CleanNet USA Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
CleanNet USA is a commercial janitorial franchise servicing offices, retail, and facilities under recurring contracts. Franchisees hire and supervise cleaning crews, manage client accounts, and grow revenue through contract volume.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A CleanNet USA franchise requires a total initial investment of $20K – $85K, including a $16K – $70K franchise fee and an ongoing 10.0% royalty[2]. The 2023 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2023 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $20K – $85K
- 5th pct Cleaning & Ma…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Outlet subset
- Royalty
- 10.0%
- 55th pct Cleaning & Ma…
- Units
- 1,296
- 86th pct Cleaning & Ma…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Cleaning & Maintenance · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Cleaning & Maintenance avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $20K – $85K including a $16K franchise fee, 10.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 19 discloses "Gross Billings" (monthly cleaning-contract revenue billed to accounts) rather than whole-unit annual gross sales; figures are Maryland-only, tiny samples (1-2 franchisees per package tier) for 2022.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 70/100 (higher is better).
- LEGAL11 litigation matters disclosed in Item 3, higher than typical. Review the summary for patterns (franchisor-initiated vs. franchisee-initiated).
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- CleanNet of Baltimore/Washington, Inc.
- Parent company
- CleanNet U.S.A., Inc.
- Predecessor
- CleanNet U.S.A., Inc. (predecessor to CBW for existing sub-franchise rights)
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- President
- Mark F. Salek
- Incorporated in
- Virginia
- HQ
- 8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 500, Vienna, Virginia 22182
- Auditor
- Yount, Hyde & Barbour P.C.
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $12.7M
- vs $96.4M prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Mark F. Salek
- Headquarters
- Virginia
- Founded
- 1987
- FDD year
- 2023
- States available
- 19
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 83% below the typical cleaning & maintenance franchise.
Source: FDD 2023 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown11 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $16K | $70K | |
| Initial Cleaning Equipment and Supplies | $1K | $3K | |
| Cellular Phone (for 3 months) | $120 | $450 | |
| Computer System and Internet | $2K | $2K | |
| Great Plains Software Package and Software Support | $0 | $5K | |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $40 | $125 | |
| Insurance | $22 | $600 | |
| Office Supplies, Stationery | $25 | $600 | |
| Business Entity Formation and other Legal & Accounting | $100 | $1K | |
| Initial Certification Expenses | $125 | $250 | |
| Additional Funds (1st 3 Months) | $2K | $3K | |
| Total initial investment | $20K | $85K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $20K – $85K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $2K – $3K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $16K – $70K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 10.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 0.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 11.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 10.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 0.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $0 |
| Inventory (initial) | $1K – $3K |
| Total fee load | 11.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2023 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
CleanNet USA did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one CleanNet USA unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
122%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2023 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 19 discloses "Gross Billings" (monthly cleaning-contract revenue billed to accounts) rather than whole-unit annual gross sales; figures are Maryland-only, tiny samples (1-2 franchisees per package tier) for 2022.
Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system
- Item 19 type
- Initial Volume Fulfillment / Monthly Gross Billings by Initial Package tier (Maryland franchisees only, 2022) — not whole-unit annual revenue
- Sample size
- 4 franchisees
- vs category median 32 · small
- Reporting year
- 2022
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2023
- Disclosed in the 2023 filing, covering 2022
- Transparency
- 2 / 10
- vs category median 4 / 10 · below
Compared against 192 Cleaning & Maintenance brands
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 11.0% (near the Cleaning & Maintenance average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports Initial Volume Fulfillment / Monthly Gross Billings by Initial Package tier (Maryland franchisees only, 2022) — not whole-unit annual revenue rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
System contracting at -10.9% CAGR over 3 years. Investigate whether closures are franchisor-driven consolidation or franchisee exits.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Cleaning & Maintenance averages
How CleanNet USA Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2023 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 1,296
- Opened
- 23
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 113
- Turnover rate
- 8.7%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- -10.9%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- -10.9%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 23
- Closed (3yr)
- 72
- Terminated (3yr)
- 41
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 2
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 19 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
19
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
A system losing more than 10% of its units year-over-year is a red flag. Check whether closures are concentrated in specific regions.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA loan disclosures. This brand has only 1 7(a) loan on file; statistical reliability is limited below 10 loans.
