Pressure Washing 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 | $20,000 – $59,500Pending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 4 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $47,000 – $299,250Pending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 4 brands. | $1,800 – $10,500*Pending verificationSourceSurfaceMeasure — pressure washing business startup cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 3 · Guide or blog · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 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 | 5% – 8% of revenuePending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 4 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $15,360Pending verificationSourceMoneyGeek 2026 — pressure washing business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · 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. | $15,360 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $84,200 – $426,410 | $17,160 – $25,860* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $20,000 – $59,500Pending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 4 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $47,000 – $299,250Pending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 4 brands.
- Independent
- $1,800 – $10,500*Pending verificationSourceSurfaceMeasure — pressure washing business startup cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 3 · Guide or blog · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 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)
- 5% – 8% of revenuePending verificationSourcesFranchise.com — Sparkle Wash listing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026IFPG — A1 Pressure Washing(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Rolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Window Ninjas — franchise page(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 4 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $15,360Pending verificationSourceMoneyGeek 2026 — pressure washing business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · 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
- $15,360
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (4 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $84,200 – $426,410
- Independent
- $17,160 – $25,860*
5-year totals assume $87,360–$145,600 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.
Sparkle Wash
We couldn't check Item 19: the newest Sparkle Wash FDD on file in Minnesota CARDS is from 2023, so the figures above come from a franchise directory listing.
A1 Pressure Washing
We couldn't check Item 19: no FDD for this brand was on file in Minnesota CARDS when we looked, so the figures above come from a franchise directory listing.
Rolling Suds
The 2026 FDD reports 2025 revenue for 25 franchised outlets that reported every month of 2025, plus revenue, expenses and EBITDA for the franchisor's affiliate-owned business in Warrington, Pennsylvania.
- Average 2025 revenue, 25 franchised outlets reporting all 12 months of 2025 (gross revenue, not profit)$461,189 a yearPending verificationSourceRolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2.A/2.B. Revenue reported by franchisees and not audited; it is gross revenue before royalties and expenses, not profit. Leaves out outlets not open all of 2025 or that missed a month of reporting (the system had 64 franchised outlets at the start of 2025 and 134 at the end). Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 revenue, same 25 franchised outlets$324,973 a yearPending verificationSourceRolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2.A/2.B. Revenue reported by franchisees and not audited; it is gross revenue before royalties and expenses, not profit. Leaves out outlets not open all of 2025 or that missed a month of reporting (the system had 64 franchised outlets at the start of 2025 and 134 at the end). Your results may differ.
- Lowest 2025 revenue among the same 25 franchised outlets$92,837 a yearPending verificationSourceRolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2.A/2.B. Revenue reported by franchisees and not audited; it is gross revenue before royalties and expenses, not profit. Leaves out outlets not open all of 2025 or that missed a month of reporting (the system had 64 franchised outlets at the start of 2025 and 134 at the end). Your results may differ.
- Average 2025 revenue, 5 franchised outlets open all of 2024 and 2025$609,681 a yearPending verificationSourceRolling Suds 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2.A/2.B. Revenue reported by franchisees and not audited; it is gross revenue before royalties and expenses, not profit. Leaves out outlets not open all of 2025 or that missed a month of reporting (the system had 64 franchised outlets at the start of 2025 and 134 at the end). Your results may differ.
Window Ninjas
We couldn't check Item 19: no FDD for this brand was on file in Minnesota CARDS when we looked, so the figures above come from the franchisor's own page.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Brand recognition customers may already know
- Initial and ongoing training
- Marketing support and lead generation
- Established operating systems and software
- A network of other owners to learn from
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkle Wash | $47,000 – $129,000 | $21,840 – $36,400 | $0 | $0 | $15,360 | $84,200 – $180,760 | +$67,040 – $161,500 |
| A1 Pressure Washing | $81,800 – $97,375 | $26,208 – $43,680 | $0 | $0 | $15,360 | $123,368 – $156,415 | +$106,208 – $137,155 |
| Rolling Suds | $211,150 – $299,250 | $34,944 – $58,240 | $8,736 – $14,560 | $39,000 | $15,360 | $309,190 – $426,410 | +$292,030 – $407,150 |
| Window Ninjas | $96,900 – $191,000 | $30,576 – $50,960 | $0 | $0 | $15,360 | $142,836 – $257,320 | +$125,676 – $238,060 |
| Independent (lean start) | $1,800 – $3,900* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $15,360 | $17,160 – $19,260 | — |
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 Pressure Washing guide · Sources for these figures