Franopolis
    vs

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Chem-Dry vs The Grout Doctor

    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 FDDThe Grout Doctor2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Chem-Dry

    $74,150 – $249,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Grout Doctor

    $24,065 – $38,085

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Chem-Dry

    $36,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    The Grout Doctor

    $500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    Royalty · Item 6

    Chem-Dry

    4%–7% of gross sales

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Grout Doctor

    $0.00

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    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.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Chem-Dry: 1, The Grout Doctor: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Chem-Dry

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

    The Grout Doctor

    $24,065 – $38,085
    TOTAL
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25
    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

    The Grout Doctor

    $500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Chem-Dry

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

    The Grout Doctor

    $0.00
    Royalty minimum per household
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13
    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

    The Grout Doctor

    1.5%
    Current advertising fund — 1.5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

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

    The Grout Doctor

    80
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

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

    The Grout Doctor

    −2
    Calculated: 82 at end of 2023 → 80 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Chem-Dry

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Grout Doctor

    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

    The Grout Doctor

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Chem-Dry

    1977
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

    The Grout Doctor

    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
    The Grout Doctor
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Standard >2 years
    40 percent
    other Standard >2 years
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 49
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Standard 12–24 months
    66.67 percent
    other Standard 12–24 months
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 52
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Non-standard >2 years
    1 franchisees
    other Non-standard >2 years
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 52

    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 The Grout Doctor: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Chem-Dry or The Grout Doctor?
    Chem-Dry: $74,150 – $249,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The Grout Doctor: $24,065 – $38,085 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Grout Doctor. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Chem-Dry and The Grout Doctor royalties compare?
    Chem-Dry: 4%–7% of gross sales (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); The Grout Doctor: $0.00 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Chem-Dry or The Grout Doctor?
    Chem-Dry: 963 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 65); The Grout Doctor: 80 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Chem-Dry and The Grout Doctor disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Chem-Dry has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; The Grout Doctor 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Chem-Dry report

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

    Full The Grout Doctor report

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

    Compare Chem-Dry with

    Compare The Grout Doctor with

    Add a third brand

    Compare up to four side by side

    Explore by brand

    Filter every published report

    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item