A JAN-PRO franchise is a commercial cleaning system built around a regional developer model, where JAN-PRO Franchise Development owners recruit and coach local JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting franchisees rather than doing the cleaning themselves. This guide walks through 2025 costs, how the structure works, and what kind of owner tends to be a good fit.

Instead of owning a single cleaning route, regional developers operate more like local franchisors. You award and support unit franchises, help them win and retain accounts, and earn a share of royalties and fees as their businesses grow. This structure can create leverage, but it also means your day-to-day role is focused on sales, coaching, and operations leadership rather than performing cleaning work yourself.

This article is sponsored by JAN-PRO and was created in partnership with the brand to provide accurate, compliance-safe insights into its business model and franchise opportunity. Nothing in this article is legal, financial, or tax advice. Always review the most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with qualified advisors before you invest.

What should you know about this Opportunity in 2025?

The JAN-PRO system is a three-tier commercial cleaning franchise launched in 1991 that now operates through more than 125 regional developers and thousands of unit franchises worldwide.

Key facts at a glance

• Sector: Commercial cleaning and disinfecting, serving offices, healthcare, industrial, education, and government.
  
• Structure: Three layers—JAN-PRO Systems International (parent), JAN-PRO Franchise Development (regional developers), and JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting (unit franchisees).
  
• History: Founded in 1991 in the Atlanta area and still headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.
  
• Scale: More than 8,000 cleaning franchisees and over 125 regional developers in 41 U.S. states and 9 countries, according to the brand’s own overview.
  
• Parent platform: Part of Empower Brands, a portfolio of residential and commercial service franchises.
  
• FBA relationship: JAN-PRO Franchise Development collaborates with the FBA, so FBA brokers have direct access to brand leadership, training, and validation resources.

For FBA clients, the primary focus is usually the JAN-PRO Franchise Development regional developer opportunity, which is an executive, office-based business rather than a hands-on janitorial route.

How much does a JAN-PRO franchise cost in 2025?

The total investment to open a JAN-PRO Franchise Development regional developer ranges from $130,000* to $421,500*, according to the 2025 FDD. Unit-level JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting franchises generally require a lower investment, but those exact figures vary by region and are disclosed in local FDDs rather than a single national number.

What are the startup costs for a JAN-PRO regional developer?

A JAN-PRO Franchise Development regional developer invests primarily in the initial franchise fee, office setup, technology, and at least three months of working capital. These figures are taken directly from Item 7 of the current FDD as summarized in public FDD libraries and analyses.

Startup Costs & Fees.

Category	Low Estimate*	High Estimate*	Notes
Initial Franchise Fee*	$50,000*	$250,000*	Varies by territory size and market potential*
Real Estate*	$1,500*	$5,000*	Deposits or initial rent for modest office space*
Initial Supplies*	$1,500*	$2,000*	Basic office and administrative supplies*
Equipment / Office Furniture*	$10,000*	$25,000*	Desks, phones, computers, basic IT equipment*
Business Licenses & Permits, Deposits & Other Prepaid Expenses*	$1,000*	$4,000*	Government fees, utilities deposits, prepaid expenses*
Insurance*	$1,000*	$3,000*	Initial premium for required coverages*
Certification (training travel, etc.)*	$3,000*	$5,000*	Travel and lodging for required training*
Legal Fees & Registration Expenses*	$1,500*	$10,000*	Attorney fees and franchise registration where required*
Computer Hardware & Software Licensing*	$7,500*	$12,500*	Operations, CRM, and related software licenses*
Initial Advertising Expenses*	$3,000*	$5,000*	Launch marketing and local lead generation*
Working Capital – first 3 months*	$50,000*	$100,000*	Salaries, overhead, and local marketing support*
Total Estimated Initial Investment*	$130,000*	$421,500*	Total regional developer range in 2025 FDD*

Within this range, your actual jan pro franchise cost depends on territory size, hiring plans, local real estate, and how much working capital you want on hand. An FBA broker can help you run different funding scenarios and plug these ranges into your own plan using tools like the franchise financial calculator alongside personalized FBA franchise consulting.

How much does a JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting unit franchise cost?

JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting unit franchises are structured as lower-capital cleaning franchise opportunities where owner-operators build routes by servicing contracts sourced by the regional office.

However:

• Specific package sizes and corresponding investment levels are set by each regional office.
  
• Costs and fees are disclosed in that region’s own FDD rather than a single nationwide chart.
  
• Many regional sites emphasize home-based operations, flexible hours, and support from the local JAN-PRO Franchise Development office, but they do not all publish the same number.

