THE MAIDS

Item 7 pegs total investment at $117,720-$141,200, with a $60,000 franchise fee that's premium for cleaning services—above the $20K-$40K category norm—covering territory rights, vehicles, and training. Royalties start at 6.9% of gross revenues, tiering down to 3.9% as volume grows, plus 2% ad fund, 0.25% tech fund, and $140-$225 monthly software fees ($85 per extra office). Item 19 shines: average gross revenue hits $1,184,667 across reporting units, though median $764,051 shows some variability; no bottom-quartile data, but high performers thrive in dense residential markets. SBA stats bolster confidence—55 loans averaging $306,596 with just 3.6% default rate, far below the 15-20% small business average, indicating franchisees handle debt well.

System metrics paint a mature but slow-growth picture: 338 franchise locations plus 31 corporate, franchising since 1980 from Omaha HQ. Recent year saw 11 terminations amid 4 transfers and only 4 projected new units, signaling contraction risks versus explosive categories like fitness or food. Litigation clusters around breach of agreement, unpaid royalties, promissory notes, and non-compete fights with ex-franchisees—standard for services but a flag for operational intensity. For hands-on owners eyeing $500K+ EBITDA potential (implied by top revenues minus fees), The Maids offers proven scale if you nail team management and territory density; weaker candidates face royalty grind and modest expansion support.