Servicemaster Clean Franchise Cost & 2026 FDD Data
81/100
Strongest tier
81 this brand56 Cleaning & Maintenance medianlikely 77–85 (high confidence)
Higher is better · an editorial assessment, not investment advice
#157 of 3,068 graded brands
Why an A: Helped by financial health, unit economics, scale and transparency. Held back by unit growth. See all six factors
- Total investment
- $112K – $188K
- Avg gross sales
- $885K
- “Single-Franchise Ownership Groups (one Active Franchise), FY2025”, 169 franchisees; not profit
- SBA charge-off
- 0.0%
None of the 70 resolved SBA 7(a) loans to Servicemaster Clean owners charged off (approved since FY1991); Cleaning & Maintenance median 14.3%. Loans approved FY2014–FY2018: 0 of 65 resolved loans charged off (0.0%); newer loans have not had time to default, so this is not a trend.
Data from the FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records. Analysis by FranchiseVerdict · Methodology · Website · Report an error · Franchisor? Claim this listing
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026 FDD
Per the 2026 FDD, a Servicemaster Clean franchise requires a total initial investment of $112K – $188K, including a $40K franchise fee. Per the 2026 FDD, average gross sales per franchisee were $885K. This franchisor reports Item 19 per franchisee rather than per outlet, so the figure is not comparable with per-outlet averages (Item 19 group “Single-Franchise Ownership Groups (one Active Franchise), FY2025”, 169 franchisees; gross sales, not profit). SBA 7(a) loans show a 0.0% charge-off rate on 70 resolved loans. Verdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice.
Sources: 2026 FDD · SBA 7(a) loan records (FOIA) · What one unit could make and lose →
Sources, dates and evidence
FDD issued: · Last cited check: · Staleness risk: low (issued within the last 12 months)
Evidence for the headline figures: strong✓ Investment (Item 7)✓ Item 19 status✓ Units and owners (Item 20)✓ SBA loan coverage✓ Litigation (Item 3)✓ Financial statements (Item 21)✓ Franchisor identityhow this is scored6 of 6 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing.
Overview
Quick verdict · vs Cleaning & Maintenance median
Top edge: green = better than the Cleaning & Maintenance median by more than 10%, red = worse by more than 10%, gray = within 10% or no benchmark. Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a).
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Methodology
Bottom line
- RETURNSAverage gross sales per franchisee of $885K/year (outlet median $392K; Item 19 group “Single-Franchise Ownership Groups (one Active Franchise), FY2025”, 169 franchisees; gross sales, not profit). Averaged per franchisee, not per outlet - not comparable with per-outlet figures.
- GROWTHIn the latest Item 20 year, the number of franchised outlets fell by 27 (6 opened, 33 closed).
- TERMSNo protected territory and the franchisor reserves the right to compete in your area. Clarify territorial boundaries before signing.
AT STAKEOne unit at the Item 7 midpoint: $19K a year in payments on assumed SBA 7(a)-style terms.You put in about $30K of your own cash and personally guarantee a $120K loan. Assumptions are labeled in Sales; not investment advice.See what one unit could make and lose
Things to check before you sign (3)
- Net -27 franchised outlets in 2025 (Item 20, outlet counts). Ask owners why outlets closed.
- The franchisor keeps the right to compete inside your territory (Item 12, territory).
- The franchisor receives rebates or payments from suppliers you buy from (Item 8, required suppliers).
Checked and clear: no auditor doubt that the franchisor can keep operating, no pending lawsuit naming the franchisor, SBA charge-off rate 0.0%, below the 14.3% category median and the full filing on file, and an Item 19 average from 169 units. Not on file here, so ask: jury-trial waiver and owner-operator rule.
What to do next
Step 1: Read the FDD itself.
Free: the franchisor must give it to you at least 14 days before you sign or pay. Or look it up in a state registry (Wisconsin, Minnesota, California). What to read first.
Step 2: Talk to current and former owners.
Free: Item 20 of the FDD lists every current owner and those who left last year, most with a phone number. Questions to ask.
Step 3: Talk to an SBA lender.
