What Is the DRYmedic Restoration Services Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
DRYmedic Restoration Services is a disaster restoration franchise specializing in cleaning up and repairing damage from water, fire, mold, storms, and other home or business catastrophes. The company’s roots go back decades in the restoration industry (with over 40 years of combined expertise backing its model), though the current DRYmedic brand was launched in Detroit in 2014 by Carlos Hesano and Benjamin Gergis. Starting from a single van and a mission to bring empathy to disaster recovery, DRYmedic has since grown into a nationally recognized franchise network. It now has over 65 locations across the U.S.. In 2022, DRYmedic joined the Authority Brands family (a major home services franchisor), gaining additional resources and support to accelerate its expansion.
Operating in the property restoration industry, DRYmedic benefits from serving an essential, recession-resistant market. When fires, floods, or mold strike, repairs can’t be postponed – they’re urgent needs. Industry reports value the U.S. restoration services sector at over $210 billion annually, fueled by factors like aging buildings and an uptick in severe weather events. Notably, a significant portion of restoration work is covered by insurance, providing a built-in demand and financial safety net for providers. For an entrepreneur, this means the DRYmedic franchise opportunity sits in a huge market with steady need, where the job is about more than cleanup – it’s about helping people rebuild their lives when disaster strikes.
What Franchisees Get
For franchise owners, DRYmedic Restoration Services provides a comprehensive package of services and support. Franchisees offer a full menu of restoration and remediation services to their clients – everything from water and fire damage restoration to mold remediation, storm damage repair, asbestos and odor removal, biohazard cleanup, and even contents cleaning. This means as an owner you can help both residential and commercial customers recover from virtually any disaster. DRYmedic operates 24/7 emergency response teams, so franchisees are equipped to respond day or night when damage occurs. A large portion of the customer base consists of homeowners in crisis (often working through insurance claims), but franchisees can also develop commercial clientele for disasters that strike offices, schools, or other facilities.
Training and support are a big part of the franchise offering. New DRYmedic owners attend an intensive initial training program (about two weeks at headquarters) to learn both the technical aspects of restoration and the business management systems. Franchisees also get access to the DRYmedic Success Academy – a library of on-demand video training modules – and benefit from ongoing coaching from a dedicated Franchise Business Consultant (FBC). In the field, owners follow proven operating procedures and use specialized software (such as the DASH job management system) to run projects efficiently. DRYmedic helps with marketing as well: franchisees are given a “built-in B2B marketing engine,” including a database of 1,000+ referral contacts (like insurance agents and property managers) in their territory to jumpstart partnerships. The franchisor also provides ready-made marketing materials (email templates, videos, print collateral, etc.) that can be customized locally.
Importantly, each DRYmedic franchisee gets an exclusive territory of up to roughly 250,000 people in population, ensuring you won’t be competing with another DRYmedic franchise next door. Many owners even have the flexibility to start the business from a home office to keep overhead low initially, expanding into a small warehouse or facility only as the business grows. DRYmedic does not require prior restoration experience to become a franchisee – the ideal owner is described as a strong manager and team builder, and the franchise will teach the technical skills. With the right training, tools, and support systems provided, a DRYmedic franchise owner can focus on leading crews and building relationships while the company’s proven systems handle much of the operational playbook.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Getting a DRYmedic franchise off the ground requires a significant investment, as is typical for restoration businesses. According to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the total initial investment for a new DRYmedic franchise ranges from roughly $196,000 to $319,000. This figure includes the franchise fee of $45,000, along with everything needed to launch: vehicles, heavy-duty drying and cleaning equipment, initial supplies, insurance, licensing, and some working capital. Notably, about $80,000 of the startup budget is allocated to specialized restoration equipment and vehicle outfitting alone, underscoring the equipment-heavy nature of this business. Franchise candidates are generally expected to have a net worth around $250,000 and at least $75,000 in liquid capital to qualify, though financing options are available. DRYmedic can connect new owners with third-party lenders (including SBA loans) who specialize in franchise funding, which can help in funding the startup costs.
In addition to the upfront costs, ongoing franchise fees apply. DRYmedic charges a royalty on gross revenue that starts at 7% and can decrease to 5% as your sales grow or once your franchise is well-established. There is also a national marketing/brand fund fee of 1.5% of gross sales (with a minimum of $595 per month) to support collective advertising efforts. Franchise owners will incur typical business expenses too – things like insurance, vehicle fuel and maintenance, payroll for technicians, etc. While restoration projects can generate high revenues, they also come with higher operating costs (specialized equipment, skilled labor, insurance) compared to a simpler service business. DRYmedic’s Item 19 financial disclosure indicates that the average franchise location achieves about $1.27 million in annual gross revenue, with top performers (the top 25% of franchisees) exceeding $2.4 million a year in sales according to franchisehelp.com. This shows the income potential is substantial, though individual results vary. The franchise emphasizes its recession-resistant nature – since disasters happen in any economy, a DRYmedic franchise can see consistent demand even when the broader market is down.
