Franchise opportunities compared
The Cleaning Authority vs The Maids
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.
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- The Maids discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Only The Maids has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
| Disclosure |  The Cleaning Authority |  The Maids |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $119,100 – $163,350 Estimated initial investment: $119,100 to $163,350 2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28 | $167,720 – $271,200 2026 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | Not available No single standard fee identified | $60,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 6% Royalty fee: 6% of Gross Revenue 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19 | 3.9% · Percentage of Gross Revenues Continuing License Fees 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 2% Brand Fund Contribution: 2% of Gross Revenue; may increase above 2% with consent of 50% or more — 2% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19 | 2% of percentage of gross revenues Marketing Fund Fee 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 244 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 72 | 369 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | +20 Calculated: 224 at end of 2023 → 244 at end of 2025 | −5 Calculated: 374 at end of 2023 → 369 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | 1996 From a verified franchisor listing | 1980 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9 |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | 1979 2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 9 |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | No reviewed Item 19 figures | Franchised (97 outlets) — revenue $205 per clean median Regular Maid Service Revenue Per Clean · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 45 Franchised (338 territories) — revenue $305,938 median Revenue for Reporting Franchised Territories · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 46 Company-owned (6 locations) — revenue and profit $1,424,377 mean Total Revenue · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 47 |
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.
The Cleaning Authority vs The Maids: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Cleaning Authority or The Maids?
- The Cleaning Authority: $119,100 – $163,350 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 28); The Maids: $167,720 – $271,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Cleaning Authority. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Cleaning Authority and The Maids royalties compare?
- The Cleaning Authority: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19); The Maids: 3.9% · Percentage of Gross Revenues (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, The Cleaning Authority or The Maids?
- The Cleaning Authority: 244 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 72); The Maids: 369 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Cleaning Authority and The Maids disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Cleaning Authority has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; The Maids 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.