9 Best Home Service Franchises in 2026: Prices, Pros and Cons Compared
Compare the 9 best home service franchises on initial investment, franchise fees and royalties, with every figure from the 2026 FDD, checked November 4, 2026.
Shamim Mia, Founder, SerpAstraLast verified November 4, 202615 min readWe compare pricing pages, documentation and public reviews. We never accept payment for rankings.
Key takeaways
- Five Star Painting has the lowest entry point at $82,200, The Junkluggers follows at $96,010, and Ace Handyman Services at $132,200 — all three under $135,000 before working capital.
- The franchise fee is only part of the bill: SERVPRO's $100,000 fee sits inside a $263,305–$385,570 total investment, so compare totals, not fees.
- The single most important buying factor is the royalty on gross revenue: 6–7% of every dollar billed, plus a 2% brand fund, comes off the top for years.
- No franchise here has a free plan or a monthly price — you buy in once, then pay royalties on sales. Every figure below comes from the franchisor's 2026 FDD.
On this page
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Star Painting | Buyers who want the cheapest way into a national home service brand, with painting crews they hire rather than do themselves | $82,200–$194,600 | No |
| The Junkluggers | Owners who want a junk-removal brand with a sustainability story and a truck-based model that needs no storefront | $96,010–$359,160 | No |
| Ace Handyman Services | Buyers who want the Ace Hardware name behind them and a protected territory of up to 70,000 households | $132,200–$226,000 | No |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk | Buyers who want a junk-and-moving combo with a young, recognizable brand and a $35,000 single-concept fee | $138,100–$345,500 | No |
| Molly Maid | Buyers who want recurring residential cleaning revenue and the lowest franchise fee in this list | $144,150–$203,950 | No |
| Mosquito Joe | Buyers who want a seasonal, route-based outdoor pest control business with 400-plus units behind it | $150,155–$191,575 | No |
| Mr. Rooter | Buyers who want plumbing — the highest-ticket home trade here — with a published median franchise revenue over $1.2 million | $152,900–$298,675 | No |
| Mr. Handyman | Owners who want a management-focused handyman model: two vans, hired technicians, and a home office to start | $161,900–$215,000 | No |
| SERVPRO | Buyers with the deepest pockets who want the biggest restoration brand, insurance-paid work and 2,300-plus units | $263,305–$385,570 | No |
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Request a listingThe best home service franchises
Five Star Painting
Best for: Buyers who want the cheapest way into a national home service brand, with painting crews they hire rather than do themselves
Five Star Painting is the cheapest door into this list: a total initial investment of $82,200 to $194,600, including a $45,000 franchise fee, per the 2026 FDD. Founded in 2002 and franchising since 2007, it is part of Neighborly, a 19-brand network of more than 5,500 locations, and the 2026 FDD counts about 260 franchised units. The model suits an owner who hires painting crews rather than painting every job.
The catch: a 6% royalty plus a 2% brand fund comes off gross revenue on every job, before wages, paint and fuel. Painting is also seasonal in colder markets, so a territory without commercial work goes quiet in winter. Buy Five Star Painting when the budget is tight and you manage crews well; buy SERVPRO or Mr. Rooter when you can fund a bigger, year-round trade.
What we like
- Lowest entry point in this list: $82,200 at the low end, with a $45,000 franchise fee
- Part of Neighborly's 19-brand network of more than 5,500 locations, so cross-referrals come from sister brands
- Owner-operator model built around hired painting crews, not the owner's own brushwork
- About 260 franchised units in the 2026 FDD, a system large enough to have proven playbooks
Watch out for
- Royalty of 6% of gross revenue plus a 2% brand fund comes off the top on every job
- Painting is seasonal in colder markets, so winter revenue dips without commercial work
- The low end assumes a small territory; larger territories add $230 per 1,000 extra population
The Junkluggers
Best for: Owners who want a junk-removal brand with a sustainability story and a truck-based model that needs no storefront
The Junkluggers turns junk removal into a sustainability story: crews haul unwanted items away, then donate and recycle as much as possible instead of dumping it all. The 2026 FDD puts the initial investment at $96,010 to $359,160, including a $50,000 franchise fee, and counts 167 units, backed by Authority Brands. There is no storefront to lease — the business runs from trucks, which keeps fixed overhead low.
