When evaluating commercial cleaning franchise opportunities, Anago Cleaning Systems often comes up as a well-established player with a unique unit franchise model. On the other hand, Assett Commercial Cleaning Franchise is a newer entrant that positions itself as an executive-style territory franchise. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down what the Anago franchise entails – its history, scale, how the model works, the benefits and costs for franchisees – and then contrast that with the Assett Franchise model. Key differences will emerge in areas such as franchise ownership structure (large corporate system vs. family-owned startup), the scale of business you operate (small unit franchise vs. full-scale territory business), revenue potential, and the use of technology and systems.
Our goal is to provide all the information you need to understand Anago’s unit franchise opportunity and see how it stacks up against Assett’s territory-based franchise model. Let’s dive in.
Anago Franchise: A Franchise-within-a-Franchise Model
History and Scale of Anago Cleaning Systems
Anago Cleaning Systems was founded in 1989 by David Povlitz and began franchising in the early 1990s. Over the past three decades, Anago has grown into a notable name in the commercial cleaning industry through a distinctive Master Franchise system. Instead of expanding purely through individual franchise units, Anago sold larger regional franchises (Master Franchises) that in turn recruit and support Unit Franchisees in their territories. This three-tier structure (corporate > master franchise > unit franchise) allowed Anago to scale widely while maintaining local support for unit owners.
Today, Anago’s franchise network spans across the United States and internationally. The company supports roughly 40–45 Master Franchisees and over 1,700–1,800 Unit Franchisees worldwide. This makes Anago one of the larger commercial cleaning franchise systems by unit count (albeit smaller than some rivals like Jani-King or Jan-Pro). In terms of economic scale, industry reports have estimated Anago’s system-wide revenues at around $125 million annually in recent years. Anago has also received recognition in the franchise community – for example, it ranked #44 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2025. Such accolades and scale indicate that new franchisees join a well-established brand with a proven track record in the market.
Anago’s client base is diverse, including offices, schools, medical facilities, and more. Because of its long tenure, the brand enjoys strong name recognition in many markets. For a prospective franchise owner, this means leveraging an existing reputation and client trust built over decades. However, it’s important to understand exactly how an Anago franchise operates, as it differs from a traditional single-tier franchise.
How the Anago Franchise Model Works
Anago’s franchising structure is often described as “franchise within a franchise.” Here’s how it works: Anago corporate grants exclusive regional rights to Master Franchise owners (sometimes called Subfranchisors). Each Master Franchisee essentially becomes the franchisor in their region – they market the Anago brand locally, sell unit franchises to individuals, and secure cleaning contracts with clients. If you invest in an Anago Franchise, you are one of those individual franchisees operating under a Master.
As a unit franchisee, you typically purchase a set of initial cleaning contracts from the Master Franchise. In other words, part of your franchise fee goes toward buying a starter portfolio of customer accounts that you will service. The Master finds and signs commercial cleaning clients (businesses that need janitorial services) and then offers those accounts to unit franchise owners. This means a new Anago franchisee often starts with some revenue on day one, since you step into servicing pre-obtained client accounts. It’s a turnkey aspect that appeals to those who may not have sales experience – you don’t have to go out and find all your customers initially; the franchisor provides them (for a fee).
However, this convenience comes with limitations. In the Anago unit model, you do not fully own the customer contracts you service. The Master Franchise retains ultimate control over the accounts. They can reassign a client to another franchisee or even take it in-house if necessary. In essence, you operate more like an authorized subcontractor: you run a small cleaning business under the Anago brand, but the Master holds the client relationships and contracts. Your growth is also somewhat constrained by what the Master provides or approves. Unlike a traditional franchise where you might have an exclusive territory to develop and freedom to pursue any client, Anago franchisees typically service clients in a region shared with other franchisees and cannot independently sign large new contracts without going through the Master.
Anago Franchise Support and Operations in Anago’s System
One of Anago’s selling points is the support structure provided via its Master Franchise system. When you join as a unit franchisee, you receive initial training on how to perform professional cleaning services the “Anago way” – this often includes both classroom instruction and hands-on training in using cleaning equipment, safety protocols, and business procedures. Since Anago’s model has been refined over decades, franchisees benefit from established standard operating procedures for various facility types and situations (including up-to-date disinfection practices, etc.).
