Starting a business often comes down to one key question: where’s the steady demand? Commercial cleaning is one of those rare industries that never goes out of style. Offices, warehouses, schools, hospitals—every facility needs to stay clean and safe, no matter what the economy is doing. That’s where OpenWorks shines.
For more than 40 years, OpenWorks has been helping entrepreneurs build cleaning businesses with a proven system, guaranteed customer accounts, and support that starts on day one. Whether you’re new to business ownership or already run a small cleaning company, the OpenWorks franchise model is designed to help you grow quickly without the endless cold calling or door-to-door sales most start-ups face. If you’re exploring franchise opportunities that combine low upfront costs with long-term stability, this brand is worth a serious look.
OpenWorks began in 1983 when founder Eric Roudi spotted a gap in the facility maintenance industry. After moving to the United States from Iran and earning dual degrees in mechanical engineering and economics, Roudi noticed that many commercial buildings were poorly maintained and cleaning services were inconsistent. Inspired by franchise systems like McDonald’s—where customers could expect the same quality in every location—he envisioned a model that combined national standards with the pride of local ownership.
Starting out by cleaning buildings himself, Roudi bootstrapped the company into a franchise network that now spans over 700 franchises across the United States. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, OpenWorks services more than 5,500 customer locations in industries ranging from healthcare and education to retail and logistics. Today, the company is known for its 99% customer retention rate, a figure that’s almost unheard of in commercial cleaning.
OpenWorks is designed to be accessible for first-time entrepreneurs, but you’ll still need to meet some financial and personal qualifications.
For veterans, OpenWorks offers a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee, and the company can recommend third-party lenders to help with financing.
The beauty of OpenWorks is its flexibility. Packages are based on the size of the initial customer base you want to manage, so you can start small and scale up. Here’s a breakdown of the estimated initial investment:
| Expense | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $2,500 | $72,000 |
| Training & Background Checks | $0 | $580 |
| Computer/Tech | $0 | $1,500 |
| Equipment & Supplies | $0 | $5,000 |
| Organizational Costs | $500 | $3,000 |
| Insurance | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Lease (optional) | $250 | $1,000 |
| Additional Operating Funds (6–12 months) | $0 | $35,000 |
| Total Estimated Investment | $4,250 | $134,480 |
This investment includes training, initial supplies, marketing materials, and—most importantly—your first set of guaranteed customer accounts.
Ongoing fees include:
Because OpenWorks provides customer contracts upfront, your monthly revenue potential is directly tied to the package you purchase.
OpenWorks does not publicly publish average owner income, but several indicators point to strong earning potential:
Profitability will still depend on your ability to manage staff, control costs, and service accounts efficiently, but the guaranteed-contract model significantly lowers the typical sales risk.
OpenWorks does not disclose systemwide failure rates in its Franchise Disclosure Document. While that makes it hard to provide hard numbers, the company’s nearly four decades in business and consistently high customer retention suggest a stable system. As with any franchise, individual results depend on management, market conditions, and financial discipline.
OpenWorks is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to own a service business without spending months chasing customers. Because the franchisor provides accounts and handles billing and collections, you can focus on operations—hiring, training, and delivering quality service.
This model is particularly appealing if:
Many franchisees start part-time and grow into full-time operations. Existing cleaning company owners also use OpenWorks to expand quickly under a recognized brand.
Each franchise is assigned a marketing territory, typically within a 60-mile radius of the listed business address. While territories are not exclusive, franchisees can seek new business within their area as long as they don’t solicit existing OpenWorks customers or prospects with active bids.
OpenWorks provides one of the most comprehensive support packages in the cleaning industry:
Consulting teams: Specialists in accounting, recruiting, risk management, and sales are available to help you grow.
OpenWorks prides itself on a quick start-up timeline—most new franchisees are servicing accounts within 30 days. The process typically looks like this:
The entire process usually takes about a month from paperwork to cleaning your first facility.
Even a “low-cost” franchise needs more than grit—it needs cash to get off the ground. With OpenWorks, your entry point can be as little as a few thousand dollars for a starter package or well into six figures if you want a larger portfolio of accounts. That range gives you flexibility, but it also means you’ll want a clear plan for covering the upfront fee, equipment, and a cushion for early operating costs.
This is where Swoop can make life easier. Instead of juggling banks, SBA programs, and equipment lenders on your own, Swoop brings everything together in one simple platform. You can compare SBA loans, small business lines of credit, or equipment financing side by side—and see what you actually qualify for before you sign a single form.
Swoop helps you line up the funding so you can focus on hiring your team, serving your first customers, and building a business that grows month after month. Apply with Swoop today to see your funding options and take the first confident step toward owning your OpenWorks franchise.
Daire made it happen! There is no doubt that Swoop sped up the process and found lenders that worked to our time scale rather than the other way round
Joint owner, F45 Virginia
Swoop was actually very helpful in helping us get our initial fundraising in place. Swoop was able to connect us with investors, with grant financing options and debt financing options.
Founder, SingleKey
Pedja was amazing. Super supportive, understanding of our needs and wasn't pushy at all. We've been going back and forth with Swoop for over a year inquiring about different financing options and they were patient until we were ready!
F45 Multi-studio owner
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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