Molly Maid franchise startup costs run $103K–$170K for a residential housecleaning service. Recurring customer relationships are the core asset — repeat visits generate predictable revenue without ongoing acquisition cost.
Molly Maid is a residential housecleaning franchise founded in Canada in 1979 and established in the US in 1984. The brand specializes in recurring residential cleaning services — weekly, biweekly, and monthly visit schedules — rather than one-time or event-based cleans. As of 2026, Molly Maid is part of Neighborly, the Waco, Texas-based home services franchisor that also owns Mr. Rooter, Drain Dr., Rainbow International, and more than a dozen other home services brands. The recurring service model is the defining economic characteristic: each new customer added to a regular schedule generates predictable revenue without repeated acquisition cost.
Per the current FDD, total estimated initial investment for a Molly Maid franchise runs $103,000–$170,000. Unlike most franchise concepts, there is no retail location — the business operates from a small office or home office, and technicians travel to customer homes. The primary cost categories are:
Molly Maid franchisees pay a royalty of 6.5% on gross sales with declining tiers — the royalty rate decreases as weekly gross revenue passes defined thresholds, rewarding franchisees who scale. The advertising fund is 2% of gross sales, which is lower than many service franchise concepts, reflecting the highly localized nature of residential cleaning demand (most customers are acquired through referral, local digital search, and Neighborly network programs rather than broad brand advertising).
Molly Maid requires prospective franchisees to demonstrate net worth of $100,000 or more and liquid capital of $60,000 or more — among the more accessible thresholds in the Neighborly franchise family. The lower investment requirement and recurring revenue model make Molly Maid a common entry point for first-time franchisees in the home services category. The primary scaling challenge is hiring and retaining reliable cleaning staff in competitive local labor markets.
Molly Maid is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, qualifying franchisees for expedited SBA loan processing. At the $103K–$170K investment range, financing options include:
Molly Maid (Neighborly) is on the SBA Franchise Directory, qualifying franchisees for expedited SBA 7(a) eligibility. At $103K–$170K, SBA 7(a) and SBA Microloans (under $50K) are both viable paths depending on the financed amount. Here is what underwriters evaluate:
Molly Maid deal structure typically: SBA 7(a) (or SBA Microloan for sub-$50K amounts) covering equipment, initial marketing, and working capital; vehicles financed separately as commercial auto loans; 10–20% borrower equity injection. Low entry cost makes this one of the most financeable home services franchises. ClearValue Lending routes applications to one matched lender.
ClearValue Lending works with home services franchise operators on SBA and working capital structures. Apply at Find my match. Your file routes to one matched lender.
Per the current FDD, total estimated initial investment runs $103,000–$170,000. Vehicles and equipment are the primary cost drivers. The franchise fee is $14,900.
Molly Maid is owned by Neighborly, a Waco, Texas-based home services franchisor that also owns Mr. Rooter, Rainbow International, Drain Dr., and more than a dozen other home services brands.
Molly Maid charges a 6.5% royalty on gross sales with declining tiers as revenue scales, plus a 2% advertising fund contribution.
Molly Maid is commonly cited as an accessible entry-point franchise: lower total investment, recurring revenue model, and Neighborly's established support infrastructure. The primary operational challenge is building and retaining a reliable cleaning staff in local labor markets.
Yes. Molly Maid is on the SBA Franchise Directory. SBA 7(a) and microloans are both viable at this investment range.
SBA SOP 50 10 7 sets the minimum DSCR at 1.15×; SBA participating lenders for home services franchise startups typically require 1.25×–1.35×. For Molly Maid, the DSCR is calculated on the recurring cleaning revenue pro forma from FDD Item 19 data, net of royalty (6.5%), advertising fee (2%), vehicle costs, labor, and SBA debt service. The ramp period (6–12 months to build a stable recurring client base) is the key variable — the pro forma must show DSCR clearing the threshold at or before stabilized revenue.
SBA SOP 50 10 7 requires equity injection from personal funds not borrowed for this purpose — typically 10–20% of total project cost. At $103K–$170K, that runs approximately $10K–$34K, making Molly Maid one of the lowest equity injection requirements among SBA-financed franchise startups. Equity can come from personal savings, a home equity line (if not pledged as collateral for this loan), or a ROBS transaction. Molly Maid's liquid capital requirement of $60K+ per the FDD provides a reasonable floor for equity availability.