Comparing Franchise Brands in the Home Services Industry

Are you interested in investing in a franchise that you can run from your home office? The home services industry could be perfect for you! 

The home services industry is a stable and necessary one, offering services such as lawn care, insect repellant, extermination, interior and exterior painting, deep cleaning services and more. No matter how much of a handyman or home-care guru you are, there are always instances where you just have to call a professional. Depending on the climate and makeup of their community or surrounding residential area, a home service business could be an extremely lucrative opportunity for potential franchisees. 

We’ve broken down different types of home services based on the details of their Franchise Disclosure Documents, or FDDs. In the following 10 examples, you’ll be able to better understand these brands based on the estimated initial investment (Item 7), and financial performance representations (Item 19). 

Lawn Doctor*

Locations: 450
Item 7: $100,015 to $116,065
Item 19: Average net revenue of $715,399 for territories open more than two years

The Lawn Doctor is a customizable lawn care solutions company that is available for residential and business services. Lawn Doctor has over 50 years of industry experience, and the brand has an average customer retention rate of 80%. Franchisees have the option of operating single or multiple territories, but franchisees that own seven or more territories see an average revenue of more than $2 million. System-wide, Lawn Doctor franchisees average an 84% profit margin. For business owners already in the lawn care industry, Lawn Doctor offers business conversion services, which allow franchisees to keep their existing customer base while partnering with Lawn Doctor’s resources for increased brand recognition, improved technology and corporate support. 

Mosquito Hunters*
Locations: 54
Item 7: $69,949 to $82,209
Item 19: Not available

Mosquito Hunters offers targeted insect and pest repellent service. Veterans interested in Mosquito Hunters receive $10,000 off of the initial franchise fee. For a relatively low buy-in, you can become a Mosquito Hunters franchisee and start making some serious money during the busy summer months. Mosquito Hunters recently hit its 50-territory milestone — franchising with this growing brand is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an expanding business.

Mosquito Joe*
Locations: 285
Item 7: $95,600 to $140,000
Item 19: Average annual revenue of $256,769 for territories open more than five years

Mosquito Joe’s motto is “outside is fun again.” This pest removal brand has a family-centric approach to its marketing and targets families looking to make their yards a more comfortable and safe place to relax during the year’s most pleasant months, which just so happen to coincide with mosquito season. Mosquito Joe is ranked No. 1 in pest control in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and No. 47 overall. The brand currently has 285 locations and is hoping to open 50 more within the year. Franchising a seasonal business allows franchisees to shut down the business and relax during the offseason, depending on location. 

Pool Scouts*

Locations: 18
Item 7: $57,200 to $116,475
Item 19: Not available

Pool Scouts is a business that aims to help customers spend less time maintaining their pools and more time enjoying them. For business owners who reside in warm, sunny residential areas where many people have pools, Pool Scouts is a great opportunity with a relatively low initial investment. Pool Scouts is a part of the portfolio of Buzz Franchise Brands, which collectively owns Pool Scouts, Home Clean Heroes* and British Swim School. As of late 2018, Pool Scouts reported doubling their customer growth year over year. The brand was ranked No. 70 among Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New Franchises in 2018.

Green Home Solutions*
Locations: 193
Item 7: $50,745 to $132,000
Item 19: Not available

Green Home Solutions is ranked No. 205 in Entrepreneur’s 2019 Franchise 500 and is among one of its fastest-growing franchise opportunities, as well. The brand sets itself apart from the competition by offering eco-friendly mold remediation and indoor air quality services. Green Home Solutions taps into the extremely viable market of eco-friendly business, while also aiding the wellness of its consumers. This brand is at an ideal position for growth, with the opportunity for new territories in every part of the country.

Fresh Coat*
Locations: 135
Item 7: $53,945 to 76,845
Item 19: Average annual revenue of $588,826

This professional painting service sets out to make getting your home repainted as painless as possible. Franchisees don’t need painting experience — Fresh Coat hires and manages experienced painters to get the job done. Currently, the franchise has locations in the U.S. and Canada, but it is looking to expand internationally. This brand boasts the ease of being a franchisee in its system, claiming that many of their franchisees also run other businesses. 

Home Clean Heroes
Locations: 2
Item 7: $78,295 to 132,588
Item 19: Not available

Also a member of the Buzz Franchise Brands portfolio, this new franchise operating out of Virginia Beach, Virginia intends to set a new standard in home cleaning services. Affordable startup costs, a flexible lifestyle and a product that is always in demand are appealing characteristics of franchising with this brand. The residential cleaning industry is worth an estimated $6 billion and viable in almost any market, making Home Clean Heroes perfect for someone interested in getting on board with a growing business.

Shack Shine
Locations: 40
Item 7: $49,500 to $99,500
Item 19: Not available

The exterior cleaning industry is valued at $10 billion annually, with 5% year-over-year growth for the past five years. Shack Shine offers interior and exterior window washing, gutter cleaning, power washing and even Christmas light installation. This brand is creating a new niche within the home services industry by offering house detailing, too. Shack Shine part of O2E Brands, the parent company of other home services including 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Wow 1-Day Painting and You Move Me. This brand has territories all over the U.S. and Canada and offers an easily scalable business model. 

MaidPro
Locations: 200-plus
Item 7: $77,560 total minimum investment
Item 19: Average monthly revenue of $61,366 

MaidPro offers a friendly and flexible franchising model for its franchisees, and was ranked No. 6 in Forbes’ Best Franchises to Own in 2018. This brand also offers comparatively lower initial investment than other house cleaning franchises. For someone interested in working with an established brand with hundreds of locations in the U.S. and Canada, MaidPro can be a great avenue to start franchising. Veterans receive $3,000 off of the brand’s franchise fee and $12,000 in invoice credits.

Furniture Medic
Locations: 320
Item 7: $54,130 to $70,373
Item 19: Annual gross sales of $2 million from the top business

Furniture Medic restores and repairs wood structures and surfaces of all kinds. This business ranks No. 233 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2019 Franchise 500 and is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands. ServiceMaster also includes Merry Maids, Terminix and AmeriSpec. Veteran incentives include 20% off of the $33,000 franchise fee. This franchise has locations currently in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Turkey, and is looking to further expand its international presence.