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ZAExpert financial copywriter
Page written by Ashlyn Brooks. Last reviewed on August 4, 2025. Next review due October 1, 2026.
Thinking about stepping into the home services market with a business that offers recurring revenue and real-world flexibility? A Molly Maid franchise might be what you are looking for. With more than 450 locations across the U.S., this residential cleaning brand has built its reputation on simplicity, consistency, and customer loyalty. The company isn’t just about mops and vacuums. It offers a proven system that delivers predictable income and work-life balance for its owners.
Below, the Swoop team will break down everything you need to know, including the business model, startup costs, earnings potential, and whether this franchise is a good fit for your goals.
Molly Maid launched in the U.S. in 1984 and has been franchising from the start. Backed by Neighborly, a well-known home services group, the brand offers routine cleaning services to busy families nationwide. Today, Molly Maid franchisees collectively complete nearly 2 million cleanings per year, with the majority being repeat customers, a clear signal of strong demand and brand trust.
You’re not expected to clean homes yourself. Instead, franchisees manage a team of vetted, insured cleaners and focus on delivering a quality customer experience. It’s a management-driven model with a local feel, built on standardized systems and tools that simplify operations at scale.
If you’re business-savvy, organized, and ready to lead a small team, you’re already on the right track. Molly Maid doesn’t require a cleaning industry background, but you’ll need:
The brand looks for driven, customer-focused operators, often with management or sales experience, who want to build a repeat-revenue business with staying power.
Your total initial investment will range from $139,900 to $197,200, depending on territory size, real estate costs, and your startup setup.
Here’s where the money goes:
| Startup Expense | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $14,900 |
| Territory Fee | $45,000 – $70,000 |
| Initial Startup Package | $8,000 – $9,000 |
| Vehicle Lease Deposit (3 months) | $3,900 – $5,500 |
| Rent, Utilities, Real Estate | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| Training, Travel, Insurance and More | Remaining balance |
Most of your investment goes toward launching operations, recruiting your first team, and funding the business through the first few months. You don’t need to buy or rent a large storefront. In fact, many owners start from home and scale from there.
Royalty fees range from 3% to 6.5% of gross sales, with 2% contributed toward national marketing, plus local marketing responsibilities based on your territory size.
They can be, and the numbers tell a strong story.
If you’re looking at averages, it’s even more compelling: the average Molly Maid location did about $855,000 in sales. That’s a big deal when you consider the initial investment typically ranges from $139,900 to $197,200. In other words, many owners are making several times their startup cost in annual revenue.
Even more encouraging is how consistent that income can be. Molly Maid runs on a recurring service model, and about 90% of its 1.7 million cleanings last year came from repeat customers. That kind of built-in loyalty means steadier cash flow and less pressure to constantly find new clients.
Growth trends are also promising. Most recent reports from 2022 found that:
That means nearly 6 in 10 owners experienced double-digit revenue growth in a single year.
Keep in mind, these figures are gross sales, so your net return of that will depend on operating costs specific to your franchise territory. However, if you manage your operations well and focus on customer retention, Molly Maid offers serious potential to generate strong returns, without the heavy overhead or inventory demands of other industries. The recurring revenue model alone is a major asset for long-term profitability.
Molly Maid doesn’t publish official failure rates. However, the business is backed by decades of operational data, standardized processes, and the resources of Neighborly. All of which are advantages that independent cleaning businesses simply don’t have.
While any franchise carries risk, Molly Maid’s mix of support, low overhead, and repeat customer base makes it an attractive model for those who execute the playbook well.
First and foremost, you should have a knack or passion for the cleaning and hospitality business. But outside of your passions, here are a few things Molly Maid offers:
For many franchisees, it’s the rare combination of flexibility and growth potential that makes Molly Maid stand out.
Territories are zip-code based and calculated using a proprietary point system. Each zip code is scored based on:
The average territory includes 45,000 to 70,000 “target households” (TH). As long as you’re in good standing, Molly Maid won’t grant another franchise within your territory during the 10-year agreement.
This exclusive territory model helps protect your marketing investments and customer base as you grow.
Franchisees get access to a deep bench of tools and support from both Molly Maid and Neighborly. That includes:
In short, you’re not building this alone. You’re plugging into a well-oiled system designed to help you hit the ground running.
Here’s how the typical timeline unfolds:
From inquiry to launch, it often takes 90 to 120 days to open your doors.
Getting started with Molly Maid means covering upfront costs, but you don’t have to go it alone. Through Swoop, you can explore a full range of franchise funding options, including:
Our platform helps you compare lenders, match with tailored loan programs, and get expert guidance from start to funding. Whether you’re self-funding or looking for support, Swoop can help you find the most cost-effective way to finance your new business.
If you are ready to explore your options, apply with Swoop today.
Written by
Ashlyn is a personal finance writer with experience in business and consumer taxes, retirement, and financial services to name a few. She has been published in USA Today, Kiplinger and Investopedia.
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