Crucially, the Master Franchise in your region acts as your mentor and support center. Anago has over 40 regional offices (the Master franchise locations) and each typically provides: client acquisition (sales) efforts, ongoing operational support, and administrative assistance. For example, Masters often handle billing and invoicing of clients on behalf of unit franchisees – they bill the customer, collect payments, then pass on the franchisee’s share (after deducting fees). They may also coordinate marketing in the area, handle customer service issues, and organize additional training or meetings. Essentially, as an Anago unit owner you have a local headquarters in the form of your Master Franchise office.
Another benefit is that Anago franchisees can start as home-based, part-time businesses. Many Anago unit owners operate with just a couple of employees (or initially even solo) and work during off-hours (like cleaning offices at night). The franchisor’s systems allow even small owner-operators to manage their business with relative ease. For instance, Anago provides software tools for scheduling, quality checklist templates, and an intranet for franchisees to stay informed. (Anago has mentioned proprietary software – e.g., a system called CleanCom – to help streamline operations and communication between franchisees, clients, and the master office.) While not as tech-driven as some newer franchises, Anago has incorporated technology over time to assist with routine tasks.
From a franchisee perspective, the advantages of Anago’s model include having immediate customers, a known brand, training, and back-office support for admin tasks. This can significantly lower the barrier to entry for people new to business – essentially, you’re buying a job with support. Many unit franchisees appreciate that they can focus on servicing accounts (ensuring the cleaning is done well and customers are happy) while the franchisor deals with much of the sales and administrative heavy lifting.
However, these benefits come with trade-offs. As mentioned, you sacrifice a degree of independence and upside. You cannot freely expand beyond what the Master grants, and you will always share a portion of revenue in fees (which we’ll detail next). In Anago’s system, it’s also common that franchisees are owner-operators – meaning the franchise is essentially a small cleaning operation that might replace the owner’s previous job, rather than a company with a management team. Some entrepreneurs thrive in that hands-on role, while others may feel constrained if they aspire to build a larger enterprise.
Anago Franchise Costs and Fees for Unit Owners
Initial Investment: One reason Anago franchises are popular is the relatively low startup cost. Unlike buying a large territory franchise (which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars), an Anago franchise can be started for a modest sum. According to Anago’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise industry data, the total initial investment for a unit franchise can range roughly from around $1,000 on the very low end up to about $20,000–$25,000. This wide range accounts for different sizes of franchise packages:
- Low-end packages (micro franchises): In some cases, new owners have started with just a few thousand dollars (or even under $2,000 down payment) by financing the rest of the franchise fee. These minimal packages would include a very small amount of monthly business (a couple of small accounts). They are essentially entry-level plans for those with extremely limited capital. For example, a new franchisee might pay a small down payment to get, say, $500 per month of cleaning business assigned to them, and then pay off the remaining franchise fee from the revenues of those accounts over time.
- Higher-end unit packages: On the opposite end, Anago (and similar brands) offer larger initial franchise plans – you might invest $15,000 or $20,000 (or more) upfront to receive a greater volume of business in return (for instance, a package of accounts that generates a few thousand dollars in monthly billing). The Initial Franchise Fee you pay varies with the size of the package. It could be as low as a few thousand dollars or upwards of ~$30,000 for the biggest unit franchise plans. (Notably, these figures are much lower than an Anago Master Franchise fee, which is around $98,000 just for the territory rights – but that Master option is a completely different, higher-level investment.)
In addition to the franchise fee and any down payment on accounts, a new unit owner will have some other startup costs: basic equipment (vacuum, cleaning tools, supplies), insurance (general liability and bonding, which the franchisor often helps arrange in a group policy), any business entity formation costs, and a small amount of working capital for the first few months (to cover things like gas, maybe initial employee wages before client payments come in, etc.). These costs are relatively minimal – equipment and supplies might be a couple thousand dollars at most for a single crew setup, and insurance and miscellaneous expenses another few hundred. Many Anago franchisees start from home, so there’s usually no office or retail lease needed. Overall, starting an Anago unit can often be done for under $10,000 total on the low side, and even a more ambitious initial package might be under $25,000 all-in. This low barrier to entry is a major selling point and is among the cheapest ways to start a commercial cleaning business with a franchise brand behind you.
Ongoing Fees: Where the Anago model becomes less light on the wallet is in the ongoing franchise fees structure. Unit franchisees pay a portion of their revenue back to the franchisor (and Master) through several fees:
- Royalty Fee: Anago franchisees pay a royalty on gross monthly billing. This royalty can be around 10% of revenue (the exact percentage might vary slightly by region or contract type, but 10% is a common baseline). The royalty compensates the franchisor for the use of brand and general support.