Free: the SBA's Lender Match, or the lenders already lending to this brand in the SBA section. Ask what you would personally guarantee and what the monthly payment would be. If you plan to use retirement savings, ask a CPA about the rules for that first.
Step 4: Have a franchise attorney review the FDD and agreement.
Free: your state bar's lawyer referral service can name franchise lawyers, and many offer a short first consultation. Bring the checks listed above.
Research steps, not investment or legal advice.
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost (the Item 7 midpoint) is near the Cleaning & Maintenance median ($162K).
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7 (fees and startup costs)
Do you qualify? The filing states no minimum net worth or liquid capital. Ask ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC (Item 1: One Glenlake Parkway, 14th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30328) and your lender what they require, and keep living costs for the first year outside the deal.
FDD Item 7 (startup costs) · 2026 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $40K | $40K |
| Working capital (first 3 months) | $30K | $50K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $42K | $98K |
| Total initial investment | $112K | $188K |
Source: Servicemaster Clean 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 6 · what you pay once you are open
Ongoing fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marketing / ad fund | 0.5% |
Technology feeThe filing's detailManagement Software fee tiered by prior-year Gross Service Sales: $360/mo (<=$750,000), $430/mo ($750,001-$2,000,000), $545/mo ($2,000,001-$7,000,000), $750/mo (>$7,000,000); plus $450/quarter for designated business intelligence software; plus Digital Platform Fee of $250/month per office location (cap $500/month). | $360/month |
| Transfer fee | $4,000 |
| Renewal fee | $2,400 |
What do units actually make?
Average gross sales are 71% above the Cleaning & Maintenance median ($519K).
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 19 (sales and earnings)
Items 6 (other fees), 7 (startup costs) and 19 (sales and earnings) · assumptions labeled
What you could make and lose: one unit
What one Servicemaster Clean unit would ask of you, from the filing's Item 7 total and labeled assumptions.
Average gross sales are $885K (FDD p.73). This brand's Item 19 does not print cost lines. Enter your own from a lease quote, a payroll plan and calls with current owners. So this box does not estimate a profit. To cover the loan payment alone, one unit has to clear $19K a year after its food, labor, rent and other costs and the franchisor's fees.
How these figures are worked out
- Loan (assumption): 80% of the $150K Item 7 midpoint is a $120K loan, paid over 10 years at 10.5%: $19K a year. SBA 7(a)-style terms on a long-term rate; your lender sets yours. Servicemaster Clean's past SBA 7(a) loans averaged 5.7% at approval; 7(a) rates move with the prime rate, so 10.5% is a current-rate assumption, not this brand's history.
What you put at risk
Your own cash in: about $30K Assumption (the part the loan does not cover of the $150K Item 7 midpoint), plus whatever anything Item 7 leaves out (its notes say what). The loan is $120K.
Personal guarantee. SBA 7(a) loans require a personal guarantee from anyone who owns 20% or more of the business. If the unit cannot pay, the lender can collect from you personally, which can include your savings and your home. The worst case is losing the cash you put in and still owing the rest of the loan.
Gross sales are not profit, and none of these figures is take-home pay until tax and every operating cost are paid. The assumptions are ours, not the filing's. Not investment advice.
Returns modelOne unit · several units · editable
One unit
One unit: what is left after the loan payment
Gross sales, minus the franchisor's fees and the operating costs, is the unit's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). Minus an assumed loan payment, that is what is left for you, before tax. Gross sales are not profit.
This brand's Item 19 does not print cost lines. Enter your own from a lease quote, a payroll plan and calls with current owners. Invested capital is the Item 7 total, which already includes its working-capital (additional funds) line.
Returns model · one unit
What would one Servicemaster Clean unit leave you each year after the loan payment?
Item 19: $885,376 average for 169 franchisees (Single-Franchise Ownership Groups (one Active Franchise), FY2025). Use a figure for outlets like yours if yours differ.
Gross sales, not profit: the costs below decide what is left.