The range is the widest here because of fleet size: the low end buys a lean start, the high end several trucks and six months of funds. The royalty is also on the dear side at 7% of gross revenue plus a 1–2% ad fund. Buy The Junkluggers for the eco angle and a low-overhead start; buy College Hunks when you want moving work alongside the junk.
What we like
- Second-lowest entry point here at $96,010, with a $50,000 franchise fee
- Eco-first positioning: donation and recycling are the brand's selling point, not an afterthought
- 167 units in the 2026 FDD, backed by Authority Brands, one of the largest home services franchisors
- No storefront needed — the business runs from trucks, which keeps overhead low
Watch out for
- The range is the widest here: the $359,160 high end is nearly four times the $96,010 low end, driven by fleet size
- Royalty of 7% of gross revenue plus a 1–2% ad fund is at the dearer end of this list
- Junk removal is physically demanding and truck-dependent, so vehicle downtime stops revenue
Ace Handyman Services
Best for: Buyers who want the Ace Hardware name behind them and a protected territory of up to 70,000 households
Ace Handyman Services is the handyman arm of Ace Hardware, which has owned the brand since 2019, and the numbers show it: 401 units in the 2026 FDD, the largest handyman system in this list. The standard format costs $132,200 to $226,000 to open, including a $70,000 to $100,000 franchise fee, for a protected territory of up to 70,000 households, expandable to 100,000. A smaller Mini format runs $97,200 to $171,000.
The Ace name is the draw — hardware-store referrals feed jobs no independent handyman can copy — but the fee is the price of admission: $70,000 to $100,000 before a single job is booked. The franchisor also requires $75,000 in liquid capital and a $250,000 net worth. Buy Ace when the brand and referral engine justify the fee; buy Mr. Handyman for a similar model with a lower fee.
What we like
- The Ace Hardware brand behind the business, with retail-store referrals most rivals cannot match
- 401 units in the 2026 FDD, the largest handyman system in this list
- A smaller Mini format exists at $97,200–$171,000 for buyers with less capital
- Founded in 1998 and franchising since 2001, with Ace Hardware as owner since 2019
Watch out for
- The franchise fee alone is $70,000–$100,000, more than some rivals' whole low-end investment
- Royalty of 6% plus a 2% brand fund applies to gross revenue, and the franchisor sets strict financial thresholds
- Minimum $75,000 liquid capital and $250,000 net worth screen out thinner buyers
College Hunks Hauling Junk
Best for: Buyers who want a junk-and-moving combo with a young, recognizable brand and a $35,000 single-concept fee
College Hunks Hauling Junk sells two services under one brand: junk removal and moving. The 2026 FDD prices junk removal alone at $138,100 to $232,000, moving alone at $191,600 to $315,500, and the combined model at $193,100 to $345,500, on a franchise fee of $35,000 per concept. The brand began in 2005, has franchised since 2007, and counts 165 units in the 2026 FDD.
The appeal is flexibility: start with junk removal at the lowest single-concept fee in this list, then add moving when the territory can support it. The trade-off is labor — both services are crew-heavy, seasonal in places, and hard on retention — and the combined model costs far more than the headline low end. Buy College Hunks when you want two revenue lines from one territory; buy The Junkluggers when junk removal alone is enough.
What we like
- Lowest single-concept franchise fee here: $35,000 for junk removal only
- Two services in one brand — junk removal and moving — so one territory can sell both
- 165 units in the 2026 FDD, with a brand customers already know from its trucks and marketing
- The franchisor publishes its costs openly, including the junk-only and combined models
Watch out for
- The combined junk-and-moving model starts at $193,100, well above the junk-only low end
- Moving is labor-heavy and seasonal, and crews turn over fast in both services
- Franchisees need $75,000-plus in liquid capital and a $200,000-plus net worth to qualify
Molly Maid
Best for: Buyers who want recurring residential cleaning revenue and the lowest franchise fee in this list
Molly Maid is the recurring-revenue pick: residential cleaning on weekly and biweekly routes, so revenue repeats instead of restarting every month. The 2026 FDD puts the total investment at $144,150 to $203,950, and the franchise fee is just $14,900 — the lowest fee here by a wide margin. The biggest single line is the territory fee, $49,500 to $77,000, and the business starts from home with no storefront.