- Total loans
- 1
- Loan volume
- $150K
- Median loan
- $150K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
- limited sample (1 loan) — rate not shown below 10
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 1
- Defaults
- N/A
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
CleanNet USA presents HIGH RISK due to a shrinking 6.5% declining unit base, multiple active misclassification and wage-hour lawsuits, prior regulatory violations, complete lack of profitability disclosures, and unprotected territories—indicating a deteriorating franchise system with serious legal and operational red flags.
Litigation (Item 3)
Multiple franchisee class actions alleging misclassification of franchisees as employees/independent contractors, wage-and-hour violations, and misrepresentation regarding available cleaning contracts; largest settlement was $7.5M (Sola, Massachusetts, 2013) covering several related Massachusetts arbitrations. A 2020-2022 California PAGA action settled for $925,000 total. One pending EEOC/MDCR discrimination charge as of the FDD date. A 2000-2001 Maryland Securities Division consent order concerned incomplete/misleading FDDs and unlawful earnings claims.
Largest disclosed settlement: $7,500,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Yount, Hyde & Barbour P.C.
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: No
- Restricted to system-approved products: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 70 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORSystem declining 6.5% YoY (1296 to ~1211 units) indicates shrinking franchise base and potential saturation or dissatisfaction
- 02HIGHMultiple active litigation cases involving misclassification of franchisees as independent contractors raise legal/classification risk and suggest potential reclassification liability
- 03MINORMaryland Securities Division consent order regarding earnings representations and disclosure documentation indicates prior regulatory violations and credibility concerns
- 04MEDNo average revenue or net income disclosed in FDD Item 19—impossible to assess actual unit economics or franchisee profitability
- 05MINORUnprotected territory creates direct competition risk; franchisees can be undercut by other CleanNet franchisees in same geographic area
- 06MINOR10% royalty on gross billings (not net profit) is aggressive; royalties paid regardless of profitability, increasing franchisee financial stress
- 07HIGHWage and hour litigation suggests operational model may pressure franchisees to misclassify their own employees or violate labor laws
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 11.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2023 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Territory type | none |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory radius | 30 mi |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Right of first refusalℹ | No |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 6 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Howard County, Maryland |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | Virginia |
| Litigation count | 11 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Multiple franchisee class actions alleging misclassification of franchisees as employees/independent contractors, wage-and-hour violations, and misrepresentation regarding available cleaning contracts; largest settlement was $7.5M (Sola, Massachusetts, 2013) covering several related Massachusetts arbitrations. A 2020-2022 California PAGA action settled for $925,000 total. One pending EEOC/MDCR discrimination charge as of the FDD date. A 2000-2001 Maryland Securities Division consent order concerned incomplete/misleading FDDs and unlawful earnings claims.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 15 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 8 hrs
- Training location
- Columbia, MD and/or Falls Church, VA (or CleanNet subfranchisor's facility)
- Ongoing training
- Optional
- Time to open
- 0 mo
- From signing to launch
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Microsoft's Great Plains Accounting
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Microsoft's Great Plains Accounting
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
182 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
CleanNet USA · FDD (2023) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a CleanNet USA franchise?
The total investment to open a CleanNet USA franchise ranges from $20K – $85K, with an initial franchise fee of $16K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do CleanNet USA franchise owners earn?
CleanNet USA does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the CleanNet USA FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the CleanNet USA FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is CleanNet USA's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for CleanNet USA (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many CleanNet USA franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, CleanNet USA has 1,296 total units in the United States, including 1,296 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 23 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is CleanNet USA a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates CleanNet USA as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 70 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
If you represent CleanNet USA, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.