2026 Guide•135 franchises analyzed
Home service franchises benefit from one truth: homeowners will always need repairs, and most can't (or won't) DIY.
Best Home Service Franchises to Own in 2026
Home service franchises benefit from one truth: homeowners will always need repairs, and most can't (or won't) DIY.
Home services span HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, restoration, and general handyman. These are unsexy businesses with excellent economics: recurring need, limited DIY competition, and customers who pay immediately for solved problems.
We analyzed 135 home service franchise FDDs to compare: investment by trade, revenue potential, technician requirements, and which franchisors actually help with lead generation versus just collecting royalties.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 135 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
135
home service franchises analyzed
$144K - $289K
avg. investment
$52K
avg. franchise fee
$1.1M
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Home service franchises
This page ranks home service franchises by total locations, reported revenue from Item 19, projected growth, and minimum investment. The category includes HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, restoration, and handyman. Each requires different technical expertise and licensing, which affects hiring difficulty.
Top Home service franchises at a Glance
Ranked by Number of Locations
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MERRY MAIDS | $127K - $166K | $55K | 933 | $346K |
| HOLIDAY LIGHTING HEROES | $150K - $177K | $127K | 653 | $1.1M |
| SIGN GYPSIES | $4K - $5K | $1K | 587 | - |
| MOSQUITO AUTHORITY | $54K - $128K | $45K | 546 | $118K |
| Culligan | $130K - $814K | $40K | 460 | - |
| MOSQUITO SHIELD | $121K - $158K | $55K | 435 | $286K |
| MOSQUITO JOE | $150K - $192K | $43K | 415 | $382K |
| ONE HOUR AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING; | $85K - $205K | $43K | 411 | $3.8M |
| MOSQUITO SHIELD | $99K - $140K | $55K | 407 | $285K |
| MIGHTY DOG ROOFING | $172K - $224K | $60K | 388 | $1.5M |
10 Best Home service franchises Ranked
Investment
$127K - $166K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
933
Avg. Revenue
$346K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$150K - $177K
Franchise Fee
$127K
Locations
653
Avg. Revenue
$1.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$4K - $5K
Franchise Fee
$1K
Locations
587
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$54K - $128K
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
546
Avg. Revenue
$118K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$130K - $814K
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
460
Royalty
2.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$121K - $158K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
435
Avg. Revenue
$286K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$150K - $192K
Franchise Fee
$43K
Locations
415
Avg. Revenue
$382K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$85K - $205K
Franchise Fee
$43K
Locations
411
Avg. Revenue
$3.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$99K - $140K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
407
Avg. Revenue
$285K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$172K - $224K
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
388
Avg. Revenue
$1.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Profit Home service franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Investment
$300K - $470K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
109
Est. Profit
$1.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$423K - $734K
Franchise Fee
$100K
Locations
4
EBITDA
$1.0M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$118K - $134K
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
126
Est. Profit
$757K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$79K - $118K
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
7
EBITDA
$735K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$154K - $334K
Franchise Fee
$5K
Locations
27
Est. Profit
$578K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Revenue Home service franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Investment
$67K - $140K
Franchise Fee
$75K
Locations
78
Avg. Revenue
$9.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$79K - $118K
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
7
Avg. Revenue
$4.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$475K - $868K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
61
Avg. Revenue
$4.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$85K - $205K
Franchise Fee
$43K
Locations
411
Avg. Revenue
$3.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$85K - $205K
Franchise Fee
$33K
Locations
209
Avg. Revenue
$3.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Home service franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
Growing
Investment
$159K - $242K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
45
Avg. Revenue
$3.3M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$50K - $150K
Franchise Fee
$30K
Locations
163
Avg. Revenue
$413K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$105K - $143K
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
95
Avg. Revenue
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$4K - $5K
Franchise Fee
$1K
Locations
587
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$99K - $140K
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
407
Avg. Revenue
$285K
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable Home service franchises
Ranked by minimum initial investment from Item 7 of their FDD filings.
Sorted by Minimum Investment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIGN GYPSIES | $4K - $5K | $1K | 587 | - |
| NEAT METHOD | $36K - $42K | $30K | 94 | $163K |
| GROUTSMITH | $43K - $49K | $35K | 48 | - |
| Premier Pool Service | $43K - $118K | $25K | 35 | $671K |
| SURFACE SPECIALISTS | $43K - $56K | $36K | 47 | $308K |
Who Should Consider Home service franchises?
Home service franchises suit buyers who can recruit and retain skilled technicians—the key challenge in this industry. Trade professionals gain advantage in their specialty. Non-trade buyers often succeed in handyman or restoration where hiring is less technical. Strong local demand provides consistent work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home service franchises
How much does it cost to open a home service franchise?
The average initial investment for home service franchises ranges from $144K to $289K, based on our analysis of 135 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $52K. The most affordable option is SIGN GYPSIES, starting at just $4K.
What is the most profitable home service franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, LINC SERVICE reports the highest average unit revenue at $9.5M. Other high-performing home service franchises include Lawn Squad ($4.2M), GENERATOR SUPERCENTER ($4.1M), ONE HOUR AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING; ($3.8M). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest home service franchise by number of locations?
MERRY MAIDS is the largest with 933 locations nationwide. Other major home service franchises include HOLIDAY LIGHTING HEROES (653 locations), SIGN GYPSIES (587 locations), MOSQUITO AUTHORITY (546 locations), Culligan (460 locations). Combined, the top 5 home service franchises operate over 3,179 locations.
What is the cheapest home service franchise to open?
The most affordable home service franchises by initial investment are: SIGN GYPSIES ($4K - $5K), NEAT METHOD ($36K - $42K), GROUTSMITH ($43K - $49K), Premier Pool Service ($43K - $118K), SURFACE SPECIALISTS ($43K - $56K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a home service franchise opportunity?
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Key sections include: Item 5 (fees), Item 7 (initial investment), Item 19 (financial performance, if disclosed), and Item 20 (outlet information including terminations and closures). Our database extracts this data from official FDDs to help you compare home service franchises objectively.
Want to explore more home service franchises?
Browse all home service franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
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