Which costs less to open, Chem-Dry or Heaven’s Best?

Chem-Dry: $74,150 – $249,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Heaven’s Best: $55,960 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Heaven’s Best. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.

How do Chem-Dry and Heaven’s Best royalties compare?

Chem-Dry: 4%–7% of gross sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Heaven’s Best: $300 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.

Which has more locations, Chem-Dry or Heaven’s Best?

Chem-Dry: 963 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65); Heaven’s Best: 432 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 45). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.

Do Chem-Dry and Heaven’s Best disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Heaven’s Best makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

Franchise opportunities compared

Chem-Dry vs Heaven’s Best

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 FDD

Heaven’s Best2026 FDD

Initial investment · Item 7

Chem-Dry

$74,150 – $249,500

2026 FDD · Item 7

Heaven’s Best

$55,960

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

Initial franchise fee · Item 5

Chem-Dry

$36,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

Heaven’s Best

$36,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

Royalty · Item 6

Chem-Dry

4%–7% of gross sales

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

Heaven’s Best

$300

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

Before you compare

Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
Chem-Dry discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
Only Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

Financial commitment

Disclosure

Chem-Dry

Heaven’s Best

Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

Chem-Dry

$74,150 – $249,500

2026 FDD · Item 7

Heaven’s Best

$55,960

Total initial investment — low end

2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

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

Heaven’s Best

$36,000

2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

Royalty (Item 6)

Chem-Dry

4%–7% of gross sales

Royalty

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

Heaven’s Best

$300

Royalty fee up to population threshold

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

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

Heaven’s Best

$1,000

Regional advertising fund contribution maximum

2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

System scale & health

Disclosure

Chem-Dry

Heaven’s Best

Total outlets (Item 20)

Chem-Dry

963

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65

Heaven’s Best

432

Outlets at end of 2025

2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 45

Net outlet change (Item 20)

Chem-Dry

−320

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

Heaven’s Best

+12

Calculated: 420 at end of 2023 → 432 at end of 2025

Outlet exits (Item 20)

Chem-Dry

Not available

No complete exit records for a year

Heaven’s Best

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

Heaven’s Best

Not available

Not in reviewed records

Franchisor founded (Item 1)

Chem-Dry

1977

2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

Heaven’s Best

Not available

Not in reviewed records

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

Heaven’s Best

Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

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 Heaven’s Best: common questions

Which costs less to open, Chem-Dry or Heaven’s Best?: Chem-Dry: $74,150 – $249,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Heaven’s Best: $55,960 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Heaven’s Best. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
How do Chem-Dry and Heaven’s Best royalties compare?: Chem-Dry: 4%–7% of gross sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Heaven’s Best: $300 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
Which has more locations, Chem-Dry or Heaven’s Best?: Chem-Dry: 963 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65); Heaven’s Best: 432 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 45). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
Do Chem-Dry and Heaven’s Best disclose financial performance (Item 19)?: Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Heaven’s Best makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. 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