- Administrative/Support Fee: In addition to the royalty, there is often an administrative or management fee – this might be another 5% to 15% of gross revenue. In many unit franchise systems (Anago included), the combined royalty+admin fees can total roughly 15%–25% of the franchisee’s billings. For example, an Anago franchise owner might pay 10% royalty + 10% support fee = 20% of revenue going to the Master franchisor.
- Account Sales (Referral) Fees: When the Master franchisor provides you a new cleaning account (especially beyond your initial package), there is typically a fee for that service. It could be a one-time charge or an ongoing percentage of that account’s revenue for a certain period. This is essentially the Master’s commission for selling you additional business. In many cases, unit franchisees pay a percentage (perhaps 5-15%) of each new account’s monthly fees back to the franchisor for a set duration, or a flat finders’ fee.
- Insurance and Supplies: Franchisees might also pay into a group insurance program fee (a small percentage of revenue to cover liability insurance, if you opt into the franchisor’s plan). Additionally, some franchisors require buying certain chemicals or equipment from approved vendors (with associated costs), though these aren’t exactly “fees”, they do affect margins.
- Other Misc. Fees: Depending on the franchise, there could be small contributions to marketing funds, technology fees, etc. In Anago’s case, the marketing fee for unit franchisees isn’t typically a large national fund (marketing is usually handled regionally by Masters). Technology fees have historically been minimal or included in other fees.
All told, an Anago franchisee might see around 20% to 30% of their gross revenue go to franchise fees and related costs. In some scenarios, if an entry-level franchisee is paying off a financed franchise fee or has additional management fees, it could even approach 40% of revenue in fees early on – which is substantial. This means that if you bill $5,000 in a month from your cleaning accounts, perhaps $1,500 or more might be taken out for royalties, support, insurance, etc., leaving you $3,500 before your own expenses (like labor, supplies, etc.). Profit margins for unit franchisees can therefore be thin, especially if they are doing the cleaning work themselves (often effectively paying themselves out of what’s left). The franchisor will argue that these fees fund the support and client acquisition that make your business possible – which is true – but from a franchisee perspective it requires careful budgeting and cost control to make a good income.
It’s also important to note: limited scalability is a challenge. Because of the fee load and the fact that you don’t control sales freely, growing an Anago franchise into a very large business is uncommon. Most unit franchisees stay small (perhaps just a couple of cleaning crews). If one wants to truly scale up in the Anago system, the path would be to become a Master Franchisee (essentially move to the next level and run your own network of units). However, that is a completely different investment and role – akin to becoming a regional franchisor rather than running a cleaning operation.
In summary, Anago’s unit franchise model offers a low-cost, lower-risk entry into the commercial cleaning industry with significant support and a built-in customer base, but it caps your independence and earning potential. You are buying into a job where much of the groundwork is handled for you, in exchange for ongoing fees and a limit on how big you can grow under that structure. Now, let’s look at how Assett’s approach differs in almost every respect – from ownership and culture to financial model and growth prospects.
Assett Franchise – A Family-Owned Alternative with a Territory Model
Background and Hands-On Approach
Assett Commercial Cleaning Franchise is a newer contender in the industry, founded in 2019 by Matt Pencarinha in Asheville, NC. Assett began franchising in 2022 after refining its business model through an initial successful cleaning business (Assett Commercial Services). Unlike Anago’s decades-long history and layered franchise network, Assett is a family-owned, founder-led company. This means that when you join Assett as a franchisee, you are working directly with the people who created the business – not through regional middlemen or a large corporate hierarchy. The company’s leadership remains directly involved in day-to-day franchise development and support.
From day one, Assett set out to differentiate itself by fostering a close-knit, partnership-oriented culture. The CEO/founder personally trains new franchise owners in an intensive startup program, and franchisees have direct lines of communication to the top leadership. The ethos is that every franchisee’s success is a shared victory for the company. Being a small, growing system, Assett treats franchisees more like business partners or an extension of the family business. This is in stark contrast to a franchise like Anago, where a new unit owner might feel like just one of hundreds of small operators and primarily interact with a regional office. At Assett, each franchisee matters deeply to the founders – their success stories help build the brand’s young legacy.
Assett’s philosophy emphasizes people, partnership, professionalism, and pioneering systems. In practice, this translates to very hands-on support. New owners spend time directly with the founder and support team learning not only how to run a cleaning business, but how to scale it. There’s a focus on mentorship: for example, Matt Pencarinha, the CEO, continues to provide one-on-one guidance to franchisees as they grow, which is something rarely possible in large franchise systems with thousands of owners. The company prides itself on agility – being able to adapt and provide individualized help, since it’s not bogged down by a huge corporate bureaucracy.
