Franchise opportunities compared
Chem-Dry vs Surface Specialists
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.
Initial investment · Item 7
Chem-Dry
$74,150 – $249,500
2026 FDD · Item 7Surface Specialists
$3,400 – $56,000
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Chem-Dry
$36,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15Surface Specialists
Not available
Royalty · Item 6
Chem-Dry
4%–7% of gross sales
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17Surface Specialists
5% of Gross Receipts, subject to $250 monthly minimum
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Chem-Dry and Surface Specialists 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, Surface Specialists: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Chem-Dry
Surface SpecialistsChem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
System scale & health
Chem-DrySurface SpecialistsChem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Chem-Dry
Surface Specialists
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Chem-DrySurface SpecialistsItem 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 Surface Specialists: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Chem-Dry or Surface Specialists?
- Chem-Dry: $74,150 – $249,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Surface Specialists: $3,400 – $56,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Surface Specialists. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Chem-Dry and Surface Specialists royalties compare?
- Chem-Dry: 4%–7% of gross sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); Surface Specialists: 5% of Gross Receipts, subject to $250 monthly minimum (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 Surface Specialists?
- Chem-Dry: 963 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65); Surface Specialists: 131 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 38). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Chem-Dry and Surface Specialists disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Surface Specialists has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 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.
Keep researching
Full Chem-Dry report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Surface Specialists report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
