Dryer Vent 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 (3 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $25,000 – $100,000Pending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $55,550 – $253,500Pending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands. | $284 – $1,720*Pending verificationSourcesJendco Safety Supply — Nikro Dryer Vent Brush Kit 861024(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Jendco Safety Supply — Nikro Dryer Vent Vacuum w/ Tool Kit & Rotary Brush Kit (DVK200)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 5% – 10% of revenuePending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $24,270 – $25,470Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — cleaning business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Jobber — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $24,270 – $25,470 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $170,720 – $363,570 | $24,554 – $27,190* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $25,000 – $100,000Pending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $55,550 – $253,500Pending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands.
- Independent
- $284 – $1,720*Pending verificationSourcesJendco Safety Supply — Nikro Dryer Vent Brush Kit 861024(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Jendco Safety Supply — Nikro Dryer Vent Vacuum w/ Tool Kit & Rotary Brush Kit (DVK200)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Secretary of State — Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (3 brands)
- 5% – 10% of revenuePending verificationSourcesDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — DryerVentz / DuctVentz / WindowZ(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Entrepreneur Franchise Directory — Dryer Vent Squad(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $24,270 – $25,470Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — cleaning business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Jobber — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $24,270 – $25,470
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (3 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $170,720 – $363,570
- Independent
- $24,554 – $27,190*
5-year totals assume $78,000–$156,000 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.
Dryer Vent Wizard
Item 19 reports 2025 Gross Sales for franchises open all year, split by single-unit and multi-unit owners, plus average sales per job; about a third of single-unit franchises reached the average.
- Average annual Gross Sales, 2025, 73 single-unit franchises open all year (not profit)$236,672 a yearPending verificationSourceDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 73 single-unit franchises open and reporting all of 2025; excludes 81 businesses owned by multi-unit franchisees (reported separately), 8 opened in 2025 and 10 that closed in 2025. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." 25 of the 73 (34%) reached this average.
- Median annual Gross Sales, 2025, same 73 single-unit franchises (not profit)$165,307 a yearPending verificationSourceDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 73 single-unit franchises open and reporting all of 2025; excludes 81 businesses owned by multi-unit franchisees (reported separately), 8 opened in 2025 and 10 that closed in 2025. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average annual Gross Sales of the top 25%, 2025, 18 single-unit franchises (not profit)$532,924 a yearPending verificationSourceDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 73 single-unit franchises open and reporting all of 2025; excludes 81 businesses owned by multi-unit franchisees (reported separately), 8 opened in 2025 and 10 that closed in 2025. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average annual Gross Sales of the bottom 25%, 2025, 18 single-unit franchises (not profit)$64,005 a yearPending verificationSourceDryer Vent Wizard 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 73 single-unit franchises open and reporting all of 2025; excludes 81 businesses owned by multi-unit franchisees (reported separately), 8 opened in 2025 and 10 that closed in 2025. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." The lowest single-unit franchise reported $14,712.
DryerVentz
We couldn't check Item 19: no DryerVentz FDD was available on Minnesota CARDS, and we don't use earnings figures quoted by third-party sites.
Dryer Vent Squad
We couldn't check Item 19: the newest Dryer Vent Squad FDD on Minnesota CARDS is from 2024, older than the figures above, so we haven't used it, and we don't use earnings figures quoted by third-party sites.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Part of Neighborly, a large home-services franchise group
- Group purchasing through Neighborly's ProTradeNet program
- Local marketing resources and ongoing operational support
- Classroom and on-the-job training (65 hours listed by Entrepreneur)
- 20% off the franchise fee for qualifying veterans
- Covers dryer vents, air ducts and windows under one brand
- Classroom and on-the-job training (60 hours listed by Entrepreneur)
- No advertising fund fee listed
- Can be run from home
- Classroom and on-the-job training (64 hours listed by Entrepreneur)
- Third-party financing relationships
- 20% off the franchise fee for veterans
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dryer Vent Wizard | $84,900 – $163,400 | $39,000 – $78,000 | $7,800 – $15,600 | $15,057 | $24,270 – $25,470 | $171,027 – $297,527 | +$146,473 – $271,773 |
| DryerVentz | $55,550 – $102,600 | $19,500 – $62,400 | $0 | $72,000 | $24,270 – $25,470 | $171,320 – $262,470 | +$146,766 – $236,716 |
| Dryer Vent Squad | $89,150 – $253,500 | $27,300 – $54,600 | $0 | $30,000 | $24,270 – $25,470 | $170,720 – $363,570 | +$146,166 – $337,816 |
| Independent (lean start) | $284* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $24,270 – $25,470 | $24,554 – $25,754 | — |
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 Dryer Vent Cleaning guide · Sources for these figures