Business Model: An Executive Territory Franchise (Not “Just a Cleaner”)
Perhaps the most significant difference between Assett and an older model like Anago is what role the franchisee plays. Assett positions its opportunity as an “executive model” in commercial cleaning franchising. They often say, “We’re not in this to be janitors.” That blunt statement encapsulates Assett’s approach: as a franchise owner, you are the business owner and manager, not simply a cleaner with a few accounts.
In Assett’s franchise model, when you invest, you purchase an exclusive geographic territory (essentially a protected region where only you operate under the Assett brand). You have the rights to develop all the business in that area – meaning you can pursue any commercial cleaning contracts, large or small, within your territory. You own your client contracts outright (unlike in Anago’s unit model). This means you are building an actual business asset: the customer relationships and contracts belong to you, and you can later sell your business or its accounts if you choose, or expand as you see fit. Assett franchisees are true entrepreneurs in that sense – they are not limited to servicing pre-assigned accounts; instead, they actively market and grow their client base with the franchisor’s support.
Assett’s model expects franchisees to operate at a larger scale from the outset. While many cleaning franchises let you start small, Assett encourages owners to go full-time immediately and aim to build a sizeable company. This is reflected in Assett’s franchise prerequisites – typically they look for candidates with a net worth of $100,000+ and around $50,000 in liquid capital to invest. Startup costs for an Assett territory franchise usually fall in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 (this includes the territory franchise fee, initial equipment, some working capital, etc.). In other words, Assett does require a higher upfront investment than an Anago unit, but still far less than something like buying an entire region as a master franchise. It’s positioned for those who are prepared to treat the venture as a serious, full-scale business from day one.
The franchise fee for Assett covers a protected territory license. While the exact fee can depend on the size of the territory (major metro areas might cost more than smaller cities), it generally is tens of thousands of dollars (e.g. in the ballpark of $45k–$70k). In addition, a new franchisee should have funds for equipment, initial marketing, hiring staff, insurance, and some operating cash. Assett’s higher capital requirement is intentional: the brand wants owners who have the resources to hire employees, run marketing campaigns, and pursue big contracts out of the gate, rather than scraping by month-to-month.
Why this “go big” approach? Because Assett is engineered for scalability and high revenue potential. The company openly touts a “proven $1,000,000+ annual revenue model.” In fact, Assett’s corporate-owned operations demonstrated that a single territory can exceed one million dollars in yearly sales, and the franchise is built to replicate that level of success for franchisees. The idea is that by following Assett’s business plan – which emphasizes landing sizable accounts like office complexes, medical facilities, universities, etc. – a franchise owner can ramp up to a seven-figure business within a reasonable timeframe. Many Assett franchisees operate full-time and immediately start building a team of cleaners, rather than doing all the cleaning themselves. You’re encouraged to step into a CEO role, focusing on client acquisition, customer relationships, and managing your growing staff.
This is a fundamental divergence from the Anago unit concept. Anago’s typical unit franchisee is a small owner-operator cleaning a few accounts (and might make, say, $40k-$80k a year in gross revenue as a side business or job replacement). Assett franchisees, by design, are aiming to run a mid-sized enterprise. It’s not that Assett expects you to hit $1M in the first year (though some aggressive owners might approach that); rather, they provide the systems and support so that you can realistically scale to that level over time, without artificial caps. Assett territories are large enough to accommodate dozens of clients. The franchise training explicitly covers how to market and sell to higher-paying clients and how to structure your operations (hiring supervisors, multiple cleaning crews, etc.) to handle growth.
Cutting-Edge Systems and Support
Being a newer franchise, Assett has built its support infrastructure with a modern mindset. One of the standout features Assett promotes is its proprietary Automated Hiring System. In the cleaning industry, as your business grows, one of the biggest challenges is staffing – recruiting and retaining reliable cleaning personnel. Assett recognized this and developed automation tools to streamline the hiring process for franchisees. The automated hiring system can handle much of the grunt work: it posts job ads, filters applications, and even helps schedule interviews or pre-screenings, leveraging software to maintain a pipeline of qualified candidates. This means an Assett owner spends far less time each week on HR tasks compared to a traditional franchise owner. For example, instead of personally scrambling to find two new cleaners when you sign a new contract, you might find that the system has a roster of vetted workers ready to call, dramatically reducing the lead time to staff new jobs. Assett claims this is the “#1 automated hiring system in the cleaning franchise industry,” giving their franchisees a unique edge in scaling up without hitting a labor bottleneck.