The model lives or dies on crews: hiring and keeping reliable cleaners is the hardest part, and quality varies from crew to crew. The royalty runs 3–6.5% of gross sales plus a 2% ad fund, and candidates need $60,000 in liquid capital and a $250,000 net worth. Buy Molly Maid for repeat revenue and the lowest fee; buy Mosquito Joe when you would rather run seasonal routes than manage cleaners.
What we like
- Lowest franchise fee in this list at $14,900, against a $144,150–$203,950 total investment
- Recurring weekly and biweekly cleaning routes, so revenue repeats instead of restarting each month
- Part of Neighborly's 19-brand network of more than 5,500 locations
- Home-based start: no storefront, with cleaning crews working from customers' homes
Watch out for
- Royalty of 3–6.5% of gross sales plus a 2% ad fund applies on top of the investment
- Cleaning crews are hard to hire and keep, and quality varies by crew
- Candidates need $60,000 in liquid capital and a $250,000 net worth to qualify
Mosquito Joe
Best for: Buyers who want a seasonal, route-based outdoor pest control business with 400-plus units behind it
Mosquito Joe treats outdoor pest control as a route business: recurring seasonal treatments for mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, sold to households that rebook all summer. The 2026 FDD puts the investment at $150,155 to $191,575 — the tightest range in this list — on a $42,500 franchise fee, and counts 407 franchised units. The franchisor's own guide reports 2025 gross sales for businesses in their first five years ranging from $208,341 to $931,009.
The trade is seasonality: in most markets the season runs roughly April to October, and winter is quiet unless the territory adds services. The royalty is also the highest here at 7–10% of gross sales plus a 2% ad fund. Buy Mosquito Joe when you want a tight, predictable investment and recurring routes; buy Mr. Rooter when you want year-round demand instead of a season.
What we like
- Tightest investment range here: $150,155–$191,575, so the top end holds few surprises
- 407 franchised units in the 2026 FDD, the largest pest control system in this list
- Seasonal route model with recurring treatments, and a $6,500 veteran discount on the fee
- The franchisor's own guide publishes the investment range and Item 19 sales figures openly
Watch out for
- Seasonal in most markets: peak demand runs roughly April to October, with a quiet winter
- Royalty of 7–10% of gross sales plus a 2% ad fund is the highest rate in this list
- Candidates need $50,000 in liquid capital and a $250,000 net worth
Mr. Rooter
Best for: Buyers who want plumbing — the highest-ticket home trade here — with a published median franchise revenue over $1.2 million
Mr. Rooter is the plumbing pick, and plumbing is the highest-ticket trade in this list. The 2026 FDD puts the investment at $152,900 to $298,675 on a $42,500 franchise fee, and its Item 19 reports a median franchise revenue of $1,257,146 across 193 businesses open the full year. The brand counts 232 units and sits inside Neighborly's 19-brand network, so sister brands refer work across.
The work is emergency-driven — burst pipes and blocked drains do not wait for a good economy — but the bottleneck is people: licensed plumbers are scarce and expensive in many markets. Note also that the 2026 FDD raised the range from the 2025 edition, with insurance and software lines up sharply. Buy Mr. Rooter when you can staff licensed plumbers; buy Five Star Painting when the hiring pool is the worry.
What we like
- Plumbing is the highest-ticket trade in this list, with a median franchise revenue of $1,257,146 in the 2026 FDD
- 232 units in the 2026 FDD, all inside Neighborly's 19-brand cross-referral network
- Emergency and repeat work: burst pipes and blocked drains do not wait for a good economy
- 20% veteran discount on the franchise fee, worth $8,500 at signing
Watch out for
- Royalty of 6% plus a 2% advertising fund applies to gross revenue, not profit
- Licensed plumbers are scarce and expensive to hire in many markets
- The 2026 FDD raised the investment range — insurance and software lines rose sharply from the 2025 FDD
Mr. Handyman
Best for: Owners who want a management-focused handyman model: two vans, hired technicians, and a home office to start
Mr. Handyman is the management model among handyman franchises: the 2026 FDD model starts with two vans and hired technicians, and a home office is allowed with written permission. The investment runs $161,900 to $215,000, including a $67,000 franchise fee and a $5,500 package fee, with $60,000 to $90,000 set aside for the first three months of operation.
The model suits an owner who manages people rather than swinging a hammer, but the fees are steep: $67,000 for the franchise fee alone, $72,500 due to the franchisor at signing, and a 7% royalty on gross revenue. The range also rose from $143,150–$179,600 in the 2025 FDD, so budget on the current disclosure. Buy Mr. Handyman when you want to manage crews; buy Ace when the hardware-store referral engine is worth the higher fee.