The filing also sets a minimum or cap on these fees: “Greater of Minimum Monthly Royalty (graduated by months of operation, $0-$2,982/mo) or (a) Royalties for Contracted Recurring Services on a 4-tier graduated scale from 7% down to 4% of Gross Service Sales for such services, plus (b) 10% of Gross Service Sales for Other (non-recurring) Services.”; “Currently the greater of 0.5% of monthly Gross Service Sales or $25 per month (Ad Fund Contribution)” (Item 6). This model applies the percentages, so at low sales the real fee can be higher than shown here.
Item 6, as stored, a year. A fixed fee, so it comes off EBITDA as dollars, not a share of sales.
This brand's Item 19 does not print cost lines. Enter your own from a lease quote, a payroll plan and calls with current owners.
Illustrative category typicals, not sourced to any filing, survey or sample. Replace them with figures from franchisee validation calls before you rely on the output.
Item 7 midpoint of $112K to $188K
Item 7's $30K to $50K additional funds are already in the total
Left after the loan payment · per year
The unit's EBITDA minus the assumed loan payment. Before tax, depreciation and any cost your inputs leave out (insurance, accounting and legal, licenses, technology fees): not take-home pay.
Gross sales are not profit. Neither the filing nor a stated assumption on this page supplies royalty rate, direct costs, labor, rent / occupancy and other operating costs. Enter your own (a lease quote, owner calls) and the model runs on it.
Loan of $120K at 10.5% over 10 years, an assumption, not a quote. Return and payback are before tax, depreciation and the costs above. The loan usually needs your personal guarantee.
Buying several existing units? The acquisition scenario
Buying several units
What buying a few existing units could return
Prices an existing operator of a few units off the single-unit EBITDA above, after shared services, and finances it with an SBA 7(a) loan, a conventional loan and a seller note. It shows the yearly return on your cash (IRR), whether year-1 earnings cover the loan payments (DSCR) and how the price is paid for. It starts at 5 units; every deal term is an assumption you can change, and none is from the FDD.
Not modelled yet
Gross sales are not profit. Neither the filing nor a stated assumption on this page supplies royalty rate, direct costs, labor, rent / occupancy and other operating costs. Enter your own (a lease quote, owner calls) and the model runs on it.
This scenario starts from a per-unit EBITDA. Fill in the operating costs in the one-unit model above and it runs on that figure, or take it to the full ROI workbench, where the multi-unit and acquisition models accept your own per-unit economics.
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: 2026 FDD · filed by ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC
Financial performance
- Top and bottom 25%
- $77K→$2.5M
- Bottom group → top group: the top and bottom 25% as the filing reports them
Percentile ranks within Cleaning & Maintenance
Each rank is among the Cleaning & Maintenance brands that report that figure (the count is under each bar).
vs Cleaning & Maintenance medians
How Servicemaster Clean compares
Per franchisee, not per outlet - the category median is per-outlet only, so no comparison is shown
Category median of published Cleaning & Maintenance brands that report the figure; the middle half spans the 25th to 75th percentile and n counts the brands behind it. Medians are used because a few very large systems pull an average far from the typical brand. Revenue is disclosed gross sales, not profit.
Who are you contracting with?
ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC, owned by ServiceMaster Systems LLC.
Same franchisor, other program: ServiceMaster Restore. Each is a separate offering with its own page.
Item 1 (the franchisor) · who you're contracting with
The franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC
- Parent company
- ServiceMaster Systems LLC
- FDD Item 1, page 9 of the 2026 FDD
- Ultimate parent
- RW Parent LLC (owned by private equity funds managed by Roark Capital Management LLC)
- FDD Item 1, page 9 of the 2026 FDD
- Predecessor
- ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Jon Nobis
- Incorporated in
- Delaware
- HQ
- One Glenlake Parkway, 14th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30328
- Auditor
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Audited financials
Same owner · FDD Item 1, page 9
4 other brands on this site name RW Parent LLC (owned by private equity funds managed by Roark Capital Management LLC) as parent or ultimate parent in their own FDD.