In addition to hiring automation, Assett provides a suite of enterprise-level software tools for managing the business. Franchisees use modern platforms for scheduling, customer relationship management, billing, and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like recurring revenue, profit margins, client retention, etc. The emphasis is on data-driven operations – giving owners real-time visibility into their business metrics. Assett essentially wants its franchisees to run efficient, tech-enabled companies, not mom-and-pop operations using pen-and-paper. Because Assett started in the late 2010s, it had the advantage of incorporating the latest tech from inception, whereas older brands like Anago have had to retrofit or slowly adopt new systems over time.
Assett’s training and ongoing support are intensive. Beyond the initial launch training (often one-on-one with the founder), franchisees receive daily support – which can include daily check-ins, a centralized help desk for troubleshooting, regular business coaching sessions, and workshops. The relatively small network means support staff can give very personalized attention. Assett also fosters franchisee community interaction: new owners are connected with existing Assett franchise owners to share experiences, and the company culture encourages mentorship among peers.
Importantly, Assett does not nickel-and-dime franchisees with extra fees for support services. The ongoing royalty is typically modest – around 7% of gross revenue (and in Assett’s model, this royalty can even scale down as your revenue grows, improving your margins as you become larger). There are no separate administrative or management fees – the support you receive is included in that royalty percentage. Assett also does not charge franchisees for every new client you secure; in fact, helping you land accounts is considered part of their duty to you (after all, their royalty grows only if you grow). This is a stark difference from the unit franchise world, where virtually every piece of new business often comes with a price tag to the franchisee. In Assett’s case, your incentives are aligned with the franchisor’s – both want to maximize your sales and profit, because you keep the lion’s share and they benefit from the royalty on a much bigger revenue base if you succeed wildly.
To summarize Assett’s value proposition: it offers a high-growth framework – you invest more upfront and work closely with a founder-led team, in order to build a large, scalable cleaning business using advanced systems. The trade-off is higher initial commitment (money, time, full-time engagement) compared to an entry-level unit franchise. But for that commitment, you get true business ownership, higher income potential, and cutting-edge support to run the business efficiently.
Comparing the Anago Franchise and Assett Franchise – Key Differences
After understanding each model, let’s break down the key differences between Anago’s unit franchise approach and the Assett territory franchise approach:
Ownership Structure and Leadership
Anago Cleaning Systems has a multi-layered corporate structure. As a franchisee, you are two steps removed from the top – you deal primarily with a regional Master Franchise (who themselves are franchisees of Anago Corporate). This structure means the company is larger and has a long track record, but the culture can feel corporate and somewhat impersonal. Decisions and support often come from standardized regional offices. You’re part of a big system with many layers: corporate sets policies > master franchise implements locally > you operate under the master. While Anago was originally a family-founded business, its scale today means franchisees experience a more bureaucratic, hierarchical support system.
Assett, by contrast, is family-owned and founder-led. Franchisees have direct access to the top leadership and form personal relationships with the founders. The culture is entrepreneurial and tight-knit. Instead of layers of management, you have the CEO’s phone number. Assett’s leadership is deeply invested in each franchisee’s success – they wear multiple hats to coach and assist you. This difference boils down to what kind of environment you prefer: Anago offers the prestige and resources of a big franchise network, whereas Assett offers the agility and personal touch of a small family enterprise. If you value being one of many in a proven system, Anago provides that stability. If you prefer to be part of a growing “franchise family” where your success is a top priority for the founders, Assett is very appealing.
Franchise Model: Anago Franchise vs. Assett Franchise
This is the crux of the comparison. Anago’s franchise is essentially a small-scale franchise where you operate a cleaning route assigned by a regional franchisor. You start very small (even part-time) and can remain small indefinitely. In fact, many Anago unit owners treat the franchise as a job-replacement or a side business – cleaning a handful of accounts themselves or with one helper. The model is set up to accommodate that: low cost, low risk, but also low autonomy. You grow by adding one account at a time, usually through the Master Franchise’s sales pipeline. It’s very much a “crawl-walk-run” approach; you might begin with $1,000 per month in revenue and, over years, work your way to maybe $10,000 per month if you steadily buy more accounts or the Master feeds you more business. It’s incremental growth.
