Which is the best commercial cleaning franchise model? Investing in a commercial cleaning franchise can be one of the smartest ways to enter the commercial cleaning industry. However, not all office cleaning franchise models are created equal. If you’re considering launching a commercial cleaning business through a franchise, you’ve likely come across two main types of franchise opportunities: unit franchises and territory franchises.
Understanding the differences between these models is critical to making a profitable and sustainable investment. While unit franchises offer a low-cost entry, they come with significant limitations. In contrast, territory franchises require a larger upfront investment but provide true business ownership, long-term scalability, and significantly higher profit potential.
In this post, we will break down the key differences between unit and territory franchises and explain why a territory franchise is the best commercial cleaning franchise for serious commercial cleaning entrepreneurs.
Unit Franchises: The Illusion of Ownership
Unit franchises are a popular entry-level option for individuals looking to start a commercial cleaning franchise. At first glance, they seem attractive because they offer a low-cost way to get started, often requiring only a small investment upfront. However, the reality of a unit franchise can be quite different from the expectations of new franchisees.
How Unit Franchises Work
In a unit franchise, you typically pay an upfront fee to acquire a set number of cleaning accounts. The master franchisor (corporate or regional) secures commercial cleaning contracts and then sells them to franchisees. You, as a unit franchisee, are responsible for ensuring those accounts are cleaned, thereby making yourself more of a subcontractor for the franchisor.
While this may sound like a simple way to start your business, there are significant drawbacks:
The Downsides of a Unit Franchise
- You Don’t Truly Own the Business
- The master franchisor retains control over your accounts. They can reassign your clients to another franchisee at any time or even decide to service the accounts in-house.
- Even after investing thousands of dollars to buy accounts, you are never the true owner of those contracts.
- High Fees and Royalties Eat into Profits
- Unit franchisees typically pay high royalty fees, often ranging from 15% to 25% of their revenue.
- Additional fees include administrative fees, supply fees, insurance fees, and more—cutting into your ability to scale profitably.
- These additional fees can cost you as much as 40% of your cleaning revenue
- No Control Over Growth
- The franchisor dictates how many accounts you receive.
- You are limited to their client assignments rather than being able to build your own customer base.
- Limited Scalability
- Because of the high fees and lack of real ownership, it is extremely difficult to grow beyond a single cleaning crew or hire managers to oversee operations.
- Many unit franchisees struggle to build a profitable, long-term business.
- The lack of financial and staffing flexibility hinders these types of commercial cleaning franchises from becoming passively owned.
Ultimately, a unit franchise is more like a job with extra responsibilities rather than a true business ownership opportunity. If you are looking to build a thriving, scalable commercial cleaning company, unit franchises may not be the best option.
Examples of Unit Franchises:
What’s the Best Commercial Cleaning Franchise Model?
Unlike unit franchises, territory commercial cleaning franchises provide true business ownership, giving franchisees complete control over their operations, growth, and financial success.
How a Territory Franchise Works
A territory franchise grants an entrepreneur exclusive rights to operate within a defined geographic area. Instead of being assigned accounts by the franchisor, territory franchisees develop their own client base using marketing, sales, and branding support from the franchise system.
Franchisees own their contracts, which means:
✔ You control your business decisions
✔ You hire and manage employees
✔ You keep a larger share of the profits
Key Benefits of a Territory Commercial Cleaning Franchise
- You Own Your Business
- Unlike unit franchises, a territory commercial cleaning franchise is a true business ownership opportunity.
- You are free to build your client base without worrying about losing accounts to the franchisor or competing with multiple franchisees in the same area.
- Lower Royalties and Fees
- Most territory franchises start with royalties as low as 7% and these decrease as the business grows.
- This allows franchisees to keep more of their revenue as profit and reinvest in growth.
- Scalability and Profitability
- Because of lower fees and true ownership, territory franchises are highly scalable.
- You can hire managers, expand into new services, and build a profitable company rather than just managing cleaning crews.
- Full Control Over Hiring and Operations
- Unit franchises struggle with profitability because they pay high fees while trying to hire employees at a competitive wage.
- In contrast, a territory franchise allows you to pay your employees well, retain top talent, and delegate management responsibilities.
- Proven Business Systems and Support
- While you maintain control over operations, a territory commercial cleaning franchise provides extensive training, tools, and support to help franchisees succeed.
- This includes:
✅ Marketing strategies
✅ Operational processes
✅ Customer acquisition techniques
✅ Business development training
- More Valuable as an Asset
- A successful commercial cleaning territory franchise can be sold for a high value in the future, similar to selling real estate.
- Since you own the contracts and revenue stream, your business becomes a valuable asset, unlike a unit franchise that has no real resale value.
Financial Investment: What to Expect
Investing in a territory franchise requires a larger initial investment, but the long-term profitability makes it a worthwhile decision.
| Franchise Type | Initial Investment | Ongoing Fees | Ownership Rights | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit Franchise | $5,000 – $20,000 | 15% – 40% | No | Limited |
| Territory Franchise | $40,000 – $150,000 | 3% – 10% (Decreasing with Growth) | Yes | High |
Although the upfront investment in a territory franchise is higher, it provides significantly higher revenue potential, greater control, and long-term sustainability.
Who Should Invest in a Territory Franchise?
A territory franchise is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs who:
✔ Want to own a scalable business rather than just a job
✔ Are financially prepared to invest in growth ($50,000+ in liquid assets)
✔ Value independence but still want a proven system
✔ Want long-term profitability and the ability to sell the business in the future
If you are serious about building a successful commercial cleaning company, a territory franchise is the best investment choice.
Final Thoughts: The Best Commercial Cleaning Franchise Is A Territory Franchise
Choosing the right franchise model can make or break your success in the commercial cleaning industry. While unit franchises offer a quick and inexpensive way to enter the business, they come with severe limitations that prevent true business growth.
On the other hand, territory franchises provide real business ownership, lower long-term costs, and unlimited earning potential. If you are looking to build a scalable, profitable, and sellable commercial cleaning business, a territory franchise is the best choice.
Ready to explore your options? Check out top territory franchise opportunities like:
🔹 Assett Commercial Services (our commercial cleaning franchise opportunity)
🔹 ServiceMaster Clean
🔹 Office Pride
Do your research, assess your financial readiness, and take the next step toward owning a business—not just buying a job.
The Assett Commercial Cleaning Franchise Opportunity
If you’re looking for the best commercial cleaning franchise, reach out to us here at the Assett Franchise. We will review your commercial cleaning franchise startup costs, marketing strategies, earnings potential, and more. We have a great franchise team and we’re eager to welcome you into the Assett brand!
