About The Cleaning Authority Franchise
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise offering maid style home cleaning services along with optional carpet cleaning, window cleaning, furniture cleaning, and light commercial cleaning.
Operating under AB Assetco LLC and franchising since 2021, the brand provides a systematic approach to residential cleaning that emphasizes consistency, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
The franchise fee is $20,000 for an Enterprise Market or $15,000 for a Hometown Market, offering tiered pricing based on market size.
The Cleaning Authority Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$104K
Average Investment
$140K
Maximum Investment
$175K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $20,000 (Enterprise Market), $15,000 (Hometown Market) | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | For Enterprise Markets, 6% of first $600,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $600,000.01 to $1,300,000; 4% of Gross Revenue above $1,300,000.01. For Hometown Markets, 6% of first $300,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $300,000.01 to $550,000; and 4% of Gross Revenue above $550,000.01. Rate reverts to 6% at start of next calendar year. of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 1% of Gross Revenue or $200 per week, whichever is less. Can increase if 50% or more of Franchised Businesses consent. | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $103,875 – $175,250 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $104K–$175K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (For Enterprise Markets, 6% of first $600,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $600,000.01 to $1,300,000; 4% of Gross Revenue above $1,300,000.01. For Hometown Markets, 6% of first $300,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $300,000.01 to $550,000; and 4% of Gross Revenue above $550,000.01. Rate reverts to 6% at start of next calendar year.) and marketing fee (1% of Gross Revenue or $200 per week, whichever is less. Can increase if 50% or more of Franchised Businesses consent.) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Territory Fee | $22,500 | $45,000 |
| Franchise Fee | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Computer, including Training Software Access Fee | $1,750 | $2,750 |
| Washer, Dryer & Furniture | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Cleaning Equipment and Supplies | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Insurance and Insurance Deposits | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Office Rent and Security Deposit | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| Local Marketing Fee Deposit - 50% of first 13 weeks | $6,563 | $13,127 |
| Local Marketing Fees - remaining 50% of first 13 weeks | $6,563 | $13,127 |
| Vehicle Lease or Purchase | $0 | $2,000 |
| Full Time Manager | $0 | $14,250 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $27,000 | $34,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | Generally, $10,000. Additional fees may apply if referred by third-party broker or if franchisor identifies purchaser (greater of $15,000, 3% of total purchase price, or actual costs). |
| Renewal Fee | Not applicable |
| Technology Fee | Currently $30.25 per week, increasing to $33.25 on July 1, 2023. |
| Audit Fee | Our costs and expenses of conducting audit, including travel and lodging. |
| Local Marketing Fee | Currently $.374 multiplied by a percentage of Designated Households (9% to 13% depending on customer count, with lower thresholds for Hometown Markets). May increase up to 4% annually. |
| Key Account Programs | Will vary under circumstances and may be determined based on number of participating franchisees or other factors. |
| Call Center Fee | Currently $1.75 per call with a new prospective customer and $2.50 per call for all other calls. Beginning June 1, 2023, increases to $2.00 and $3.00 per call respectively. |
| Brand Fund Materials | Our costs |
| Additional Opening Support Fee | Up to $500 per day, plus reasonable travel, meal, and lodging expenses |
| Training Fees – Remedial and Optional Training | None currently, but can be charged for extra trainees ($1,000 per day plus costs), remedial training, or optional programs. |
| Annual Conference | Currently, one complimentary registration and a cost set by Franchisor thereafter |
| Non-attendance Fee | Currently $2,000 |
| Service Deficiency Fee | Our costs |
| Change of Ownership Fee | Currently, greater of $500 or external legal/administrative costs, plus applicable training fees. |
| Procurement of Insurance | Cost of insurance plus reasonable fee of up to 25% of total insurance premium cost. |
| Vendor Review | Our reasonable costs, plus reasonable travel, meal and lodging expenses. |
| Management Fee | Up to $500 per day, plus our costs and overhead. |
| Step In Fee | Up to $500 per day, plus our costs and overhead. |
| Interest | 12% per annum or maximum rate permitted by law, whichever is less. |
| Late Fee | $100 for second occurrence, $200 for third, $300 for each subsequent occurrence. |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | $50 or amount bank charges, whichever is greater. |
| Indemnity for Tax Withholding | Amount of any penalties, interest, and expenses we incur. |
| Non-Compliance Fee | 1% of Gross Revenue |
| Enforcement costs | Will vary under circumstances |
| Defense Costs | Our actual costs and expenses |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Liquidated Damages | Greater of: (i) two years of Royalty Fees or (ii) $100,000. |
| De-Identification Fee | Our costs |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Initial Training Program usually lasts 10 business days. An additional 3-day training session at an existing Franchised Business is required for purchasers of existing businesses. |
| Classroom Training | 37 |
| On-the-Job Training | 45.5 |
| Training Location | Columbia, Maryland |
| Additional Training | Franchisor makes available additional required and optional training programs after opening. Online training modules are accessible via Training Software Access Fee. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Enterprise Markets: 30,000 to 60,000 Designated Households. Hometown Markets: 15,000 to 29,999 Designated Households. |
| Description | Identified by zip codes or as otherwise defined in the Data Sheet. Based on the number of Designated Households, which is a residence with an estimated annual gross income of at least $70,000 (or $85,000 in California). |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 15 years |
| Renewal Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Fee | Not applicable |
| Renewal Conditions | Written notice 6-12 months before expiration, no default, good record of customer service and Brand Standards compliance, good terms with franchisor (no litigation), sign then-current franchise agreement, sign general release of claims, meet training requirements, demonstrate right to remain in Approved Location, remodel/refurbish/renovate vehicles and premises, and upgrade computer systems and vehicles. |
| Transfer Fee | Generally, $10,000. Additional fees may apply if referred by third-party broker or if franchisor identifies purchaser (greater of $15,000, 3% of total purchase price, or actual costs). |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisee and Owners in compliance with agreements, proposed transferee meets qualifications (educational, managerial, business standards, good moral character, business reputation, credit rating, no involvement with Competing Businesses), sign then-current franchise agreement and personal guarantee, complete training, modernize/upgrade business to current Brand Standards, sign general release of claims, price and terms do not negatively impact viability, financing subordinated to franchisor obligations. |