Assett’s territory franchise is built as an “executive model from Day One.” When you sign on, you are expected to “run the business, not do the cleaning.” You launch full-time, hire employees quickly, and chase substantial contracts. The initial investment and territory structure mean you have the capacity to generate high revenue out of the gate – often aiming for six figures in annual revenue within your first year, and pushing toward the seven-figure mark in a few years. Assett does not really cater to part-time or very small owner-operators; it targets driven entrepreneurs who want to build a company. This difference means the ideal franchisee profiles diverge: if someone wants a small, hands-on business with minimal investment, Anago (or similar unit franchises) is a fit. If someone wants to lead a growing enterprise and has the capital to invest, Assett is structured for that path.
In short, Anago = start small, grow gradually (and maybe stay small); Assett = start big (relatively) and grow into a large business. Your personal goals and risk tolerance will determine which model resonates. Anago gives you training wheels and steady, slow expansion. Assett gives you a highway and the keys to accelerate, expecting you to drive at a faster pace.
Income Potential and Business Scale
Following from the model differences, the income potential in each franchise is dramatically different. Anago franchisees often have a limited ceiling – because of the high fees and limited control, most units remain modest in size. It’s not uncommon for an Anago unit to gross, say, $50k to $150k per year in revenue (some do more, but many operate in that range). The net income from that, after fees and expenses, might provide a living wage or a supplemental income, but it’s not easily scaling into a large enterprise. The outliers who want to go bigger in Anago usually end up having to buy additional franchises or become a Master Franchisee, effectively moving beyond the unit model.
Assett franchisees, on the other hand, have a much higher ceiling within a single franchise. Each Assett territory is designed to support a business that can reach $1 million+ in annual revenues when fully developed. In fact, Assett’s support and coaching are geared towards reaching that milestone as a key goal. That means as an Assett owner, you’re building a business that could potentially yield a high six-figure or even seven-figure income for you (before overheads) once mature. And because you keep a larger share of the revenue (with only a 7% royalty and no extra fees siphoning off profits), your margins can be healthier. Assett franchisees are essentially aiming to become executives of a mid-sized company, with corresponding financial rewards.
This difference might be summarized as: Anago is suitable if you are content with a small business income and a steady operation; Assett is for those who want to aggressively build wealth and equity in a business. Neither is “right” or “wrong” – it depends on the individual’s aspirations. For example, a retiree or someone seeking a side hustle might be very happy earning $40k a year cleaning a few offices via Anago. But a corporate manager who’s quitting their job to launch a business probably has a bigger income target and would be more drawn to Assett’s model to potentially replace and exceed their corporate salary.
Another aspect is equity value: an Assett franchise, if built up to $1M in sales, becomes a significant asset that could be sold in the future (potentially for multiple times its annual profit, given you own the contracts and there’s tangible business value). An Anago unit, by contrast, is harder to sell for a large sum – since the contracts technically belong to the Master, a unit franchise doesn’t usually command a high resale price (in some cases, you might sell your little book of business to another franchisee, but you’re not selling a protected territory or independent business).
Fees and Financial Structure
We’ve already detailed the fee structures, but it’s worth highlighting directly: Anago’s model takes more in ongoing fees, while Assett’s model is more owner-friendly on fees.
- Anago Franchise Fees: Roughly 15–25% royalty/admin, plus additional charges for accounts, insurance, etc. The cumulative effect is a higher percentage of your revenue goes to the franchisor. This can constrain your profitability and ability to reinvest in growth (since a chunk is always being paid out). The flip side is that those fees fund the services you get (client leads, billing, etc.), which is valuable when you’re small.
- Assett Franchise Fees: A flat royalty (~7%, with potential step-downs as you grow) and a tiny national branding fee (Assett has mentioned something like 0.05% for brand development). No sales commissions on accounts, no admin surcharges. Essentially, Assett makes money when you make money – so they focus on helping you increase revenue. Because the fee load is lighter, an Assett owner can afford to pay employees well, invest in marketing, and still maintain a good margin.
Over time, Assett’s approach could translate to better profitability. An example: If both an Anago unit and an Assett territory did $500,000 in gross billings (hypothetically), the Anago franchisee might be paying $100k+ of that back in various fees, whereas the Assett franchisee might pay around $35k in royalties. That difference of $65k could be going into the owner’s pocket or back into the business for growth. Of course, reaching $500k in sales as an Anago unit would itself be a monumental challenge under their constraints – which underlines that Assett expects and enables you to reach scales that a unit model typically cannot.