What we like
- Management model: the 2026 FDD model starts with two vans and hired technicians, not the owner's own tools
- Home office allowed with written permission, so no storefront lease is needed at launch
- Part of Neighborly's 19-brand network of more than 5,500 locations
- One of the most recognized handyman names in the US, with a long franchising history
Watch out for
- Royalty of 7% of gross revenue is the joint-highest flat rate in this list
- The $67,000 franchise fee is the second-highest fee here, and $72,500 is due to the franchisor at signing
- The 2026 FDD range rose to $161,900–$215,000 from $143,150–$179,600 in the 2025 FDD
SERVPRO
Best for: Buyers with the deepest pockets who want the biggest restoration brand, insurance-paid work and 2,300-plus units
SERVPRO is the biggest name here by a wide margin: 2,354 franchised units in the 2026 FDD, in business for more than 50 years, and the top-ranked cleaning and restoration franchise in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 for 19 straight years. The work is water, fire and mold restoration, usually paid by insurers rather than homeowners. The investment runs $263,305 to $385,570, including a $100,000 franchise fee.
That price buys scale and demand independent of the housing market, but it also buys a 24/7 job: nights, weekends and disaster callouts, plus the specialized equipment and service facility behind the high investment. The royalty starts at 3% of gross revenue, the lowest rate here. Buy SERVPRO when you have the capital and want the biggest brand; buy Five Star Painting when $263,305 is more than you can spend.
What we like
- The largest system here by far: 2,354 units in the 2026 FDD, all franchised
- Insurance-paid restoration work: water, fire and mold jobs are paid by insurers, not homeowners
- Top-ranked cleaning and restoration franchise in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 for 19 straight years
- In business for more than 50 years, with 24/7 emergency demand that does not depend on the housing market
Watch out for
- The dearest entry here by a wide margin: $263,305 at the low end, with a $100,000 franchise fee
- 24/7 emergency response is part of the job — nights, weekends and disaster callouts
- Specialized equipment and a service facility are required, which is why the investment runs so high
The 9 best home service franchises below are ranked by lowest starting investment, from $82,200 for Five Star Painting to $385,570 at the top end of SERVPRO, and every figure comes from the franchisor's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), checked November 4, 2026. A franchise is not a subscription: you pay a one-time fee and a total investment to open, then a royalty on gross revenue for as long as you hold the brand.
This list is for a buyer weighing which home service business to own, not for a homeowner hiring one. The nine brands cover painting, cleaning, pest control, plumbing, handyman work, junk removal and restoration — the trades where a national brand, a booking system and a territory are worth paying for. Read the fee, the total and the royalty together: any one of the three alone will mislead you.
How to choose the best home service franchises
- Compare the total investment, not the fee. Molly Maid's fee is $14,900 but the total is $144,150–$203,950; SERVPRO's fee is $100,000 inside a $263,305–$385,570 total. The FDD's Item 7 total is the number that decides whether you can afford to open.
- Read the royalty as a share of gross revenue. A 6% royalty plus a 2% brand fund takes $40,000 a year off $500,000 of gross sales — before wages, fuel and marketing. The rate runs for the life of the agreement, so a one-point difference compounds for years.
- Check the territory size and population. Five Star Painting charges $230 per 1,000 people above its standard territory, and Ace Handyman Services prices its fee by households. A cheap territory that is too small is no bargain.
- Match the model to your capital, not just your cash. Every brand here sets a liquid-capital and net-worth minimum — $50,000 to $75,000 liquid is typical — and the franchisor will check both before approving you.
- Read Item 19 and talk to existing owners. Item 19 is the only place a franchisor may publish financial performance figures. Mr. Rooter's 2026 FDD reports a median franchise revenue of $1,257,146; treat that as gross sales, not profit, and confirm it with owners before you sign.
A franchise is a local business, and local businesses live or die on being found — our local SEO service covers the visibility side once you own the territory. Before you publish pages for the services you will sell, run your titles through the free SERP snippet preview tool to see exactly how they will look in Google.
Whatever you shortlist, request the current FDD and read Items 5, 6, 7 and 19 before you pay anything: Item 5 is the fee, Item 6 the ongoing charges, Item 7 the total investment, and Item 19 the financial performance. Federal rules require the franchisor to give you the FDD at least 14 days before you sign or pay, so use that window — and call three existing franchisees, not just the ones the franchisor suggests.