- Merry Maids (grade B)
- ServiceMaster Restore (grade B)
- Two Men and a Junk Truck (grade A)
- Two Men and a Truck (grade A)
Portfolio: Roark Capital (private-equity sponsor)
Grouped by the owner's name as each filing prints it (this page: the 2026 FDD). Spelling variants of the same group may be listed apart; a brand is never grouped with an owner its filing does not name.
Overview
About
ServiceMaster Clean franchisees provide facility maintenance and cleaning services including carpet cleaning, duct cleaning, construction cleaning, and related janitorial/commercial cleaning services to residential and commercial customers.
- CEO
- Jon Nobis
Is the system healthy?
-22 franchised outlets over the two years to 2025 (606 to 584, -3.6% in total, -1.8% a year compounded).
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20 (outlets opened, closed and transferred)
Item 20 (outlet counts) · unit dynamics
The growth chart
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 1%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 41.7%
Last fiscal year · Item 20 rates and pipeline
- Reacquired
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Item 20 · franchised units at year end
Franchised units fell from 606 in 2023 to 584 in 2025
Axis does not start at zero.
Source and method
Government records
SBA loan data
Lenders charged off 0.0% of 70 resolved SBA 7(a) loans, below the 14.3% category median. 7(a) is the SBA's main small-business loan; a resolved loan was paid in full or charged off.
- Loans on file
- 73
- SBA 7(a) loans matched to this brand, incl. those still being repaid
- Loan volume
- $34.3M
- Average loan
- $470K
- loan volume divided by loans
- Charge-off rate
- 0.0%
- 0 of 70 resolved loans
- Paid in full
- 100.0%
- of resolved loans
- Charge-off, loans approved FY2014–FY2018
- 0.0%
- 0 of 65 resolved loans; newer loans have not had time to default, so this is not a trend
- Lenders
- 38
- Average interest rate
- 5.7%
- Jobs reported
- 1,597
- Lender concentration
- 14%
- top lender's share
Cumulative: every 7(a) loan matched to this brand in the SBA’s FOIA files, approved FY1991 onward. Historical lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
Benchmark: the median Cleaning & Maintenance brand charges off 14.3% (33 brands with a published rate, same cumulative window and source). This brand is 14.3 points below it.
The approval-year breakdown covers 70 resolved loans and 0 of the 0 charge-offs (FY2013 to FY2018).
SBA 7(a) · charge-off rate by approval year
Servicemaster Clean: no charge-offs among resolved loans in the 3 rated years
Hollow rings on the axis: years with fewer than 10 resolved loans, not rated (too few to judge). Their numbers are in the table.
Show the numbers by year
| Year | Resolved | Charged off | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | Too few |
| 2014 | 20 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 | Too few |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | Too few |
Dashed line: all franchise 7(a) loans approved the same year.
Source and method
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Full SBA lending reportlenders · charge-off rate · trend
Lender network · SBA 7(a)
SBA Lending Report
Lender, state and yearly detail for Servicemaster Clean from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records.
- Average SBA guarantee
- 67%
- Average interest rate
- 5.7%
- Lender concentration
- 14%
- Jobs reported
- 1,597
Top 10 SBA lenders by loan count
| Loans | Volume | Charge-off |
|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | ||
| 10 | $1.5M | Not on file |
| Wells Fargo Bank National Association | ||
| 7 | $6.1M | Not on file |
| Truist Bank | ||
| 6 | $4.7M | Not on file |
| Banner Bank | ||
| 4 | $914K | Not on file |
| Simmons Bank | ||
| 3 | $269K | Not on file |
A lender’s rate counts only its resolved loans, the loans that have finished (paid in full or charged off); a 0.0% often means few of its loans have finished. Under 10 resolved loans, the rate reads “Too few”.
Charge-off rate by state (top 10 by loans)
| State | Loans | Charged off | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| OH Ohio | 11 | 0 | 0.0%10 resolved |
| FL Florida | 8 | 0 | Too few8 resolved |
| MI Michigan | 8 | 0 | Too few8 resolved |
| CA California | 6 | 0 | Too few6 resolved |
| OR Oregon | 4 | 0 | Too few4 resolved |
| TX Texas | 4 | 0 | Too few3 resolved |
| WA Washington | 4 | 0 | Too few4 resolved |
| AR Arkansas | 3 | 0 | Too few3 resolved |
| OK Oklahoma | 3 | 0 | Too few3 resolved |
| GA Georgia | 2 | 0 | Too few2 resolved |
Rate: charged-off loans over resolved loans (paid in full plus charged off), shown from 10 resolved loans. "Too few": under 10 resolved. The Loans column counts every approval in the window, including loans still being repaid.
