Cost to Start a MaidPro Franchise in 2026

MaidPro franchise startup costs run $89K–$143K for a residential house cleaning franchise with one of the lowest entry points in the category. Declining royalty tiers reward franchisees who scale.

Key takeaways

Total estimated startup cost: $89,000–$143,000 (residential house cleaning franchise)
Franchise fee: $8,500 — among the lowest in the residential cleaning category
Ongoing royalty: 3.5–6.5% of gross sales (declining tiers); marketing fund contribution applies
180+ locations; recurring weekly and biweekly cleaning service model
Listed on the SBA Franchise Directory — eligible for expedited SBA loan processing

MaidPro is a residential house cleaning franchise founded in 1991 in Boston, Massachusetts. The brand operates with one of the lowest franchise fees in the residential cleaning category ($8,500) and a highly favorable declining royalty structure, making it an accessible entry point for owner-operators seeking a recurring-revenue service business. MaidPro operates 180+ locations across the US and Canada. Prospective franchisees should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 CFR Part 436).

Franchise overview

MaidPro serves residential customers with recurring weekly and biweekly house cleaning services — the standard model in the category. The franchise differentiates on low franchisee entry cost relative to competitors and a royalty structure that declines significantly as franchisee revenue scales, allowing high-volume operators to retain a larger share of revenue than competing brands. MaidPro's 99 Point Checklist cleaning standard provides a structured quality framework for franchisees to train staff and maintain service consistency. Corporate provides franchisees with marketing systems, digital presence tools, and operational support.

Total startup investment (FDD via FTC 16 CFR Part 436)

Per the current FDD filed under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 CFR Part 436), total estimated initial investment for a MaidPro franchise runs $89,000–$143,000. The no-storefront service model and low franchise fee make this one of the more capital-efficient entries in the residential cleaning category:

Franchise fee: $8,500
Office setup (home office or small commercial office): $1,000–$10,000
Vehicle(s) for cleaning crews: $5,000–$25,000 (new or used)
Cleaning equipment and initial supplies: $5,000–$12,000
Technology (MaidPro scheduling software, CRM): $3,000–$8,000
Marketing and business development: $15,000–$30,000
Insurance and bonding: $5,000–$10,000
Training (initial MaidPro training program): $3,000–$8,000
Working capital (3 months): $30,000–$60,000
Miscellaneous pre-opening costs: $22,000–$30,000

Ongoing fees

MaidPro charges a royalty of 3.5–6.5% of gross sales on a declining tier structure — the royalty starts at 6.5% and steps down as weekly revenue reaches higher thresholds, reaching as low as 3.5% at higher volume tiers. This structure is among the most favorable in the residential cleaning franchise category. The marketing fund contribution supports national brand development. The low franchise fee and declining royalty make MaidPro particularly attractive to operators planning to scale to multiple crews.

Financing options

MaidPro is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, qualifying franchisees for expedited SBA loan processing. Common financing paths at $89K–$143K:

SBA 7(a) loan: Covers the full investment range per the SBA 7(a) program. Standard path for most MaidPro startups; working capital terms of 10 years.
SBA microloan: The SBA Microloan Program provides up to $50,000 — can cover equipment, vehicles, and early working capital for franchisees supplementing personal equity.
Vehicle financing: Cleaning crew vehicles can be financed separately at 3–5 year terms to reduce main loan principal.
Working capital line of credit: Covers payroll and supplies during the initial customer ramp-up before recurring revenue reaches target levels.

ROI timeline

MaidPro operators typically target breakeven within 18–30 months. The recurring cleaning model and low fixed overhead mean operating leverage is high — each new regular customer added to the schedule contributes recurring revenue without proportional cost increases. The low royalty at scale (as low as 3.5%) amplifies profitability as the franchise grows beyond the initial crew. Markets with high dual-income household density and strong residential real estate activity ramp fastest.

Who's a good fit

MaidPro suits first-time franchisees and owner-operators seeking a lower-cost entry into recurring-revenue residential services. Financial thresholds are among the most accessible in the category — typically net worth of $100K+ and liquid capital of $40K+. Prior cleaning industry experience is not required; MaidPro provides training on the 99 Point Checklist system and operational standards. The primary challenges are crew hiring and retention in competitive local labor markets and building an initial customer base through local marketing and referral programs.