If you are considering a unit-level jan pro cleaning franchise instead of the regional developer role, the best next step is to obtain the local FDD through an FBA broker and compare those numbers with other cleaning franchises for sale options.

How does the JAN-PRO franchise business model actually work?

The JAN-PRO franchise uses a three-level structure: the parent company sets standards, regional developers sell and support unit franchises, and unit franchisees perform the commercial cleaning services.

Here is how the layers connect:

• JAN-PRO Systems International
  
  • Owns the intellectual property and brand.
    
  • Develops systems, training, and national marketing.
    
  • Grants JAN-PRO Franchise Development regional developer franchises.
    
• JAN-PRO Franchise Development (regional developer)
  
  • Owns exclusive rights to a defined territory.
    
  • Sells JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting unit franchises.
    
  • Provides local training, certification, and ongoing coaching to unit owners.
    
  • Markets for commercial contracts and often assigns accounts to franchisees.
    
• JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting (unit franchise)
  
  • Performs day-to-day cleaning and disinfecting.
    
  • Manages employees or crews and handles site-level customer service.

From an economic standpoint, the regional developer’s revenue typically comes from:

• Initial fees from selling unit franchises.
  
• Ongoing royalties on unit franchisee billings.
  
• Margins associated with contracts sourced and processed through the regional office.

Unit franchisees generate revenue by cleaning the accounts they service, based on the contracts they take on from the regional office and any additional accounts they develop.

What does a JAN-PRO regional developer do day to day?

A JAN-PRO regional developer runs an executive, office-based business focused on franchise sales, B2B account development, and coaching unit franchisees—not on personally cleaning buildings.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Recruiting and qualifying candidates for JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting unit franchises.
  
• Presenting the unit opportunity and guiding candidates through discovery and training.
  
• Hiring inside and outside salespeople to prospect, cold call, and close commercial cleaning accounts.
  
• Working with a Franchise Business Consultant who trains new unit franchisees and manages quality assurance across accounts.
  
• Assigning customer contracts to unit owners and helping them ramp up operations.
  
• Monitoring key performance indicators such as unit franchise sales, customer acquisition, retention, and service quality.
  
• Managing a small administrative team to handle billing, collections, and customer support.

This makes the jan pro commercial cleaning franchise at the regional developer level a fit for executives who enjoy leading teams, selling, and building systems more than they enjoy hands-on service work.

What Training, Support, and Technology are Available?

The JAN-PRO franchise delivers structured training and ongoing support to help regional developers sell franchises, coach unit owners, and maintain quality control across their territories.

Regional developers typically receive:

• Initial training at headquarters covering operations, franchise sales, and local marketing.
  
• Certification programs for JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting methods, including systems for healthcare and high-sensitivity environments.
  
• Field visits and coaching from an experienced corporate team, many with more than 20 years in the professional cleaning franchise industry.
  
• Access to quality-assurance tools such as inspection checklists and proprietary tracking systems.
  
• Support with national account programs where available.
  
• Vendor relationships for chemicals, equipment, and supplies at negotiated rates.

To hear directly from franchise leaders and owners across multiple brands, you can join an FBA franchise webinar or listen to conversations on the FranPath Live podcast.

What should you know about territories, real estate, and equipment?

Regional developers operate in protected territories, usually from modest office space, and do not need retail storefronts or large equipment inventories.

Practical implications:

• Territories are defined by population and market potential and are exclusive within the JAN-PRO Franchise Development system.
  
• Office needs are typically Class B space with room for a small staff and training area, which helps keep fixed costs lower than many brick-and-mortar franchises.
  
• The regional office uses standard office furniture and technology; unit franchisees purchase and maintain the cleaning equipment used in the field.
  
• There is usually no need for large on-site inventory, because equipment and supplies flow via vendors and unit franchises.

This setup can appeal if you want an office-based commercial cleaning franchise without the buildout risk of a retail location.

How has JAN-PRO evolved and who owns the brand today?

JAN-PRO Systems International has grown from a single commercial cleaning concept founded in 1991 into a global franchise network now housed within Empower Brands.

Some key points:

• The company has been franchising for more than 30 years and has become a widely recognized name in commercial cleaning.
  
• Empower Brands, the parent portfolio, also includes other service brands such as Conserva Irrigation and Superior Fence & Rail, and several of these brands, including JAN-PRO Systems International, appear regularly in rankings like Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.
  
• Leadership at JAN-PRO Systems International emphasizes mentoring and support frameworks designed to help franchise owners grow their businesses.

For candidates working with the FBA, this history and ownership context is helpful when you compare JAN-PRO with other service brands inside and outside the Empower portfolio.

Who is the ideal owner for this commercial cleaning franchise?