SBA 7(a) loans approved per year
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level data, matched to the brand by FranchiseVerdict.
With a charge-off rate of 0.0% on 70 resolved loans, very few of this brand's SBA 7(a) loans have been charged off.
What are the risks?
Main risk: a shrinking system. Franchised outlets fell from 606 to 584 over the two years to 2025.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Verdict grade + FDD Items 3 (litigation), 4 (bankruptcy), 8 (required suppliers), 16 (what you may sell), 21 (audited financials)
Risk and legal
Grade A: Strongest tier, 81/100 (category median 56); the full grade is at the top of the page.
How the grade is built
Why an A, factor by factor
- Financial health HelpsAudited financials; no going-concern doubt; franchisor net income positive
- Unit economics HelpsAvg gross sales $885K on a $150K investment midpoint, 5.9x (gross sales, not profit)
- Unit growth Weighs on it, weakest dimension-22 franchised outlets over the two years to 2025 (606 to 584, -3.6% in total, -1.8% a year compounded); turnover 5.7%
- Scale Helps584 franchised units; franchising since 2021; mostly company-owned (1% franchised)
- Legal NeutralItem 3 covers the franchisor's whole portfolio, so no matter is attributed to this brand (neutral)
- Transparency HelpsItem 19 discloses financial performance; audited financials
- Adjustments after the six dimensions (+10 points)SBA loan record: the SBA charge-off rate (0.0% on 70 resolved loans) is under 2%, a range the score counts in a brand's favour, so it added 10 points.
From the six scored dimensions, an editorial assessment, not investment advice. How the score is built
Litigation (Item 3)
Subject: the franchisor is a named party (defendant).
One recent case (H&L Enterprises, filed 2023) settled Jan 2026 for $1,795,000 paid by franchisor relating to termination and vendor program removal; four older predecessor-era cases settled for smaller amounts ($17,500-$75,000) or no payment.
Largest disclosed settlement in the franchisor's own cases: $1,795,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
Ask what the franchisor earns on the supplies it sells you or the rebates it takes (Item 8).
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Franchisor takes supplier rebates: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: No
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: Yes
Litigation case detail9 matters · Item 3
Litigation cases
The franchisor and its predecessor
Concluded (5)
H&L Enterprises, LLC v. ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC d/b/a ServiceMaster Brands
settledBrought by a franchisee · filed 2023-10-05 · Circuit Court of Shelby County for the State of Tennessee, Thirteenth Judicial District · CT-4161-23
“… Circuit Court of Shelby County for the State of Tennessee, Thirteenth Judicial District, Case No.: CT-4161-23, filed on October 5, 2023.”Page 23 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “On January 9, 2026, the parties entered into a settlement agreement in which (a) neither party admitted liability or fault, (b) we agreed to pay the franchisee $1,795,000, (c) the franchisee agreed that its franchise agreement was terminated, and (d) both parties agreed to release certain claims.”
