining hygiene and safety in public spaces — has contributed to the thriving nature of commercial cleaning businesses. While it’s a competitive space, as you do your research, determining the right brand to partner with, take a closer look at two industry leaders — the JAN-PRO franchise and ServiceMaster Clean.
What the Brands Have in Common
Both brands are involved in commercial cleaning, an industry that is continuously evolving with innovations such as sanitizing efforts prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both brands do extensive training, certification programs and offer registered advanced cleaning systems that are environmentally responsible to better serve their customers.
JAN-PRO Info
The JAN-PRO website indicates that among the types of businesses they serve are auto dealerships, daycares and preschools, government buildings, retail, banks, fitness centers, religious facilities, fitness centers, schools and universities, business offices, medical facilities, and restaurants. The JAN-PRO franchise, founded in 1991 asks franchise owners to commit to a 10-year franchise term. According to their website, the JAN-PRO Systems International franchise system has more than 8,000 cleaning franchisees, although these numbers include a number of plans, including a lower-cost starter kit.
Brand Comparison
However, to provide you with a fair comparison between the JAN-PRO cleaning franchise and ServiceMaster Clean, in the side-by-side look at the brands, we utilize the franchise industry standard each brands’ Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The International Franchise Association (IFA) says the purpose of the FDD is to provide prospective franchisees with information about the franchisor, the franchise system, and the agreements they will need to sign so that they can make an informed decision.
Here's a look at the primary fees showing the JAN-PRO franchise cost compared with ServiceMaster Clean. The JAN-PRO FDD was effective Feb. 27, 2023, and the ServiceMaster Clean FDD was effective April 30, 2023.
JAN-PRO Franchise
- Franchise Fee: $50,000-$600,000
- Initial Investment: $127,500-$769,000
ServiceMaster Clean
- Franchise Fee: $32,500
- Initial Investment: $87,675-$125,200
*Sources: JAN-PRO FDD, ServiceMaster Clean FDD
ServiceMaster Clean
You’ll see the significant cost difference when you invest in ServiceMaster Clean. This lower initial investment provides a quicker ramp-up to your business, which means a greater chance to enjoy a quicker ROI. We’ve been leaders in the commercial cleaning industry for more than 65 years and have 700 units. We only award franchises to entrepreneurs who align with our brand. Our growth over the years has been strong and steady because we partner with franchise owners who maintain our high standards.
As a franchise owner with ServiceMaster Clean, we not only prepare you to be a business owner, but we train you in all facets of the business, including educating you on our cleaning systems. Our Continuous Improvement Initiative helps our owners stay on the cutting edge by regularly updating our processes and systems to provide services better, more efficiently, and more competitively to our customer base.
In addition, as a franchise owner, you’ll regularly attend virtual franchise training sessions, which are offered on both business-related and more technical topics. You can also attend in-person workshops and conventions, where you’ll learn new things and network with other franchise owners. It’s our people who make the difference — our franchisee testimonials give you a realistic look at ownership with ServiceMaster Clean from their vantage point. With our brand, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about making your ownership experience the best it can be. To do that, we show our dedication to your success as a franchisee. You’ll have your own business development consultant who can guide you along your ownership journey. Growth is important for both the franchise and our owners. If you see the benefits of being a ServiceMaster Clean franchise owner, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have. Let’s get started .