The Maids franchise costs an estimated $117,720 to $141,200 to open one territory, including a $60,000 initial franchise fee, according to its 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Buyers can also purchase multi-territory development rights, but those package estimates include opening the first territory, not the full cost of launching every territory purchased.

That distinction matters. The Maids reported 106 franchisees operating 338 U.S. territories as of September 30, 2025. A figure described as “per franchisee” should not be confused with a figure for one territory. This guide explains the investment, ongoing fees, territory rights, training, and ownership responsibilities.

About this article. The Maids International is a member of the Franchise Brokers Association. FBA publishes reviews of member brands as part of its membership program, and FBA and its brokers may receive a commission from the franchisor if a candidate FBA works with goes on to purchase a franchise. This article was researched and written by FBA from the brand’s current Franchise Disclosure Document and FBA’s own franchise database. The brand did not write, review, or approve it before publication.

Nothing in this article should be considered legal, financial, or tax advice. Prospective franchisees should always review the most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with qualified advisors before making an investment decision. The filing reviewed for this article was issued January 18, 2026; ask the franchisor for any subsequent amendments.

What is The Maids franchise?

The Maids is a team-based residential cleaning franchise. FBA’s member information describes a model built around the brand’s 22-Step Cleaning Process, with owners managing the business and employees delivering cleaning services.

The franchisor, The Maids International, LLC, was originally incorporated in Nebraska in October 1979 and began offering franchises in November 1980. It converted to a limited liability company in 2020. Its principal business address in the 2026 FDD is in Irving, Texas.

The ownership model emphasizes hiring, customer acquisition, scheduling, service quality, and financial management. The FDD allows for a general manager to oversee day-to-day operations when the franchisee does not plan to perform that role personally.

How does The Maids’ team cleaning model work?

FBA’s member listing describes cleaning teams of four using the brand’s standardized process. It also describes recurring weekly, biweekly, and monthly service, alongside other cleaning work.

For a prospective owner, the main operating questions are practical:

• Staffing: Can you recruit, train, and retain reliable cleaning employees?
• Scheduling: Can you coordinate crews, vehicles, and customer appointments?
• Customer retention: Can your team deliver service that encourages repeat bookings?
• Quality control: Can managers identify and resolve missed work or customer concerns?
• Local marketing: Can you build a customer base while meeting required spending commitments?

Training and systems provide a framework, but responsibility for employees remains with the franchisee. The FDD states that owners control recruiting, hiring, compensation, work schedules, discipline, and compliance with workplace laws.

What does a The Maids owner do?

FBA’s member information describes two ownership paths.

Owner-operator

The owner manages the business day to day, including marketing implementation, employee hiring and management, goal-setting, and performance tracking.

This path may appeal to someone who wants direct involvement in building the company and leading its employees.

Manager-led owner

The owner hires a general manager to oversee daily operations and focuses on budgets, financial results, and company oversight. FBA’s member information describes corporate-assisted manager recruiting and training support.

The FDD confirms that a general manager may handle day-to-day operations, including business planning, customer retention, employee retention, and compliance. It also makes clear that the franchisee remains responsible for recruiting and employing that person.

Manager-led does not mean passive. A buyer should establish who will supervise the manager, review financial results, address staffing problems, and make decisions when performance falls short.

How much does The Maids franchise cost?

The estimated initial investment for one territory is $117,720 to $141,200. This includes the $60,000 franchise fee and $19,900 SMART Start Package, a combined $79,900 for those two required payments to the franchisor.

Estimated startup investment for one territory

Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, Table A. These are estimated startup costs, not earnings projections. Actual costs may differ. For the most accurate and current information, review the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for The Maids International. The financial figures presented here are historical results from franchised businesses as disclosed in Item 7 and Item 19 of the 2026 FDD. Important context: These figures reflect startup and early operating needs only. They do not indicate financial performance or outcomes.

The franchise fee is generally due when the agreement is signed. The SMART Start Package payment is due no later than 30 days after signing. Applicable state addenda may change payment timing.

What does the estimate leave out?