The regional developer role is a good fit for executive-style owners who want to build a scalable, B2B operation by leading a small office team and supporting a network of franchisees.

Common backgrounds among successful regional developers include:

• Corporate executives and senior managers.
  
• Sales and business development leaders.
  
• Operations, logistics, and project management professionals.
  
• Self-employed business owners and consultants.

Helpful traits:

• Comfort with B2B sales and relationship building.
  
• Ability to recruit, train, and hold a professional team accountable.
  
• Interest in tracking KPIs such as unit franchise sales, customer retention, and account quality.
  
• Willingness to learn the commercial cleaning industry even if you have no cleaning experience.

If you prefer a more hands-on role, a JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting unit franchise or another cleaning franchise for sale might align better with your skills and budget. To clarify your personal fit, you can complete the Zorakle franchise assessment with an FBA consultant and review your profile against the regional developer role.

How does the JAN-PRO franchise compare with other cleaning franchise opportunities?

Compared with many single-tier cleaning franchise systems, the JAN-PRO franchise stands out for its regional developer structure, brand recognition, and standardization, while requiring more capital and a more complex management role.

Advantages often highlighted in independent overviews and FBA materials include:

• A multi-tier model that supports both executive owners and unit-level operators.
  
• Strong brand presence and consistent placement in franchise rankings within the commercial cleaning category.
  
• Emphasis on standardized processes and proprietary cleaning technologies for high-demand environments.

Important trade-offs:

• Regional developer investment requirements are higher than many owner-operator cleaning franchises.
  
• The role is management-heavy; candidates who want a simple, solo cleaning route may not enjoy the leadership and franchise-sales components.
  
• Commercial cleaning is not glamorous, so part of the discovery process involves understanding the long-term stability and essential-service nature of the industry.

FAQ.

Prospective owners consistently ask about cost, structure, ownership, support, differentiation, and fit. These concise answers summarize the key points from this guide.

How much does it cost to open a JAN-PRO franchise?

Opening a JAN-PRO Franchise Development regional developer requires an estimated initial investment between $130,000* and $421,500*, including a $50,000*–$250,000* initial franchise fee.

Those estimates cover office setup, technology, training travel, initial advertising, and several months of working capital. Unit-level JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting franchises are structured as lower-cost cleaning franchise opportunities, but their exact jan pro franchise prices are defined in each regional FDD rather than one national range.

What kind of franchise is the JAN-PRO franchise?

JAN-PRO is a commercial cleaning franchise system built around a regional developer plus unit franchise structure.

Regional developers sell and support unit franchises and develop B2B commercial accounts, while unit franchisees operate jan pro cleaning franchise routes that deliver day-to-day cleaning and disinfecting services to local clients.

Who owns JAN-PRO and when was it founded?

JAN-PRO Systems International was founded in 1991 in the Atlanta area and is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The brand is now part of Empower Brands, a service-franchise portfolio that also includes home and outdoor service franchises recognized in national rankings.

What training and ongoing support does JAN-PRO provide?

The company provides initial training, certification programs, and ongoing field support to regional developers and unit franchisees.

Support includes help with franchise sales processes, operational coaching, quality-control tools, vendor relationships, and marketing resources. Regional developers also participate in a peer network of other JAN-PRO Franchise Development owners.

What makes the JAN-PRO franchise different from similar commercial cleaning franchises?

The JAN-PRO franchise is distinctive for its three-tier structure, its focus on regional developers, and its standardized cleaning systems.

This model lets executive owners build a B2B office-based business while unit franchisees focus on service delivery. The brand’s long history and presence in industry rankings add further credibility when competing for commercial accounts.

What is the ideal owner profile for a JAN-PRO franchise?

Ideal JAN-PRO regional developers are leaders who enjoy sales, coaching, and metrics-driven management.

They usually come from executive, sales, or operations backgrounds and want to build a scalable commercial cleaning franchise system in their territory rather than operate a small, hands-on cleaning business.

Is the Jan-Pro franchise the right fit for you?

The JAN-PRO Franchise Development opportunity is best suited to owners who want an executive-level, office-based business in an essential B2B service category and who are comfortable leading a small team, selling franchises, and supporting a network of unit owners. If you prefer a simpler, hands-on route business, a unit-level jan pro cleaning franchise or another cleaning franchise might be a better match.

Working with the Franchise Brokers Association, you can review the JAN-PRO FDD, talk with current regional developers, and compare this system with other cleaning franchise opportunities and completely different industries. That process can help you decide whether the jan-pro franchise aligns with your skills, investment range, and long-term goals.

Ready to take the next step? The Franchise Brokers Association is here to help guide you on your journey into the franchise world.