Home service franchises pricing: what you will actually pay
Take a buyer with $150,000 in cash. At the low end, that covers Five Star Painting ($82,200), The Junkluggers ($96,010), Ace Handyman Services ($132,200), College Hunks junk-only ($138,100) and Molly Maid ($144,150) — five of the nine — with money left over for the first months. It does not cover Mosquito Joe ($150,155) at the low end, and it is barely half of SERVPRO's $263,305 low end. The low end is also not the whole story: The Junkluggers' high end is $359,160, and College Hunks' combined model runs to $345,500.
The second bill is the royalty, and it never stops. On $500,000 of annual gross sales, a 6% royalty plus a 2% brand fund costs $40,000 a year at Mr. Rooter, Five Star Painting or Ace; at Mosquito Joe's 7–10% royalty plus 2%, the same sales cost $45,000 to $60,000 a year. Over a ten-year agreement — the standard initial term for most brands here — that is $400,000 to $600,000 in royalties on half a million of annual sales. Compare that lifetime cost against the one-time investment before you rank anything by entry price.
A third cost sits outside both numbers: the franchisor's financial minimums. Most brands here require $50,000 to $75,000 in liquid capital and a $200,000 to $250,000 net worth, and those are checked before approval, not after. If your cash is the $150,000 above, the brands that fit are the five whose low end sits under it — and the one that fits best is the one whose trade you can staff. For the marketing side of a new territory, see our guide to SEO for home services.
Know the difference: franchise fee vs total investment vs royalty
The confusion in this category is between three different numbers that all get called "the cost". The franchise fee is the one-time payment for the right to use the brand and territory — $14,900 at Molly Maid, $100,000 at SERVPRO. The total initial investment is the fee plus everything else needed to open: equipment, vehicles, insurance, marketing, training and three to six months of working capital. That is the number in FDD Item 7, and it is the one that decides whether you can afford to open.
The royalty is separate from both, and it is the number that decides whether you can afford to stay open. It is a percentage of gross revenue — 6% plus a 2% brand fund at most brands here — paid for as long as you hold the franchise, and it comes off the top, before wages, fuel and rent. A brand with a low fee and a high royalty can cost more over ten years than a brand with a high fee and a low royalty, which is why SERVPRO's 3% royalty matters even though its $100,000 fee is the highest here.
There is one more figure buyers mix up: the liquid capital requirement. That is not a payment to the franchisor. It is the cash the franchisor wants you to have on hand — typically $50,000 to $75,000 — so the business survives its first slow months. You keep it; you just have to prove you have it.
Quick comparison: tool type by need
| Buyer | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tightest budget | Five Star Painting | Lowest entry at $82,200, with a $45,000 fee and a national brand behind it |
| Wants recurring revenue | Molly Maid | Weekly cleaning routes that repeat, with the lowest fee here at $14,900 |
| Wants a predictable investment | Mosquito Joe | Tightest range at $150,155–$191,575, with 407 units behind it |
| Wants the highest-ticket trade | Mr. Rooter | Plumbing, with a $1,257,146 median franchise revenue in the 2026 FDD |
| Wants the biggest brand | SERVPRO | 2,354 units and insurance-paid restoration work, from $263,305 |
| Wants two services, one territory | College Hunks Hauling Junk | Junk removal plus moving, from a $35,000 single-concept fee |
Mistakes to avoid
- Budgeting on the franchise fee. The fee is 10–40% of what you will spend. Molly Maid's $14,900 fee sits inside a $144,150–$203,950 total, and SERVPRO's $100,000 fee inside $263,305–$385,570. Budget on the Item 7 total.
- Ignoring the royalty over ten years. A 6% royalty plus a 2% brand fund costs $40,000 a year on $500,000 of gross sales — $400,000 over a ten-year agreement. That lifetime cost dwarfs most differences in entry price.
- Buying the low end of a wide range. The Junkluggers' range runs $96,010 to $359,160 and College Hunks' $138,100 to $345,500. The low end buys the leanest version; price the version you actually intend to open.
- Skipping Item 19. It is the only place a franchisor may publish financial performance figures. If a brand publishes no Item 19 figures, you are buying on the brand alone — price that risk in.