Item 7 contains important exclusions:

• The additional-funds estimate excludes continuing license fees, marketing fund fees, and technology fund fees.
• It excludes franchisee compensation and the owner’s family living expenses.
• The investment estimates do not include debt service and certain financing-related costs.
• The training-expense estimate excludes franchisee compensation or payroll costs.

The published investment range should therefore not be treated as a complete personal funding plan. Build a separate budget for financing payments, owner living expenses, and reserves.

FBA’s franchise financial calculator can help you begin estimating your franchise budget.

How does the cost change with more territories?

The Maids offers initial franchise-fee packages for buyers purchasing multiple territories at signing. The fee per territory decreases within those packages, but the investment table requires careful interpretation.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7. Multi-territory estimates include the package franchise fee and the estimated cost to open and initially operate the first territory. For the most accurate and current information, review the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for The Maids International. The financial figures presented here are historical results from franchised businesses as disclosed in Item 7 and Item 19 of the 2026 FDD.

The package estimate does not fund every launch

Item 7 expressly states that the multi-territory figures do not include the estimated initial investment required to open and commence operating the second, third, fourth, or fifth territories for their first three months. Additional expenses arise as those territories launch.

For example, the five-territory estimate of $247,720 to $271,200 is not an estimate to have five territories fully launched and operating. It covers development rights and the initial territory’s opening costs as defined in Item 7.

Buying later may cost differently

Item 5 gives an example in which a buyer purchases one territory and later purchases a second. The second purchase requires another then-current franchise agreement and a $60,000 franchise fee, rather than the $50,000 difference between the one- and two-territory packages. Expansion remains subject to approval and qualification requirements.

The initial fee schedule also lists $20,000 for each additional contiguous territory after the fifth. Ask the franchisor to document the price and agreement terms for your specific expansion plan.

What are The Maids’ ongoing fees?

The main recurring obligations include a revenue-based royalty, marketing and technology fund contributions, software fees, local marketing spending, and National Sales Center charges. Different obligations use different charging bases; they are not all assessed separately per territory.

Royalty rates

The Maids calls its royalty the “Continuing License Fee.” The applicable percentage depends on weekly gross revenues.

Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6. For the most accurate and current information, review the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for The Maids International. The financial figures presented here are historical results from franchised businesses as disclosed in Item 7 and Item 19 of the 2026 FDD.

The applicable rate applies to the week’s gross revenues, rather than only the portion within a band. The FDD’s example states that $7,000 in weekly gross revenues results in a royalty of 6.5% of $7,000.

Qualifying owners may combine revenues from certain businesses to reach a lower rate, subject to compliance, reporting requirements, and acquisition-related exclusions. An uncured default can cause the rate to revert to 6.9%, regardless of revenue.

Other recurring fees and spending requirements

Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6. This is a selected summary, not a complete fee schedule. Review the full item for adjustment provisions, payment terms, and conditional charges. For the most accurate and current information, review the latest Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for The Maids International. The financial figures presented here are historical results from franchised businesses as disclosed in Item 7 and Item 19 of the 2026 FDD.

Local marketing spending is separate from marketing fund contributions. The $5,000 grand opening requirement is also additional to those obligations.

For budgeting, model the royalty under several sales scenarios and include required marketing, software, sales-center charges, wages, insurance, vehicle costs, and financing payments.

What does The Maids’ Item 19 show?

The 2026 FDD includes historical financial performance information for the period October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. It presents measures relating to cleaning revenue, customer revenue, franchised outlets and territories, and company-owned operations.

This article does not reproduce earnings or revenue tables. A useful review of Item 19 requires more than selecting a headline average.

Check these distinctions:

1. Franchisee or territory? An owner operating several territories is not equivalent to one territory.
2. Revenue or profit? Sales figures do not establish what an owner keeps after expenses.
3. Average or median? Read both, together with the high, low, and percentage reaching the average.
4. Which businesses were included? Check reporting requirements, exclusions, openings, closures, and operating history.
5. Franchised or company-owned? Do not apply company-owned expense results automatically to a new franchisee.