In summary, Anago is the lower-cost entry with higher ongoing fees, and Assett is the higher-cost entry with lower relative ongoing fees. If immediate affordability is the only concern, Anago wins out; if long-term financial efficiency and earning potential are the priority, Assett offers an advantage.
Operational Tools and Innovation
We live in an age where technology can greatly enhance business operations. Here, Assett holds a clear edge. Being a new franchise built by an entrepreneur who leveraged technology, Assett provides franchisees with advanced tools like the Automated Hiring System, modern CRM and scheduling software, and a protected knowledge base of best practices. The whole philosophy is working smarter, not harder – automating or streamlining any process that can be, so the owner can focus on high-level business growth.
Anago, owing to its longevity, runs on more traditional methods. That’s not to say Anago franchisees get no tech – the company does have software for billing and some apps developed in recent years for things like quality inspections. But much of the day-to-day in older systems relies on the franchisee’s own management or the Master’s assistance. For example, if an Anago unit needs to find more cleaners for a new contract, they would rely on either their own hiring efforts (placing ads, interviewing) or ask the Master office if they know someone or can help find a subcontractor. There isn’t an automated pipeline of labor ready at a moment’s notice. Marketing in Anago’s context might be limited to what the Master does regionally (which could be effective or not, depending on the Master’s capability). Assett, by contrast, equips each franchisee with the ability to run their own marketing campaigns with guidance, use digital marketing techniques, and track leads systematically.
If you are an entrepreneur who appreciates using modern tech and data to run your business, Assett’s approach will be very appealing. You’ll have dashboards to monitor your growth, automation to reduce your workload, and innovative tools (like that hiring system) that give you a leg up on competitors. On the other hand, if you’re not particularly tech-savvy or you prefer a very simple, old-school operation, Anago (and similar franchises) might seem more straightforward – you clean accounts and rely on human support from the Master for most things. Just note that as the industry evolves, having a tech-forward franchise can be a significant competitive advantage in efficiency and scaling.
Nature of Support: Standardized vs. Personalized
Both franchises offer support, but the nature differs. Anago provides support via its established regional offices – it’s more standardized and formal. You have training classes, manuals, regional meetings, and a support line to call for issues. The Master franchise will help with issues, but keep in mind each Master handles dozens or even hundreds of unit franchisees, so support is in a one-to-many fashion. You’ll get guidance, but it might sometimes feel “by the book” or slightly generalized.
Assett offers support that is highly personalized and one-on-one. The founding team is literally helping you strategize your next big client pitch, or troubleshooting alongside you daily. It’s a one-to-few setup (with only a handful of franchisees at the moment relative to legacy brands). Franchisees often mention feeling like they are part of a team that’s building something together, rather than just tapping into a pre-existing system. This can be very motivating if you thrive on mentorship and close support. The trade-off is that Assett, being newer, doesn’t have a massive decades-long knowledge base of thousands of franchises – but it makes up for it with the very focused expertise of the founders who have done it themselves and want to see you succeed.
Costs and Fees Comparison at a Glance
To crystallize the financial differences, here’s a simplified comparison of key costs and fees between Anago (Unit) and Assett:
- Initial Franchise Fee & Investment: Anago Unit: Typically $2,000 – $15,000 initial investment for a small package (can be as low as ~$1k down with financing, or up to ~$20k+ for larger packages). Assett: Around $50,000 – $100,000 total investment (includes a territory license fee roughly in the tens of thousands, plus startup costs). Assett’s entry cost is higher, reflecting a bigger business launch, whereas Anago’s low cost lowers the barrier to entry significantly.
- Territory: Anago: No exclusive territory for unit franchises – you operate wherever the Master assigns accounts, often overlapping areas with other franchisees; you only “own” the accounts you service (and even those can be reallocated by franchisor). Assett: Exclusive territory rights – you own a geographic area to develop and have full rights to any clients there; you truly own your contracts and customer relationships.
- Royalty: Anago: Around 10% of gross revenue (paid to Master/Corporate). Assett: 7% of gross revenue (and this can scale down for higher revenue levels). Assett’s royalty is lower and designed to reward growth.
- Additional Fees: Anago: Yes – multiple fees. These include administrative fees (often ~10%), account sales fees (whenever you get new accounts from franchisor), insurance fees, etc. In total, an Anago unit might be contributing 20%–30%+ of revenue to various franchisor fees. Assett: Minimal extra fees. No separate admin or account acquisition fees; essentially just the royalty and a very small marketing/brand fund fee. This means Assett franchisees keep more of each dollar they earn.