Faster Than Sound, Inc. v. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership, SM Clean LLC, ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE, LLC, and ServiceMaster Systems, LLC
settledBrought by a franchisee · ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership (co-respondents SM Clean LLC, ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE, LLC and ServiceMaster Systems, LLC) · filed 2021-06-03 · American Arbitration Association · 01-20-0007-2597
“… American Arbitration Association, Case No. 01-20-0007-2597, filed June 3, 2021. Claimant filed a claim against Respondents alleging (a) violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act,”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “No payment was required to be made by Respondents nor was any payment made on their behalf. On February 22, 2022, an Order dismissing the proceedings with prejudice was entered as to both the Claim and the Cross-Claim.” (page 25)
Express Restoration Corporation v. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership and SM Clean, LLC
settledBrought by a franchisee · ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership (with SM Clean, LLC) · filed 2018-12-20 · United States District Court for the Central District of California · 18-cv-10569-JFW-MRW
“… United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 18-cv- 10569-JFW-MRW, filed December 20, 2018. Plaintiff, who was a former franchisee, filed a Complaint against ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. for alleged damages of approximately $1.5 million.”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “After several months of discovery and motion practice, the parties agreed to a settlement whereby (a) Predecessor paid Plaintiff the sum of $75,000 and (b) Plaintiff and its owners agreed that they will never in any way own, operate, consult with, be employed by, or associated with any individual or entity that is associated with any ServiceMaster Franchise.”
Mary Fernimos v. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership
settledBrought by a franchisee · ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership · filed 2018-01-09 · United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan · 2:18-cv010083-SJM-EAS
“… United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Case No. 2:18-cv010083-SJM-EAS, filed January 9, 2018. Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Predecessor alleging breach of a settlement agreement relating to the sale and transfer of certain licenses”Page 24 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “On May 23, 2018, the parties reached a settlement by mediation whereby Predecessor agreed to pay Plaintiff $17,500 and allow a one- year period to sell one former ServiceMaster franchise agreement to an approved buyer in a specific region in Michigan. On June 26, 2018, the lawsuit was Dismissed with Prejudice.”
ServiceMaster by Jones, Inc. v. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership
settledBrought by a franchisee · ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services Limited Partnership · filed 2014-12-29 · Tennessee Chancery Court, 30th District (printed in the text layer as '30UPUthUPU District') · CH-14-1845
“… Tennessee Chancery Court, 30UPUthUPU District, No. CH-14-1845, filed December 29, 2014. Plaintiff was a franchisee that filed a lawsuit alleging misrepresentation and fraud in the inducement, and unfair and deceptive trade practices by Predecessor”Page 23 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “The parties entered into a settlement agreement whereby (a) Predecessor agreed to pay $20,000 but denied any wrongdoing; (b) the parties agreed to an early termination of the franchise agreement;” (page 24)
Parent, affiliates, master franchisor and subfranchisor
Concluded (4)
New York v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. (DBI) · filed 2019-09-26 · N.Y. Supreme Court for New York County · 451787/2019
“… N.Y. Supreme Court for New York County, Case No. 451787/2019, filed September 26, 2019. The New York Attorney General (“NYAG”) filed a lawsuit against our affiliate, DBI, related to credential-stuffing cyberattacks during 2015 and 2018.”Page 26 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “On September 21, 2020, without admitting or denying the NYAG’s allegations, DBI and the NYAG entered into a consent agreement to resolve the State’s complaint. Under consent order, DBI agreed to pay $650,000 in penalties and costs,”
The People of the State of California v. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
settledGovernment or regulatory action · Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) · filed 2019-03-19 · California Superior Court, Los Angeles County · 19STCV09397
“… California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Case No. 19STCV09397, filed March 19, 2019. On March 11, 2019, our affiliate, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“ARG”), entered into a settlement agreement with the states of California,”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “ARG expressly denied these conclusions but entered into a settlement agreement to avoid litigation with the states. Under the settlement agreement ARG paid no money but agreed (a) to remove the disputed provision from its franchise agreements (which it had already done);”
The People of the State of California v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
settledGovernment or regulatory action · Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. (DBI) · filed 2019-03-19 · California Superior Court, Los Angeles County · 19STCV09597
“… California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Case No. 19STCV09597, filed on March 19, 2019. On March 14, 2019, our affiliate, Dunkin Brands, Inc. (“DBI”), entered into a settlement agreement with the Attorney Generals of 13 states and jurisdictions concerning the inclusion of “no-poaching” provisions”Page 25 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “The Attorney General of the State of California filed the above-reference lawsuit in order to place the settlement agreement in the public record, and the action was closed after the Court approved the parties’ stipulation of judgment.” (page 26)
In the Matter of Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV LLC
concludedGovernment or regulatory action · Jimmy John’s Franchisor SPV LLC · Securities Commissioner of Maryland · 2025-0122
“… (Securities Commissioner of Maryland, Case No. 2025-0122). On March 28, 2022, Jimmy John’s filed a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with the Maryland Securities Division as part of a notice of exemption from franchise registration.”Page 26 of the 2026 FDD, Item 3
Outcome: “the Maryland Securities Commissioner and Jimmy John’s entered into a Consent Order on June 9, 2025. Under the terms of the Consent Order, Jimmy John’s agreed to pay a $30,000 civil monetary penalty,”
Item 3 lists the litigation the franchisor must disclose; a matter against a parent, an affiliate or a named officer is not a matter against the franchisor, and pending claims are allegations, not findings.