Apply for franchise financing

ClearValue Lending works with residential cleaning franchise operators on SBA 7(a), SBA microloans, and working capital lines. Apply for franchise financing at Find my match. Your file routes to one matched lender.

What lenders look for in a MaidPro franchise application

SBA lenders underwriting a MaidPro application ($89K–$143K) evaluate the residential cleaning model against SBA SOP 50 10 7 creditworthiness criteria. Key underwriting factors:

Crew payroll float and working capital line: Residential cleaning crews are paid on a biweekly payroll cycle, but client billing typically runs weekly or per-visit. A payroll float gap of 7–14 days creates a recurring working capital need — lenders require a working capital line of credit ($15K–$30K) to cover payroll during the ramp phase before recurring billing has fully stabilized.
Client ramp DSCR — 6 to 9 months to stabilized revenue: MaidPro's revenue model depends on recurring weekly and biweekly cleaning clients. Lenders model a 6–9 month ramp before the client base generates sufficient recurring revenue to service debt. The pro forma must show the SBA minimum 1.15× DSCR — which lenders stress to 1.25× — on a global basis including the borrower's personal expenses.
Vehicle collateral at 70–85% advance on new vehicles: Cleaning vans are meaningful collateral at the $89K–$143K investment level. Lenders advance 70–85% on new vehicles and 60–70% on used vehicles with fewer than 50,000 miles. Vehicles must be titled to the business entity and listed on the lender's security agreement.
Declining royalty DSCR narrative: MaidPro's 3.5–6.5% declining royalty structure is a positive underwriting signal. As gross revenue scales, the effective royalty rate decreases — meaning DSCR improves as the business grows. Lenders note this in the credit memo as a structural advantage over flat-royalty competing brands, which supports a more favorable growth-rate assumption in the pro forma.
SBA Express fit and 10–15% equity injection: At $89K–$143K, MaidPro qualifies for SBA Express (up to $500K), which offers faster approval timelines and a streamlined application process. Equity injection is 10–15% — approximately $9K–$21K — which must be documented in bank statements showing funds available prior to disbursement.

Sources

MaidPro is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, qualifying franchisees for expedited SBA loan eligibility review. — SBA Franchise Directory
SBA 7(a) standard loans go up to $5M — covering the full MaidPro investment range — with 10-year terms for working capital. — SBA 7(a) Loan Program
All franchise cost and fee disclosures are governed by the FTC Franchise Rule (16 CFR Part 436) requiring a Franchise Disclosure Document be delivered at least 14 days before signing. — FTC Franchise Rule — 16 CFR Part 436
FDIC data shows SBA 7(a) and working capital lines are the dominant capital structures for residential service franchise investments in the $75K–$175K range. — FDIC Small Business Lending Survey

Frequently asked questions

How much does a MaidPro franchise cost in 2026?

Per the current FDD, total estimated initial investment runs $89,000–$143,000. The franchise fee is $8,500 — one of the lowest in the residential cleaning category. Working capital and vehicles are the other major cost components.

What is MaidPro's royalty structure?

MaidPro charges a declining royalty of 3.5–6.5% of gross sales. The royalty starts at 6.5% and decreases as weekly revenue reaches higher thresholds, reaching as low as 3.5% at top-tier volume. This structure is among the most favorable in the residential cleaning franchise category.

How does MaidPro compare to Molly Maid or Two Maids?

MaidPro has a significantly lower franchise fee ($8,500 vs. $14,900 for Molly Maid and $55,000 for Two Maids) and one of the lowest royalty structures in the category. Two Maids differentiates on its Pay for Performance compensation model. Molly Maid benefits from Neighborly's cross-brand network. MaidPro's lower entry cost and favorable royalty make it the most capital-efficient option for scale-focused operators.

What is MaidPro's 99 Point Checklist?

MaidPro's 99 Point Checklist is a proprietary cleaning standard that covers 99 specific cleaning tasks across all areas of a home. It provides a structured quality framework for training cleaning staff and maintaining consistency across crews and visits.

Can I finance a MaidPro franchise with an SBA loan?

Yes. MaidPro is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory. SBA 7(a) covers the full investment range. For franchisees supplementing personal equity, SBA microloans (up to $50K) can cover vehicles and early working capital.