Key Numbers
1,099 franchised units
Total units open
as of end of 2024
14 units opened in 2024
Units opened last year
185 units closed or terminated in 2024
Units closed last year
-185 units
Net unit growth
net decline in 2024
Chem-Dry Franchise
Franchised by Chem-Dry, Inc. (New Form of FDD) · FDD 2025
Cleaning & Maintenance FDD 2025 Founded 1994 · 32+ yrs Item 19 disclosed
Data extracted from Chem-Dry, Inc. (New Form of FDD)'s 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, filed under FTC Rule 16 CFR 436. How we analyze FDDs →
Initial investment
$100K - $241K
Franchise fee
$36K
System size
1,099 (+14)
Royalty
4–7%
The Verdict
Quick Verdict · who it fits
Chem-Dry fits first-time franchise buyers looking for a mature cleaning concept.
✓ Strengths
- ✓Discloses Item 19 financial performance
- ✓1,099 units — strong system scale
- ✓Grants exclusive territory protection
⚠ Risks to review
- ⚠High closure ratio: 16.8% of system per year
Key FDD Facts
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$100K - $241K
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$36K
Royalty (Item 6)
4–7% + 3% ad
System size (Item 20)
1,099 +14
Years in business
32+ yrs
Item 3 litigation
3 suits
Model Chem-Dry's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
Data extracted from the 2025 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
What you'd pay the franchisor
Drag to your projected annual sales. Royalty 4–7% + ad fund 3% on gross sales.
PROJECTED ANNUAL SALES$500,000
$100k$2M
Royalty (4–7%)
—
Ad fund (3%)
—
Total / year
—
▪ Of-sales fees only · excludes rent, labor, COGS, and one-time costs · for illustration
Get the Complete Chem-Dry, Inc. (new Form of Fdd) FDD Analysis
Everything a franchise attorney would review — powered by AI, emailed when it's ready.
Choose your option
What's inside
Franchise Overview
Costs & Fees Breakdown
Your Obligations
Franchisor Obligations
Financial Statements
Contracts Summary
Unit Economics
Network Health
Litigation Risk
Earnings Analysis
Financial Fit Analysis
Buyer Verdict
Highlighted sections are written around your situation — we'll ask four quick questions right after checkout. See a real sample
Secure Stripe checkoutEmailed + dashboard accessPDF download included
Research, not legal advice. Use this report alongside professional legal and financial review before signing any franchise agreement.
Are you a franchisor?
Own this brand? See how buyers rank you against competitors. Researching it as a rival? Get the competitor dossier.
Competitive intelligence for franchisors →Executive Summary
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
AI Due Diligence Findings PREMIUM
What our analysis flagged across the 2025 filing.
5
Risks to review
3
Strengths identified
4
Questions to ask
Industry Benchmarks
How Chem-Dry ranks against 136 Cleaning & Maintenance peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
34th pct · of 136 peers
Franchise fee
33rd pct · of 136 peers
System size
91st pct · of 136 peers
Cleaning & Maintenance industry averages
Avg investment
$164K - $418K
Avg franchise fee
$44K
Avg system size
470
Franchises analyzed
136
How Chem-Dry stacks up
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chem-Dry | Disclosed | $36K | $100K - $241K | 4–7% | 1,099 |
| True North Restoration Similar price | Disclosed | $50K | $147K - $244K | 2–7% | 23 |
| Jani-King of California Biggest system | None | $3K | — | 11% | 202,320 |
| Vanguard Cleaning Top-rated in category | Disclosed | $100K | $165K - $473K | 5% | 48 |
Not sure Chem-Dry is the one?
Answer five questions and get matched against 2,000+ analyzed FDDs — including every Cleaning & Maintenance brand we cover. Free, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chem-Dry franchise cost?
Chem-Dry requires a $36,000 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $99,645–$240,995, per the most recent FDD on file.
Who owns Chem-Dry?
Chem-Dry is franchised by Chem-Dry, Inc. (New Form of FDD), the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the franchisor's corporate history, parents, and predecessors.
Does Chem-Dry disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
Yes. Chem-Dry discloses Item 19 financial performance representations in its FDD. See the financials sub-page for the disclosed figures.
What ongoing fees does Chem-Dry charge?
Franchisees pay a royalty of 4%-7% of Gross Sales and an advertising fund contribution of Up to 3% of Gross Sales on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.
How many Chem-Dry locations are there?
As of their 2025 FDD, Chem-Dry has 1,099 total locations, with 14 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
Does Chem-Dry grant exclusive territory?
Yes. Chem-Dry grants franchisees an exclusive territory under Item 12 of the FDD. Note that exclusive territories often carve out online sales, alternative distribution channels, and non-traditional venues — review the full Item 12 language before signing.
Franchise research guides
Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Industry
Browse all Cleaning & Maintenance franchises
FDD basics
What is a Franchise Disclosure Document?
Costs
Understanding Item 7: Estimated Initial Investment
Earnings
Item 19: Financial Performance Representations
Due diligence
Franchise Red Flags to Watch For
Validation
How to Validate a Franchise Opportunity
Recommended reading
Brand Analysis
Home Service Franchise Costs Compared: Plumbing, Cleaning, Restoration, Lawn Care & More
Home service franchises offer lower overhead than restaurants and strong recession resistance. Compare investment costs, royalties, and territory sizes across plumbing, cleaning, restoration, lawn care, HVAC, and handyman brands.
Brand AnalysisIs Window Genie a Good Franchise? 2026 Verdict on the Neighborly Brand
Window Genie's 2026 FDD discloses a $387K median AUV across 90 units, with a $128K-$828K interquartile range that tells the real story. Inside the Neighborly portfolio, the verdict depends on how the brand fits adjacent operations.
Brand AnalysisTide Cleaners Franchise Cost: The P&G-Licensed Drycleaning Math in 2026
Tide Cleaners' 2025 FDD shows total investment of $698K to $2.5M, a $20K-$50K franchise fee, and a 6.5% royalty plus 4% ad fund. The 12-14 year typical payback period is among the longest in major U.S. franchising. Here's the honest math and the buyer profile that makes it work.
Get franchise information FREE
Interested in Chem-Dry, Inc. (New Form of FDD)?
Request information directly from the franchisor — free, takes a minute.
Ready to make an informed decision?
Join prospective franchisees who use VetMyFranchise to evaluate opportunities before they sign.