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THE CLEANING AUTHORITY

THE CLEANING AUTHORITY

The Cleaning Authority franchise offers residential cleaning services similar to a maid service (Core Services), with options for Non-Core Services such as carpet cleaning, window cleaning, furniture cleaning, and light commercial cleaning for properties under specified size limits. Franchisees operate in defined territories—Enterprise Markets (30,000+ Designated Households) or Hometown Markets (fewer)—using the franchisor's proprietary system, marks, standards, and operations manual to serve high-income residential customers and select commercial clients. The business model emphasizes team-based cleaning, customer warranties, and royalty payments on revenue, targeting affluent households with annual incomes of at least $70,000 ($85,000 in California).

233locations
$93K–$147K
Since 1996
ServicesColumbia, MDAuthority Brands, Inc.www.thecleaningauthority.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$20,000
Initial Investment
$92,850 – $147,100
Royalty Rate
6.00%
Brand Fund
1.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$159 – $174

6% royalty (tiered lower at higher revenue volumes) + 1% brand fund (max $200/wk) + $37-$40/wk technology fee (~$159-$174/mo)

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$1,457,905.91
Median Gross Revenue
$1,264,579
Top Quartile Revenue
$2,445,558
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$638,071

Data Based On: 206 Enterprise Market Territories operating for the entire 2024 fiscal year, segmented into Top, Middle, and Lower Thirds by Gross Revenue.

* Average Gross Revenue was calculated as a weighted average using the 'Total Actual Gross Revenue' and 'Total Number of Reporting Territories' for each segment (Top Third, Middle Third, Lower Third) from Table 1. Calculation: ($168,743,478 + $87,558,225 + $44,026,914) / (69 + 68 + 69) = $300,328,617 / 206 = $1,457,905.91. Median Gross Revenue is taken from the Middle Third Reporting Territories, as an overall median was not explicitly provided, adhering to the instruction to use the middle segment's median. Revenue Top Quartile and Revenue Bottom Quartile are represented by the Average Gross Revenue of the Top Third and Lower Third segments, respectively. Profit estimates (net income, net profit, EBITDA, and best guess profit range) are set to null because while COGS percentages and ranges for some operating expenses (rent, telephone, employee advertising) are provided in Note 4, other significant expenses such as 'manager salaries or owner draws' and the 'weekly Local Marketing Fee' are not quantified or are referred to other sections of the FDD (Items 6, 7, 8, and 11), making a comprehensive and reliable profit estimation impossible from the available information in Item 19.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $1,457,906

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THE CLEANING AUTHORITY Franchise Analysis

Team-based residential cleaning has fueled demand for brands like The Cleaning Authority, which has been franchising since 1996 under Authority Brands. The system's steady expansion and low termination count suggest operational resilience, while Item 19 revenue disclosures and SBA financing history paint a picture of viability in affluent markets. Yet franchisee litigation hints at underlying tensions—does this mature network deliver the returns to justify the risks?

Entry costs per Item 7 range $92,850-$147,100 including the $20,000 franchise fee, fitting for a service business with low overhead—no storefront needed. Franchisees pay 6% tiered royalties (lower at scale), 1% brand fund (capped $200/week), and $37-$40 weekly tech fees equaling $159-$174 monthly. Item 19 data impresses: average gross revenue hit $1,457,906, median $1,264,579 across 233 locations, far exceeding typical cleaning franchise benchmarks and signaling strong top-line potential in high-income territories (Enterprise Markets: 30K+ households; Hometown: fewer).

Growth edged up 5% from 221 to 233 units (2023-2024), with 12 projected new openings, 1 termination, and 5 transfers indicating system health without major churn. SBA stats bolster appeal: 79 loans averaging $257,103, default rate 7.6%—manageable for the sector. Red flags include litigation: a franchisee association lawsuit alleging poor disclosures, marketing opacity, and high pricing; plus a franchisor win against an ex-franchisee for fees/non-compete issues. Steady but unspectacular trajectory suits risk-averse investors chasing $1M+ grosses, but vet lawsuits closely for hidden costs.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How THE CLEANING AUTHORITY Compares

Key Insights

  • Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Cleaning Services
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
THE CLEANING AUTHORITY
Current
$93K – $147K$20K6.0%233
COVERALL COMMERCIAL CLEANING FRANCHISE$18K – $64K$16K5.0%5,669
VCS BUSINESS$14K – $37K$5K6.0%1,914
THE MAIDS$82K – $160K$57K6.9%1,517
Chem-Dry$119K – $265K$36K7.0%1,099
MERRY MAIDS$127K – $170K$55K7.0%802
Cleaning Services Average
78 franchises
$177K – $370K$46K7.1%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 78 Cleaning 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

Top States
1FL
28
2TX
23
3OH
17
4MI
12
5CA
12
6GA
10
7NC
10
8IL
9
9VA
8
10WI
7
11PA
7
12CO
6
13NJ
6
14IN
6
15AZ
6

+25 more states

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SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for THE CLEANING AUTHORITY franchisees (20142025)

Total Loans
79
Average Loan
$257,103
Total Volume
$20.3M
Default Rate
7.6%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

79 SBA loans on record

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Franchisee Contacts

216 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

216 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases2

One lawsuit by franchisee association alleging inadequate disclosures, interference with association rights, lack of marketing fund transparency, and above-market pricing; one action against former franchisee for unpaid fees and non-compete breach (with counterclaims alleging misrepresentations).

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
1
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired
0
Ceased Ops
3
Transfers
5
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
12

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a THE CLEANING AUTHORITY franchise ranges from $92,850 to $147,100. This includes a franchise fee of $20,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.