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ChemDry Van

Can I Operate Multiple Territories?

Easy to scale, with few limits on growth

Chem-Dry is not only the world’s largest carpet cleaning franchise — it is also one of the most economical multi-unit franchises you can own. Chem-Dry has hundreds of multi-unit franchise owners throughout the United States. The top 5% of franchise owners generated over $1,000,000 in average revenue, and the top 25% of franchise owners generated $700,250 in average revenue in 2022, according to a survey of our franchisees.

For a breakdown of Revenue by Quartile, see our Item 19 FDD information

Group Ranked by Average Revenue Number of Owners Number of Franchises Average Franchises / Owner Average Revenue / Owner Median Revenue / Owner Average Revenue / Franchise Median Revenue / Franchise
Top 5% 12 76 6.3 $1,148,105 $1,050,243 $181,280 $217,441
1st Quartile 61 304 5.0 $700,250 $651,237 $140,511 $161,254
2nd Quartile 61 158 2.6 $285,588 $283,995 $110,259 $122,302
3rd Quartile 60 138 2.3 $166,423 $163,725 $72,358 $81,123
4th Quartile 60 119 2.0 $102,319 $102,440 $51,590 $54,610
Bottom 5% 12 23 1.9 $80,011 $79,714 $41,745 $39,926
Total 242 719 3.0 $315,127 $209,664 $106,065 $98,266

Chem-Dry is the largest carpet cleaning franchise in the world, and much of our growth has been thanks to ambitious franchisees who own multiple licenses and have built large businesses serving homeowners and businesses in their communities.

Advantages of a multi-unit franchise

Starting a multi-unit franchise with Chem-Dry is affordable. In fact, it’s not a lot more expensive than starting with a single territory. That’s because many of the startup costs that go into launching a Chem-Dry franchise are smaller or do not apply when launching a second territory.

multi-unit franchises chem-dry

Total startup costs for a single Chem-Dry franchise license range from $71,145 to $234,924, with much of the cost financed by Chem-Dry’s parent company, Harris Research Inc., and third-party vendors. The financing options allow a Chem-Dry owner to start a single territory with as little as $14,100 down.

Starting with two territories can be hugely beneficial, and it is still quite affordable. While Chem-Dry charges a franchise fee of $23,500 for the first territory, we discount it to $18,000 for subsequent territories. Many of the costs associated with operating a Chem-Dry business will be the same whether you operate one territory or two. After all, you are unlikely to need more telephone lines, business licenses, insurance, computers or rent. For the first year that you are growing your business, you may not even need a second van — but having multiple territories will allow you to maximize your marketing efforts and grow your business more quickly.

Population-based

To ensure that Chem-Dry franchisees operating in the same city have plenty of customers, we only allow one franchise license for every 60,000 people in a county. So, in Tennessee’s Davidson County — home to our Nashville office — 13 licenses were available as of 2017 because the population was 789,778.

chem-dry multi-unit franchises worker on the phone

Newer franchisees are using multiple territories in a different way to quickly grow their businesses — with a goal of eventually achieving similar marketplace dominance. Rather than confining their sales activity in one county, they are purchasing adjoining territories. It’s a strong growth strategy, because it maximizes the power of marketing efforts and customer referrals. Our largest and most established franchise owners have become the face of Chem-Dry in entire cities by purchasing all or most of the licenses in their territories.

Locally loyal

Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool for growing a carpet cleaning business. When homeowners and business owners find a carpet cleaner that does a great job, they tend to be loyal — and they tell their friends, families and co-workers. Often, those friends and colleagues live in the next county. Without a license to operate in that county, a Chem-Dry franchise owner is left to refer that business to another carpet cleaner. If you have a license, though, all of those referrals are yours.

We call these “spillover leads” — and they are a natural consequence of marketing. If you market your business enough in New York City, you are bound to get some customer interest in New Jersey. The same thing applies for Dallas and Fort Worth, Minneapolis and St. Paul, or any number of cities that are ringed by suburban counties full of commuters. By owning multiple territories, you can not only enjoy the yields from your marketing efforts in your primary territory, but you can also win spillover leads from nearby territories that are full of likely Chem-Dry customers.

Multi-unit franchise owners enjoy lower costs when adding additional territories

multi-unit franchises chem-dry
The Chem-Dry investment model results in a franchise with tremendous scalability and earning potential. The tables below outline the costs of opening a Chem-Dry franchise with a single franchise license, but entrepreneurs who are eager to grow quickly can spend a little more for multiple licenses and lock down territories.

Not all of the costs outlined below will be incurred when you add territories. For instance, if you choose to rent a facility from which to operate your business, you won’t need to rent a second facility in order to serve two territories. You won’t need two phone lines or an extra computer. You will need to account for additional advertising, and we recommend setting aside additional funds. That’s why, while startup costs for a single Chem-Dry territory start at $68,145, startup costs for two territories start at just $86,145.

You don’t need to come up with all that money up front, either. In fact, we’d prefer franchisees conserve some cash to bolster their marketing efforts and speed the process of winning customers. To make that easier, Chem-Dry offers in-house financing for the franchise fee. The initial franchise fee is $23,500, and we may finance $9,400 of the fee. The fee for additional territories is $18,000, and we may finance $7,200 of the fee. The loan for the initial franchise fee is interest- and payment-free until the fourth month of operation, and the loan for additional franchise fees typically starts at staggered times several months out.

This chart details our financing options for qualified new owners by equipment package

OPTION Initial License Fee Total Investment License Fee Down Payment License Fee Balance Financed
Executive Portable
Package Equipment
Package plus Product,
Marketing and
Operations Package
Price of $38,495 -
$40,995
$23,500 $61,995 -
$64,495
$14,100 $9,400
Executive Truck Mount
Package Equipment
Package plus Product,
Marketing and
Operations Package
Price of $64,995 -
$68,995
$23,500 $88,495 -
$92,495
$14,100 $9,400
Executive Truck Mount
Direct Drive Package
Equipment Package plus
Product, Marketing and
Operations Package
Price of $74,995 –
79,000
$23,500 $98,495 -
$102,500
$14,100 $9,400

Contact us for more

If you’re ready to learn more about multi-unit franchises with Chem-Dry, please fill out our form here to request more information. We look forward to starting a conversation with you!

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"The appeal of owning a Chem-Dry franchise is I always wanted to be my own boss and run my own business. I like the flexibility it offers, but also making customers happy."

Cory Casamassina

Chem-Dry Franchisee in Plainview, New York

Chem-Dry Franchisee in Plainview, New York

Cory Casamassina

"The appeal of owning a Chem-Dry franchise is I always wanted to be my own boss and run my own business. I like the flexibility it offers, but also making customers happy."

"

“You have to make sure everything is 100% safe and effective, and then have the right training before you use it. Chem-Dry does that. That really gives me peace of mind.”

Bernardo Quintero

Chem-Dry Franchisee in Costa Sol, Florida

“You have to make sure everything is 100% safe and effective, and then have the right training before you use it. Chem-Dry does that. That really gives me peace of mind.”

Bernardo Quintero

Chem-Dry Franchisee in Costa Sol, Florida

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