How the Industry Itself Compares
DRYmedic Restoration Services Industry Advantages
From an industry perspective, disaster restoration has some clear advantages that make franchises like DRYmedic appealing. First, the demand is driven by unavoidable events – if a pipe bursts or a building catches fire, someone has to fix it immediately. This makes restoration services largely insulated from recessions: people can postpone discretionary spending, but they can’t avoid cleaning up a flood or mold infestation when it happens. In fact, the U.S. property restoration market is enormous (over $210 billion in annual revenue) and growing, due to factors like climate change causing more severe weather and an aging building stock leading to more system failures. That means a franchisee in this field taps into a huge pool of potential business. Also, many restoration jobs are paid for by insurance companies, not directly out of the customer’s pocket, which can lead to quicker approvals for services and a higher likelihood that customers move forward with needed work.
Another advantage is the high revenue per job in restoration. Mitigating water damage in a commercial building or rebuilding part of a home after a fire can easily be a multi-thousand-dollar project. As we saw, the average DRYmedic franchise does over a million dollars a year in sales, with top franchises doing $2–3 million+. A few large-loss jobs can bring in significant income for a franchisee. The industry also offers a sense of purpose – as a restoration business owner, you help people in some of their worst moments, which can be very personally rewarding. This “urgent responder” role is something that draws many to the field. Additionally, restoration franchises like DRYmedic typically provide multiple service streams (water, fire, mold, biohazard, etc.), diversifying your revenue. If it’s a slow season for storms, you might still be busy with mold remediation or small fire cleanups, and vice versa. Overall, the restoration sector’s strengths lie in its essential nature, sizeable job tickets, and the backing of insurance and franchisor support structures that help franchisees hit the ground running.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
When you compare the restoration business to the commercial cleaning industry, there are key differences – and for many entrepreneurs, commercial cleaning comes out ahead for long-term stability and simplicity. Commercial cleaning (janitorial services for offices, schools, medical buildings, etc.) is also a massive market – over $100 billion annually in the U.S. – but it operates on a very different model. Instead of one-off emergency projects, a cleaning business franchise runs on recurring service contracts. Clients like office buildings or retail stores typically sign agreements for cleaning services on a daily or weekly schedule. This means predictable, steady income month after month, not just occasional spikes when a disaster strikes. While a restoration franchise might be waiting for the next big storm or plumbing catastrophe to drive revenue, a commercial cleaning franchise builds a book of regular accounts that provide reliable cash flow and compound over time.
The commercial cleaning industry also tends to have lower startup and operating costs. There’s no need for heavy-duty equipment like industrial dehumidifiers or construction tools – a cleaning franchise owner mainly needs basic cleaning supplies, a small crew of employees, and perhaps a van or two. In fact, many janitorial franchises can be started for well under $100,000 total investment, which is a fraction of what a full-scale restoration business requires. Because of the lower overhead, profit margins can be very attractive in cleaning. Another big difference is the work schedule and lifestyle. Commercial cleaning work is usually done on a routine timetable (often after business hours, but predictably so) and can be managed by crews with relatively basic training. You’re not typically getting 3 AM emergency calls as the owner of a cleaning company – whereas restoration franchise owners must be prepared for urgent calls 24/7 or need to hire staff to be on-call for emergencies. In short, running a cleaning franchise often offers a more manageable day-to-day operation, especially if you value work-life balance. Some owners even run their cleaning business semi-absentee – after building a reliable team, they might spend as little as 5–10 hours per week overseeing the business, treating it as an executive management opportunity rather than a hands-on job.
From a market standpoint, commercial cleaning is highly scalable and recession-resistant in its own way. Every city has thousands of potential commercial clients, and demand for cleaning is constant – offices, stores, and institutions will always need trash emptied and floors cleaned, regardless of the season or economic climate. (In fact, cleaning services often get even more attention during downturns or public health events when maintaining a clean environment becomes non-negotiable.) There is plenty of competition in cleaning, but also an enormous pie to share. Success comes down to reliability, quality, and relationships, rather than being dependent on unpredictable events. For a first-time entrepreneur, a cleaning business can be easier to grasp and simpler to operate: it doesn’t require specialized technical skills or certifications (no water restoration tech licenses or mold remediation certifications needed), and the business model is straightforward – provide quality service consistently, keep your clients happy, and steadily add new accounts. All these factors mean that a well-run commercial cleaning franchise can offer greater stability, easier scalability, and often a faster return on investment compared to a restoration franchise, especially for an owner who prefers a low-drama, repeat-business model.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
Assett Franchise operates in the commercial cleaning arena, so it comes with all the cleaning industry advantages described above – but it goes a step further by focusing on making the business model as simple and scalable as possible for franchisees. Assett’s model is built for owners who want to work on the business, not in it. In practical terms, that means as an Assett franchise owner you’re not out there mopping floors yourself; you’re managing a team and building client relationships while the cleaning crews handle the day-to-day jobs. The system is refined so that someone with no prior cleaning industry experience can plug in and follow a proven playbook to acquire clients and deliver quality service. Everything from sales scripts to cleaning checklists is provided, enabling new owners to hit the ground running.
