Culligan
Culligan International Company offers franchises for independent dealerships that supply authorized water-related products and services, such as household and commercial water conditioning, portable exchange, drinking water, deionized water regeneration, bottled water production and distribution, industrial products, and hemodialysis services under the Culligan proprietary marks. Franchisees purchase products and equipment from Culligan or approved suppliers, resell them to residential, commercial, industrial, and medical customers (including dialysis centers), and adhere to uniform operating standards and methods known as the Culligan System. The business model relies on initial franchise investments, ongoing royalties based on revenues from authorized products and services, and targets consumers and businesses seeking water quality solutions worldwide.
Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.
Overview
Financial Requirements
2% royalty + 1% system advertising contributions + 0.5% local/regional co-op (up to 1% B.O.B. special initiatives)
Franchise Stats
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How Culligan Compares to Other Home Services Franchises
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Home Services
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Home Services
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Culligan Current | $130K - $814K | $40K | 2.0% | 460 |
| MERRY MAIDS | $127K - $166K | $55K | 7.0% | 933 |
| HOLIDAY LIGHTING HEROES | $150K - $177K | $127K | 10.0% | 653 |
| SIGN GYPSIES | $4K - $5K | $1K | N/A | 587 |
| MOSQUITO AUTHORITY | $54K - $128K | $45K | 10.0% | 546 |
| MOSQUITO SHIELD | $121K - $158K | $55K | 8.0% | 435 |
Home Services Average 129 franchises | $144K - $289K | $53K | 7.0% | - |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 129 Home Services franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+33 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Culligan franchisees (2010 - 2025)
Loans by Year
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation involving franchisees reported in the FDD.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
No bankruptcy history reported in the FDD.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Culligan franchise?
The total initial investment to open a Culligan franchise ranges from $130,000 to $813,515.37. This includes a franchise fee of $39,583.38. Ongoing royalty fees are 2.0% of gross sales.
How many Culligan franchise locations are there?
As of the 2025 FDD, Culligan has 460 franchise locations.
Can you get an SBA loan for a Culligan franchise?
Yes, SBA loans are available for Culligan franchises. Historical data shows 30 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for Culligan franchisees, with an average loan amount of $748,167. The historical default rate is 0.0%.
Is Culligan a good franchise to buy?
Culligan shows several positive indicators: established brand with 460+ locations, low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.
Interested in Culligan?
Talk to a franchise advisor to get personalized guidance and learn if Culligan is the right fit for you.
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