What are you signing up for?
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12 (territory), 15 (owner participation) and 17 (renewal, termination and disputes)
Contract and territory detail
| Allowed renewals | 1 |
|---|---|
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territory | No |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Non-compete (years) | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles) | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusal | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 45 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination grounds | 15 |
| Curable defaults | 3 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Governing law | Georgia |
Items 10 (financing), 11 (training and support)
Training and operations
- On-the-job training
- 0 hrs
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Site selection
- Franchisee, subject to franchisor approval of office location for territory drive-time compliance
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
Items 5 (initial fees) & 11 (training and support)
Franchisor support
Franchisee contacts
We hold no owner list for this brand. Item 20 of the FDD lists the current and former owners; the free FDD is the source.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a Servicemaster Clean franchise?
Per the 2026 FDD, the total investment to open a Servicemaster Clean franchise ranges from $112K to $188K, with an initial franchise fee of $40K. This is the Item 7 total in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD): the startup costs the franchisor lists, such as build-out, equipment, inventory and working capital. It usually leaves out buying land or a building; Item 7's notes say what is excluded.
What do Servicemaster Clean franchise owners earn?
According to Item 19 of the Servicemaster Clean FDD, average gross sales were $885K (Item 19 group “Single-Franchise Ownership Groups (one Active Franchise), FY2025”, 169 franchisees; gross sales, not profit). The median is $392K. Averaged per franchisee, not per outlet - not comparable with per-outlet figures. What an owner keeps depends on location, operating costs and management.
Who owns Servicemaster Clean?
Servicemaster Clean is franchised by ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC. Its parent company is ServiceMaster Systems LLC. The ultimate parent named in the FDD is RW Parent LLC (owned by private equity funds managed by Roark Capital Management LLC). Source: FDD Item 1, 2026 filing.
What is Item 19 in the Servicemaster Clean 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 Servicemaster Clean FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Servicemaster Clean's franchise failure rate?
There is no published franchise failure rate. What is measurable is Servicemaster Clean's SBA charge-off rate: 0.0% on 70 resolved loans. Put plainly: None of the 70 resolved SBA 7(a) loans to Servicemaster Clean owners charged off (approved since FY1991); loans approved FY2014–FY2018: 0 of 65 resolved loans charged off (0.0%); newer loans have not had time to default, so this is not a trend. The SBA charge-off rate is the share of a brand's resolved SBA 7(a) loans to its franchisees that the SBA wrote off, including purchased guarantees. Resolved means paid in full or charged off; active loans are excluded because their outcome is not yet known. It is a lending outcome, not a count of closed businesses. A franchisee can repay and close, or default and keep trading.
How many Servicemaster Clean franchise locations are there?
Per the 2026 FDD, Servicemaster Clean has 584 franchised units and 0 company-owned (584 in all). In the latest year, the number of franchised outlets fell by 27 (6 opened, 33 closed).
Is Servicemaster Clean a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict gives Servicemaster Clean an A Verdict grade (Strongest tier) with a verdict score of 81 out of 100 (higher is better), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Helped by financial health (audited financials), unit economics, scale and transparency. Held back by unit growth (-22 franchised outlets over the two years to 2025: 606 to 584, -3.6% in total, -1.8% a year compounded). The “Why an A” section on this page lists all six dimensions and any adjustment. Speak with current franchisees before making any investment decision.
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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.