While restoration franchises like DRYmedic offer solid income potential, Assett Franchise emphasizes the power of recurring revenue and a clear path to $1M+ in annual recurring revenue that’s achievable with a lean operation. The goal is to land a base of long-term commercial contracts that steadily build up to that seven-figure revenue mark – a benchmark Assett’s model is engineered to help franchisees reach. Growth in an Assett cleaning business doesn’t require complex expansion or new technical capabilities; you simply add more cleaning crews as you win more accounts. There’s no need to buy tens of thousands of dollars in new equipment for each expansion, nor to worry about handling hazardous materials or emergency calls. In short, Assett provides a simpler operational system with big potential, leveraging the stability of the cleaning industry and removing many hurdles so owners can scale up smoothly.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
One standout feature of Assett Franchise is its automated hiring system, which tackles one of the toughest aspects of any service business: finding and retaining good staff. In many cleaning businesses (and restoration businesses too), owners can spend countless hours each week posting job ads, interviewing candidates, and dealing with employee turnover. Assett has innovated a technology-driven hiring pipeline that does much of this heavy lifting for franchisees. The system continuously recruits, screens, and even helps onboard cleaning staff as needed, ensuring you always have a reliable, qualified team ready to go. By automating the recruiting process, Assett Franchise owners save an estimated 20–30 hours per week of management time (or equivalently, the cost of a full-time hiring manager that they don’t have to hire). This not only saves time and money, but also provides peace of mind – you’re far less likely to find yourself short-staffed before a big client job or scrambling to replace a cleaner who quit on short notice. A consistent, high-quality workforce at scale means your service quality stays high as you grow, without the typical HR headaches. In short, Assett’s approach to staffing lets owners focus on growing the business and keeping clients happy, rather than constantly putting out fires in the employee roster.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Assett Franchise also offers a level of personalized support that’s rare in franchising today according to bizbuysell.com. The company is a family-owned franchise system, led by its founder Matt Pencarinha (who still actively guides the business) rather than being under the control of a big private equity firm. This means new franchisees get direct access to the leadership and mentorship of people who have built the business from the ground up. When you join Assett, you’re not just a number in a corporate system; you become part of a tight-knit franchise family that genuinely cares about your success. The founders are involved in training and ongoing coaching, sharing their expertise and ensuring that each franchisee upholds the brand’s standards in their local market. Assett also prides itself on being community-focused, with a clear mission of helping local businesses maintain clean, healthy environments while giving franchise owners a flexible path to financial independence.
In contrast to some larger franchise chains where you might feel like just one out of hundreds of owners (with layers of corporate bureaucracy in between), Assett keeps things personal and responsive. Franchisees have a direct line to decision-makers and can get guidance when they need it. That personal touch can make a huge difference when you’re starting out and have questions, or when you encounter a challenge and can pick up the phone to talk directly with the people at the top. Knowing that your franchisor is founder-led and invested in your long-term success gives added confidence that you’ll be supported at every step. It’s a modern, people-first approach to franchising that aligns well with Assett’s overall emphasis on simplicity, transparency, and partnership with its franchise owners.
Final Thoughts
Both DRYmedic Restoration Services and Assett Franchise represent solid business opportunities – but they cater to different entrepreneur profiles. DRYmedic’s restoration franchise is compelling if you’re passionate about the restoration field or drawn to the idea of being the go-to problem-solver when disaster strikes. It offers a well-established system in a high-demand niche and the work can be genuinely meaningful, with strong revenue potential for successful owners. However, for many first-time business owners (or anyone looking for a steadier, more scalable enterprise), Assett Franchise checks more of the boxes. It offers a path to business ownership that is characterized by a scalable, stable model, low operational complexity, and predictable recurring revenue streams. The initial risk is lower and the breakeven can be faster, thanks to lower startup costs and the simplicity of the cleaning business model. Assett is essentially a modern, executive-style franchise – perfect for someone who wants to own a business that works for them, rather than the other way around.
In evaluating these opportunities, consider what matters most to you. If you’re looking for:
- A scalable, stable business with steady demand
- Low operational complexity and ease of management
- Predictable recurring revenue from long-term clients
- Minimal risk and a faster ROI on your investment
- A modern, semi-absentee model built for executive ownership
…then Assett Franchise offers more of those advantages for your goals. DRYmedic’s restoration franchise has its strengths for the right type of owner, but Assett provides a “cleaner” alternative in more ways than one – with long-term income, flexibility, and control baked into the model.
If you’re exploring franchise opportunities and want a model that can deliver long-term income, flexibility, and control — we’d love to show you how Assett Franchise can help you build a business that works for your life. Visit https://assettfranchise.com to connect with our team and learn more.