- Signing before talking to owners. The franchisor must give you the FDD at least 14 days before you sign or pay. Use that window to call existing franchisees — including ones the franchisor did not suggest — and ask what the first year really cost.
How we chose
We ranked the nine franchises by lowest starting investment and took every figure from the franchisor's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), Item 7 for the investment range and Items 5 and 6 for fees and royalties, cross-checked between the franchisor's own published pages and FDD summaries on November 4, 2026. Franchisors do not post full investment ranges on their marketing pages — Ace Handyman Services and College Hunks publish figures on their own franchise blogs, and Neighborly publishes a franchise guide for Mosquito Joe — so the FDD is the authoritative source here, and we say so rather than presenting the figures as website prices. This list carries no review ratings: G2 and Capterra do not rate franchise opportunities, and Trustpilot scores rate the local consumer service of individual franchisees, not the franchise itself, so a Trustpilot number would mislead a buyer. No vendor paid for a place in this list, and none of the links here are affiliate links.
What to do next
Shortlist two or three brands that fit your capital, then request each current FDD and read Items 5, 6, 7 and 19 in full. Call existing franchisees in territories like yours and ask what the first year cost, what the royalty felt like on real sales, and whether they would buy again. If the numbers hold up, book a discovery day — and while the territory is being set up, get the visibility side sorted too: our monthly SEO service handles local search for home service businesses, or compare providers in our guide to SEO companies for small business. Once your tools are in place, find out what's holding your rankings back.
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Get a free audit→Sources we checked (10)
- SERVPRO 2026 FDD summary — franchisedirect.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- Molly Maid 2026 FDD summary — franchisedirect.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- Mr. Rooter 2026 FDD summary — franchisedirect.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- Mr. Handyman 2026 FDD summary — franchisedirect.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- Mosquito Joe 2026 franchise guide — Neighborly (checked November 4, 2026)
- The Junkluggers 2026 FDD summary — franchisepayback.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- Ace Handyman Services franchise cost — franchisor (checked November 4, 2026)
- Five Star Painting 2026 FDD summary — franchisedirect.com (checked November 4, 2026)
- College Hunks franchise cost — franchisor (checked November 4, 2026)
- College Hunks franchise requirements — franchisor (checked November 4, 2026)
Shamim
Founder of SerpAstra
A full-stack SEO and digital marketer who spends most days on Local SEO for dental practices, AI search visibility and lead generation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy a home service franchise?
In this list, total initial investment runs from $82,200 for Five Star Painting to $385,570 at the top end of SERVPRO. The franchise fee alone ranges from $14,900 (Molly Maid) to $100,000 (SERVPRO). Always compare the total investment in FDD Item 7, not the fee, and confirm the current FDD before signing.
What is the cheapest home service franchise on this list?
Five Star Painting, at $82,200 to $194,600 total investment with a $45,000 franchise fee. The Junkluggers is next at $96,010. Cheapest does not mean best: painting is seasonal in colder markets, and the royalty is 6% plus a 2% brand fund, so weigh the ongoing cost, not just the entry price.
Do home service franchises charge a monthly fee?
No, there is no monthly subscription. You pay a one-time franchise fee plus the total initial investment, then an ongoing royalty on gross revenue — typically 6–7% plus a 2% brand or advertising fund — for as long as you hold the franchise. On $500,000 of annual gross sales, a 6% royalty plus 2% fund costs $40,000 a year.
What is the difference between the franchise fee and the total investment?
The franchise fee buys the right to use the brand and territory — for example, $14,900 at Molly Maid or $100,000 at SERVPRO. The total investment adds everything else: equipment, vehicles, insurance, marketing, training and three to six months of working capital. The fee is usually 10–40% of the total, never the whole bill.
Which home service franchise makes the most money?
By published median revenue, Mr. Rooter leads: the 2026 FDD reports a median franchise revenue of $1,257,146 across 193 businesses open the full year. That is gross sales, not profit — royalties, wages, vehicles and marketing come out first. No franchise here publishes profit figures, so treat revenue as a starting point, not a promise.
Can I buy a home service franchise with no experience in the trade?
Yes, for most brands here — they sell management systems, not trade skills. Five Star Painting, Molly Maid, Mosquito Joe and Mr. Handyman are built around hired crews and technicians, and the franchisor trains you on operations, marketing and hiring. Plumbing and restoration are the exceptions: you still hire licensed or certified staff to do the work.
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