- Financing Options: Anago: Masters often offer in-house financing on the franchise fee (allowing that low down payment start). You can start with little money by paying off the franchise fee over time out of your cleaning revenue. Assett: Generally requires funds upfront; however, third-party financing or SBA loans can be used. Assett expects franchisees to be well-capitalized from the start (reflecting the larger scale strategy).
- Typical Owner’s Role: Anago: Owner-operator (you might clean alongside a small crew; very hands-on). Assett: Executive manager (you focus on running the business, hiring, sales; you are not expected to be doing routine cleaning long-term).
- Growth Path: Anago: Grow by adding accounts slowly; high growth might require upgrading to a Master Franchise. Assett: Grow by scaling within your territory; no need to buy anything more – you can build a large business under your one franchise license.
Which Franchise Model is Right for You?
Both Anago and Assett are viable franchise opportunities in the commercial cleaning space, but they cater to different types of entrepreneurs and goals:
Choose the Anago Franchise if: You are looking for a low-cost entry into business ownership and are comfortable with a smaller scale operation. If your priority is to start quickly with minimal investment and you prefer having clients handed to you so you can focus on service delivery, Anago’s model delivers that. It’s a great option for those who may not have a lot of capital or who want to keep things simple – essentially buying a job that you control, with franchisor support. People who are okay with trading a portion of their income for the franchisor’s help (and who don’t mind following the franchisor’s rules closely) will find Anago appealing. It’s also suitable if you want the backing of a well-known brand with decades of experience; there’s comfort in knowing you’re part of a large system with many other franchisees and a long history.
However, be realistic about the outcomes: An Anago franchise can provide a steady income, but it’s unlikely to make you wealthy or build significant equity in the business. It’s best for owner-operators, semi-absentees who want a side income (some franchisees keep a day job and let a small Anago franchise run in the evenings with hired cleaners), or those who want to “get their feet wet” in franchising without a huge commitment.
Choose Assett (Territory Franchise) if: You have a bigger vision for yourself and your business. Assett is ideal for entrepreneurs who are aiming for a full-time, scalable venture. If you have the capital to invest and you’re drawn to the idea of building a company that could reach seven figures in revenue, Assett’s model is engineered for that scenario. It appeals to those who value ownership and control – you want to build your own client base, make executive decisions, and truly own your business (including the option to sell it one day for a substantial sum). The hands-on, family-style support at Assett is a big draw if you appreciate mentorship and being part of a pioneering team.
Assett franchise owners are typically ambitious, growth-oriented individuals. You might be leaving a corporate career or investing in a franchise specifically to create a large income stream and an asset. If the thought of using modern systems and innovative tools to outcompete others excites you, and you’re willing to put in the work up front to ramp up a business quickly, then Assett provides that opportunity. The reward for your higher initial investment is a franchise that won’t hold you back – your success is limited mainly by your own effort and market conditions, not by the franchise model itself.
In persuasive terms, if your goal is to maximize your income and build a substantial enterprise, Assett Franchise offers a compelling edge. It combines the personal mentorship of a family-run business with the sophisticated systems of a big corporation. Assett franchisees can save time (through automation) and capture more profit (thanks to the lean fee structure) as they grow. You’re betting on yourself to execute a high-growth plan, with Assett as the coach and toolkit provider.
On the other hand, if you prefer a slower, more step-by-step route with lower financial risk, a franchise like Anago can be a perfectly good choice. There are plenty of success stories of unit franchisees who built up a nice small business and enjoy the stability of the model. The key is knowing what you want: a modest, steady business or an aggressive growth business.
Final Thoughts: Choosing between Anago’s unit franchise and the Assett franchise ultimately comes down to your personal objectives, resources, and working style. Are you looking for a side business or entry-level opportunity that gives you structure and clients (Anago)? Or are you looking to launch a full-fledged company with greater independence and high potential reward (Assett)?
Both franchises operate in the same industry – commercial cleaning – which is a resilient, needed service with recurring revenue. In either case, success will require hard work, customer focus, and management skill. Anago will provide you the clients and playbook to get started on a small scale; Assett will give you the territory, tools, and coaching to build something bigger. Evaluate what franchise ownership experience you envision for yourself. If you’re content being a hands-on operator with a smaller enterprise, Anago’s model might fit the bill. If you’re ready to be the boss of a growing regional business, Assett’s model is designed to support that dream.
By understanding these differences, you can make an informed decision and choose the franchise path that aligns best with your financial goals and lifestyle aspirations. Good luck on your entrepreneurial journey in the commercial cleaning world!
