Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
| Franchise (4 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $15,000 – $100,000Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 4 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $50,700 – $509,745Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 4 brands. | $3,819 – $105,923*Pending verificationSourcesCleanFreak — Heated 500 PSI Portable Carpet Extractor Package w/ 12" Wand, 25' Hose & 4" Detailing Tool(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Payless Janitorial — Sapphire Scientific 370 EFI Truck mount(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Safety Express — Sapphire Scientific 370 EFI with 120 gallon waste tank(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Velocity Automotive Journal — What's New: 2026 Ford Transit (Ford announcement)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zack Academy — IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT), Edina, MN, October 5–6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Computed from 5 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 6% – 7% of revenue; flat monthly fee (Heaven's Best, Oxi Fresh)Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 4 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $18,960 – $20,160Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — carpet and upholstery cleaning business insurance cost (updated September 1, 2026)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Jobber — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $18,960 – $20,160 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $104,920 – $620,957 | $22,779 – $126,083* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $15,000 – $100,000Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 4 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $50,700 – $509,745Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 4 brands.
- Independent
- $3,819 – $105,923*Pending verificationSourcesCleanFreak — Heated 500 PSI Portable Carpet Extractor Package w/ 12" Wand, 25' Hose & 4" Detailing Tool(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Payless Janitorial — Sapphire Scientific 370 EFI Truck mount(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Safety Express — Sapphire Scientific 370 EFI with 120 gallon waste tank(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Velocity Automotive Journal — What's New: 2026 Ford Transit (Ford announcement)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zack Academy — IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician (CCT), Edina, MN, October 5–6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Computed from 5 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (4 brands)
- 6% – 7% of revenue; flat monthly fee (Heaven's Best, Oxi Fresh)Pending verificationSourcesHeaven's Best 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued January 14, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Oxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Zerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Stanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 4 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $18,960 – $20,160Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — carpet and upholstery cleaning business insurance cost (updated September 1, 2026)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Jobber — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $18,960 – $20,160
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (4 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $104,920 – $620,957
- Independent
- $22,779 – $126,083*
5-year totals assume $68,224–$107,120 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
Heaven's Best
Heaven's Best's 2026 FDD makes no financial performance representation: Item 19 gives no sales or earnings figures.
Oxi Fresh
Oxi Fresh's Item 19 reports 2025 gross sales, job counts and job prices for 178 'Active Operators' (franchisees open every month of 2025), running 396 territories; it shows no expenses or profit.
- Average annual gross sales per Active Operator, 2025 (178 operators, 396 territories)$156,833.04 a yearPending verificationSourceOxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ. Some operators run several territories. Excludes 45 outlets that closed in 2025. Only 28.1% of Active Operators reached this average.
- Median annual gross sales per Active Operator, 2025$110,980.59 a yearPending verificationSourceOxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ. Unaudited figures reported through the franchisor's scheduling center.
- Average annual gross sales, bottom fifth of Active Operators, 2025 (36 operators)$36,850.64 a yearPending verificationSourceOxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ.
- Average price per completed job, all Active Operators, 2025$251.78Pending verificationSourceOxi Fresh 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 15, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Median per-job price was $239.36. Includes carpet, rug, upholstery, tile and hardwood jobs.
Zerorez
Zerorez's Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenues and some expenses for 43 of its 60 franchisees with at least a year in operation; the average franchise ran about 8 mobile units.
- Average gross revenues per franchise, 2025 (43 franchisees open at least one year)$1,428,301 a yearPending verificationSourceZerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ. Unaudited. Excludes 5 closed franchises, 5 with under a year of history and 12 that did not report. The average franchise ran 8 mobile units, so this is a multi-truck business.
- Median gross revenues per franchise, 2025$890,136 a yearPending verificationSourceZerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ.
- Share of the 43 franchisees that reached the average, 202532.6%Pending verificationSourceZerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 202614 of 43 franchisees.
- Average gross revenues per mobile unit per month, 2025$15,717 a monthPending verificationSourceZerorez 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ.
Stanley Steemer
Stanley Steemer's Item 19 reports 2025 gross sales for the 208 franchisees in operation all year, nationwide and by region; it shows no expenses or profit.
- Average annual gross sales per franchisee, 2025 (208 franchisees open all year)$1,742,025 a yearPending verificationSourceStanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ. Many franchisees run several trucks. Company-owned branches are excluded.
- Median annual gross sales per franchisee, 2025$1,179,370 a yearPending verificationSourceStanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties, fees and all operating costs; not profit. The FDD says your individual results may differ.
- Franchisees at or above the 2025 average64Pending verificationSourceStanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 202664 of 208 franchisees.
- Lowest annual gross sales of any franchisee, 2025$43,724 a yearPending verificationSourceStanley Steemer 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 31, 2026, amended April 6, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026The highest was $13,374,992.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Equipment, tools and starting supplies are included in the franchise fee
- Designed to run from home; the FDD recommends against leasing space
- Initial training at the franchisor's center in Rexburg, Idaho
- Flat monthly royalty instead of a percentage of sales
- A central scheduling center books appointments for you
- Low-moisture method with portable equipment; no truck-mount needed
- Equipment and starter supplies included in the franchise fee
- A required software package covering scheduling, payments and customer messaging
- Initial training for two people included; IICRC certification is part of training
- National brand advertising
- Discounts for veterans and for existing cleaning businesses that convert
- One of the best-known names in carpet cleaning
- Proprietary truck-mount cleaning platform and equipment
- National advertising program and call center support
- Partial financing of the initial franchise fee
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heaven's Best | $55,960 – $110,100 | $0 | $0 | $30,000 – $60,000 | $18,960 – $20,160 | $104,920 – $190,260 | +$82,141 – $166,175 |
| Oxi Fresh | $50,700 – $87,304 | $0 | $10,234 – $16,068 | $31,500 | $18,960 – $20,160 | $111,394 – $155,032 | +$88,615 – $130,947 |
| Zerorez | $218,718 – $410,698 | $20,467 – $32,136 | $3,411 – $5,356 | $0 | $18,960 – $20,160 | $261,556 – $468,350 | +$238,777 – $444,265 |
| Stanley Steemer | $175,685 – $509,745 | $23,878 – $37,492 | $34,112 – $53,560 | $0 | $18,960 – $20,160 | $252,635 – $620,957 | +$229,856 – $596,872 |
| Independent (lean start) | $3,819 – $3,925* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,960 – $20,160 | $22,779 – $24,085 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.
Back to the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning guide · Sources for these figures