The filing includes this qualification:

“Some outlets have earned this amount. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you’ll earn as much.”

Do not compare a multi-territory franchisee’s revenue with one territory’s opening investment and describe the result as a return.

What training and support does The Maids provide?

Item 11 describes SMART Start Set-Up, SMART Start Training, Power Training, and ongoing performance consulting.

Pre-opening setup

The pre-opening program covers business setup, including insurance, vehicles, office and computer equipment, recruiting, hiring, the cleaning system, and initial marketing. Instruction can take place by telephone, online, or at designated facilities.

Headquarters training

After completing setup, franchisees receive up to five days of training at headquarters or another designated location. The FDD identifies headquarters as Irving, Texas.

The combined SMART Start Set-Up and SMART Start Training program is expected to take approximately five to seven weeks, depending on the time devoted to it. The training table lists at least 80 webinar or classroom hours and 20 on-the-job hours. Content and timing may change.

Additional support

The FDD also describes Power Training and performance support by telephone or other communication. FBA’s member information describes additional operational support, including manager co-training, training focused on teaching cleaning employees, and a first-week performance-consultant visit.

Confirm the current delivery schedule and which services are contractual obligations. The member listing and FDD do not describe every training detail identically.

How long does it take to open?

The FDD states that owners generally open within 120 days of signing the franchise agreement. It separately requires opening within 60 days after completing SMART Start Training.

Those statements serve different purposes: one describes general timing, while the other sets a contractual deadline. Office leasing, financing, training completion, and local requirements can affect the opening schedule.

FBA’s franchise education webinar and FranPath Live sessions provide additional resources for exploring franchise ownership.

How does a The Maids territory work?

A territory generally contains approximately 90,000 to 150,000 households, although local demographic data may lead to a higher or lower count. A buyer’s Designated Market Area can contain one or more territories and is largely based on ZIP-code boundaries.

The FDD states that the territory is not exclusive, but it also provides conditional protections. Subject to the franchisor’s reserved rights and the franchisee’s compliance, the franchisor states that it will not operate or authorize another The Maids business within the Designated Market Area without permission. Other franchisees are not authorized to solicit or serve customers there.

Reserved rights include national-account and multi-area marketing programs, certain transactions involving other businesses, and other distribution arrangements described in Item 12. Performance requirements can also affect territory rights.

The practical question is not simply whether the territory is called exclusive. Have a franchise attorney explain what is protected, what the franchisor reserves, and what happens if contractual requirements are not met.

How big is The Maids system?

As of September 30, 2025, Item 1 reported:

• 106 franchisees operating 338 U.S. territories.
• 31 additional U.S. territories operated by the franchisor.
• Five franchisees operating 12 territories in Canada.

The U.S. franchised counts imply approximately 3.2 territories per franchisee. That is a system-wide average, not the typical starting purchase or evidence of what an owner originally invested.

Item 12 states that the territory-sizing methodology was reconfigured in August 2025. Older territory counts therefore require careful reconciliation before comparison with the 2026 filing.

What risks and disclosures should buyers review?

The investment and ownership model are only part of the decision. The 2026 FDD also highlights material contractual and financial risks.

Franchisor financial condition

The FDD’s “Special Risks to Consider” section states that the franchisor’s financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services and support. Review Item 21 and the audited financial statements with an accountant, and ask the franchisor to explain the warning and any subsequent changes.

Minimum payments and performance requirements

Minimum payments can apply regardless of sales. The filing also warns that failure to maintain required sales performance may affect territorial rights or lead to termination.

Personal guarantees and dispute provisions

The filing highlights spousal liability and out-of-state dispute resolution. Applicable state laws and addenda may modify particular terms, so review the documents that apply to your purchase.

Litigation and system changes

Item 3 discloses four franchisor-filed lawsuits involving former franchisees and alleged payment or contractual breaches; some also involve post-termination trademark or related allegations. These are the franchisor’s allegations as disclosed in the filing, not findings established by this article. Case statuses may have changed since issuance.