| Termination for Cause | Failure to obtain Approved Location within 3 months, failure to complete pre-opening training, failure to open by Opening Deadline, unauthorized closing for 3+ consecutive days, loss of right to possession of Approved Location, refusal to permit inspection, non-compliance with competition restrictions, unauthorized transfer of interest, misuse/disclosure of confidential information, false/misleading records, fraud/embezzlement, misappropriation of employee funds, felony conviction, insolvency, appearance on 'blocked' persons list, material breach, failure to achieve minimum assessment score (2 consecutive or 3+ in 5 years), failure to maintain insurance, failure to resolve customer complaint, failure to attend annual convention (2 consecutive years), failure to conduct background checks, repeated defaults. |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise, and for 2 years after expiration, termination, or approved transfer. |
| Non-Compete Details | During term: No involvement in 'Competing Business' (residential/commercial cleaning services or related goods/services, or granting franchises for such businesses, or substantially similar in nature/purpose). After term: No involvement in 'Competing Business' within (i) Territory, (ii) 40 miles of Territory, (iii) any zip code where customers were served, (iv) territory of other existing Franchised Businesses plus 10 miles, or (v) territory serviced by franchisor/affiliates plus 10 miles. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Franchisee must designate a 'Key Person' responsible for day-to-day operations, owning at least 10% of the business, and completing initial training. The Key Person must work on premises at the business office. A replacement Key Person must be nominated within 30 days if the original leaves, and approved within 90 days. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisor is the only approved supplier for the Local Marketing Program and proprietary software (TCA IQ). All products carrying the Marks must be purchased only from franchisor or approved suppliers. BuyMax sells miscellaneous non-branded products, and franchisor reserves the right to require purchases from BuyMax or through its programs. Approved vendors are designated for certain items, including cleaning supplies (must meet scientific-based environmental standards and use 'green' logo). Required to use a call center or similar live voice answering service (franchisor is an approved supplier, but other approved live voice services can be used). |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisor has the right to require all equipment, technology, inventory, supplies, vehicles, signs, furnishings, fixtures, décor items, retail merchandise, payment systems, and other products and services to meet specifications, be purchased from approved vendors, and/or be purchased from a single source (including franchisor or affiliates). Franchisor and affiliates may receive rebates, administrative fees, commissions, licensing fees, or other benefits from unaffiliated vendors and distributors. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | For fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, franchisor had revenue of $28,702,809 from providing products and services to franchisees, including Local Marketing Fee revenue (65% of total revenue). Affiliates BuyMax and Successware had revenue of $1,810 and $19,018 respectively from franchisee purchases. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | Yes |
| Description | Franchisor may permit financing of up to 75% of the combined Franchise Fee and Territory Fee, payable in up to 36 monthly installments at 12% per annum interest. A Promissory Note and Guaranty (and Security Agreement) are required. Franchisor does not offer financing for transactions involving brokers or third-party referral sources. Franchisor does not guarantee third-party financing. |
The Cleaning Authority Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$1.2M
Median Revenue
$1.2M
Revenue Range
$138K – $4.4M
Sample Size
199 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
The Cleaning Authority Litigation & Risk Flags
1 Pending Action ListedReview the full FDD for details on pending litigation.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
The Cleaning Authority System Growth
Total Units
219
Franchised
216
Company-Owned
3
The Cleaning Authority currently operates 216 franchised locations and 3 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 10 | 211 |
| 2021 | 7 | 6 | 212 |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | 219 |
Transfers: 11 | Closures: 3
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$191K
Net Income
$37K
Total Assets
$780K
Audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for year ending December 31.
The Cleaning Authority Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a The Cleaning Authority franchise ranges from $103,875 to $175,250, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $20,000 (Enterprise Market), $15,000 (Hometown Market). The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
The Cleaning Authority charges a royalty fee of For Enterprise Markets, 6% of first $600,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $600,000.01 to $1,300,000; 4% of Gross Revenue above $1,300,000.01. For Hometown Markets, 6% of first $300,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $300,000.01 to $550,000; and 4% of Gross Revenue above $550,000.01. Rate reverts to 6% at start of next calendar year. of gross sales, plus a 1% of Gross Revenue or $200 per week, whichever is less. Can increase if 50% or more of Franchised Businesses consent. contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the The Cleaning Authority Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from The Cleaning Authority to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, The Cleaning Authority franchise owners report average revenue of $1.2M and median revenue of $1.2M. This is based on a sample of 199 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Cleaning Authority has been franchising since 2021. The FDD shows an investment range of $103,875-$175,250, a For Enterprise Markets, 6% of first $600,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $600,000.01 to $1,300,000; 4% of Gross Revenue above $1,300,000.01. For Hometown Markets, 6% of first $300,000 Gross Revenue; 5% of Gross Revenue from $300,000.01 to $550,000; and 4% of Gross Revenue above $550,000.01. Rate reverts to 6% at start of next calendar year. royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There are 1 pending litigation action(s). Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $20,000 (Enterprise Market), $15,000 (Hometown Market) and the total investment ranges from $103,875 to $175,250 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
Similar Cleaning & Restoration Franchises
Interested in The Cleaning Authority?
Get free info on this franchise. We will send you a detailed FDD report by email.
Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from The Cleaning Authority and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with The Cleaning Authority or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com