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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Chem-Dry vs DUCTZ

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Chem-Dry2026 FDDDUCTZ2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Chem-Dry

    $74,150 – $249,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    DUCTZ

    $62,654 – $224,764

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Chem-Dry

    $36,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    DUCTZ

    $49,900

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    Royalty · Item 6

    Chem-Dry

    4%–7% of gross sales

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    DUCTZ

    10% · percent of Gross Sales

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Chem-Dry and DUCTZ disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Chem-Dry: 1, DUCTZ: 4). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Chem-Dry

    $74,150 – $249,500
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    DUCTZ

    $62,654 – $224,764
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Chem-Dry

    $36,000
    Item 5 also requires an Initial Package costing $44,000 to $78,000, including equipment, supplies, inventory, and other items.
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    DUCTZ

    $49,900
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Chem-Dry

    4%–7% of gross sales
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    DUCTZ

    10% · percent of Gross Sales
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Chem-Dry

    3% of percentage of gross sales; minimum monthly payment of $150 for standard territory and $75 for small territory
    Marketing Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    DUCTZ

    1% of gross sales
    Brand Marketing Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

    963
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65

    DUCTZ

    63
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 68
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

    −320
    Calculated: 1,283 at end of 2023 → 963 at end of 2025

    DUCTZ

    −10
    Calculated: 73 at end of 2023 → 63 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    DUCTZ

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Chem-Dry

    1994 under the Chem-Dry name and trademarks; predecessors began in 1978
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

    DUCTZ

    2004
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Chem-Dry

    1977
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

    DUCTZ

    2004
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Chem-Dry
    Franchised locations — other measures and revenue
    $350 per job
    other Projected Average Income Per Job
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 65
    DUCTZ
    Franchised (9 locations) — revenue
    $134,663
    other Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Franchised (36 locations) — revenue
    $682,214
    other Revenue per owner
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 67
    Franchised (36 franchisees) — revenue
    $777,690
    other Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    +1 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Chem-Dry vs DUCTZ: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Chem-Dry or DUCTZ?
    Chem-Dry: $74,150 – $249,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); DUCTZ: $62,654 – $224,764 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for DUCTZ. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Chem-Dry and DUCTZ royalties compare?
    Chem-Dry: 4%–7% of gross sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); DUCTZ: 10% · percent of Gross Sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Chem-Dry or DUCTZ?
    Chem-Dry: 963 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65); DUCTZ: 63 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 68). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Chem-Dry and DUCTZ disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; DUCTZ has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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    Full Chem-Dry report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full DUCTZ report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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