Item 20’s tables and notes should be reviewed alongside the current and former franchisee lists. Ask the franchisor to reconcile openings, departures, transfers, and reported year-end totals before drawing conclusions about system trends.

Who is The Maids franchise right for?

The Maids may warrant consideration by buyers who want a people-management business with recurring-service potential and a defined operating system.

It may suit someone who:

• Wants to lead employees and manage service quality.
• Is comfortable with recruiting and scheduling an hourly workforce.
• Plans to manage the business personally or actively oversee a general manager.
• Can fund required marketing and operating commitments while building customers.
• Wants to evaluate one territory against a staged multi-territory plan.

It may be a poor fit for someone who:

• Wants an investment requiring little ongoing oversight.
• Does not want responsibility for staffing or customer service.
• Needs broader territorial protections than the agreement provides.
• Expects the published investment range to cover personal living costs and every financing obligation.
• Assumes a multi-territory package estimate covers launching all purchased territories.

FBA’s Zorakle owner-fit assessment offers a way to explore ownership preferences. You can also speak with a franchise consultant about comparing business models.

What should you ask before buying The Maids franchise?

Use the FDD and your proposed agreement to build a specific due-diligence agenda:

1. Territory plan: How many territories should you purchase initially, and what additional capital will each launch require?
2. Expansion pricing: How would buying later differ from purchasing a package at signing?
3. Operating budget: What do local wages, manager compensation, vehicles, insurance, and marketing imply for your cash requirements?
4. Royalty application: Which revenues can be combined, and how many agreement-level minimums would apply?
5. Training: Where will training take place, who must attend, and what support is included?
6. Territory rights: How do national accounts, reserved rights, and performance requirements affect your market?
7. Financial condition: What explains the highlighted financial-condition warning?
8. Owner validation: What do current and former franchisees with similar territory counts and markets report?

Review all FDD items and applicable exhibits, not only the investment and performance sections, and speak with owners whose operating circumstances resemble your proposed business.

The Maids franchise FAQ

How much does it cost to open The Maids franchise?

The 2026 FDD estimates $117,720 to $141,200 for one territory, including a $60,000 franchise fee and $19,900 SMART Start Package. The estimate has exclusions, including owner living expenses, debt service, and certain recurring fees.

How much does a five-territory package cost?

Item 7 lists $247,720 to $271,200, including a $190,000 franchise fee. That estimate includes development rights and opening the first territory; it excludes the additional investment needed to launch and initially operate territories two through five.

What is The Maids royalty?

The continuing license fee ranges from 6.9% to 3.9% of weekly gross revenues, depending on the applicable revenue band. Minimum weekly fees begin in month seven and apply per franchise agreement. Other recurring fees and spending requirements also apply.

Do The Maids owners clean houses?

The ownership model emphasizes business management, with employees providing cleaning services. FBA’s member information describes owner-operator and manager-led paths. Buyers should confirm their required involvement and training responsibilities rather than assuming they will never perform operational work.

Can you own The Maids without running it day to day?

The FDD allows a general manager to oversee daily operations. The franchisee remains responsible for employing that manager and for the business’s workforce obligations. This is not the same as a passive investment.

How long does it take to open The Maids franchise?

The FDD states that owners generally open within 120 days of signing and must open within 60 days after completing SMART Start Training. Actual timing depends on setup, financing, training, and local requirements.

Does The Maids offer an exclusive territory?

The FDD says no, while also describing conditional territorial protections and restrictions on other franchisees serving your market. Review Item 12’s reserved rights and performance conditions with a franchise attorney.

Is there a veteran discount?

Item 5 offers qualifying U.S. Armed Services veterans a $1,000 initial franchise-fee discount in total, regardless of the number of territories purchased.

Compare The Maids with your ownership goals

The right comparison goes beyond the franchise fee. Consider the territory package, additional launch costs, employee-management demands, contractual protections, and the financial resources required to operate through the startup period.

Explore franchise opportunities with FBA to compare The Maids with other options based on your budget, preferred ownership role, and growth plans.