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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Chem-Dry Franchise

Chem-Dry is a carpet, upholstery, and hard-floor cleaning franchise serving residential and commercial customers across the US and internationally. Founded in 1977 and franchising since 1978, it is widely regarded as the largest carpet cleaning franchise, with a network spanning thousands of territories worldwide. The brand is owned by BELFOR Franchise Group, a leading residential and commercial services franchisor.

The business is built around Chem-Dry’s proprietary hot carbonating extraction process, which uses carbonation to lift dirt and allergens while using a fraction of the water of traditional steam cleaning, letting carpets dry in hours. Its core “Natural” cleaning solution is EPA Safer Choice certified. Owners run a mobile, van-based operation from protected ZIP code territories, typically starting home-based with low overhead.

Beyond carpet and upholstery, franchisees clean tile, stone, wood, and other hard floors, area rugs, and handle urine and odor removal, serving recurring residential customers and commercial accounts. A tiered royalty structure lowers rates as a location grows.

Latest Resales

Why buy a Chem-Dry Franchise?

Chem-Dry is one of the most recognised names in professional floor and surface care, giving a new owner immediate brand trust in a category still dominated by small, single-operator independents. To buy a Chem-Dry franchise is to step into a system of proprietary cleaning solutions, truck-mounted equipment packages, and standardised service protocols that help a unit stand apart from lower-end local competition.

The model carries two revenue streams: recurring residential maintenance built on customer loyalty, and commercial accounts that bring repeat, contract-based work. Home-based, van-driven operation keeps overhead low, while protected ZIP code territories and a tiered royalty that falls as sales grow reward expansion. Owners also gain the backing of BELFOR Franchise Group, a global property-services parent with deep operational and marketing resources.

Chem-Dry Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1977

    • Franchising Since

      1978

    • New Startup Cost

      $92,150 – $249,500

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $36,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $9,900

      per territory; $3,600/territory if to existing franchisee

    • Royalty Fee

      4–7%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      3%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      941

    • New Units Opened *

      23

    • Units Transferred *

      19

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Chem-Dry – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    New owners begin with hands-on initial training covering service delivery, equipment handling, customer care, and business management, then continue through Chem-Dry University's online modules. The QuickStart Program pairs each owner with a dedicated launch coach, and ongoing help comes from Franchise Business Coaches, marketing specialists, the Kick-Start Marketing Program, a CRM and job-scheduling platform, regional workshops, and annual conventions, all backed by BELFOR Franchise Group. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training and Chem-Dry University access carry over to incoming ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Chem-Dry suits a hands-on local operator who builds the business through service quality and customer relationships; industry experience is not required. Owners typically start in the van, then recruit and manage a team of technicians as the territory grows, so people management and scheduling matter. Strong local marketing and sales instincts help generate residential leads, while a process-driven, detail-focused approach supports the commercial accounts that drive repeat contract work.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Chem-Dry was ranked #1 in the Carpet & Upholstery Services category on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 and was inducted into the Entrepreneur Franchise Hall of Fame in 2024, having placed in the Franchise 500 across prior years including 2023 and 2024. It has also appeared on Franchise Times' Top 400, been recognised by Franchise Gator (2024), and won Global Franchise magazine's 2022 award for Best Property Maintenance. For resale buyers, brand recognition should be weighed alongside the territory's local reviews and referral strength.

  4. Industry / Market

    Chem-Dry operates in the US carpet cleaning industry, which IBISWorld estimates at roughly $6.9 billion in 2026. Demand is steady and largely non-discretionary: carpets, upholstery, and hard floors need periodic professional cleaning in both homes and commercial facilities, and growing interest in healthier, low-water, eco-friendly cleaning supports the category. The market is highly fragmented among small independent operators, leaving room for a recognised brand to win share. For resale buyers, local demand and the mix of recurring residential and commercial work shape a unit's resilience.

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