What a home services franchise really costs.
We gathered the published investment figures for 191 home services franchises across 30 trades. The typical franchise starts at about $135K. Here's how that number breaks down, what it covers, and what it leaves out.
By ServiceStake Research · Updated October 5, 2026 · 9 min read
Four numbers to know before you talk to any brand.
Most start between $102K and $175K.
That is the middle half of the 191 franchises. The median starting figure is $135,135.
The top of the range is about $239K.
Brands publish a low and a high estimate. The typical gap between them is $92,500, so plan for more than the low number.
The fee is about 40% of the starting figure.
The median franchise fee is $55,000. The rest of the starting investment goes to vehicles, equipment, launch marketing and cash to run on.
Only 5 start under $50K.
43 start under $100K and 118 under $150K. 18 start at $250K or more.
The trade you pick moves the price more than anything.
Median starting investment for each trade with at least five franchises publishing a full range. Roofing sits at the top at $175K; Home Inspection & Testing is lowest at $74K. Tap a trade to see every franchise in it.
| Trade | Brands | Median start | Lowest – highest start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility & Accessibility | 3 | $196,000 | $176,225 – $324,575 |
| Pressure Washing | 3 | $186,150 | $128,950 – $190,033 |
| Roofing | 5 | $174,998 | $99,750 – $218,867 |
| Fencing | 3 | $165,600 | $134,400 – $177,444 |
| Air Duct Cleaning | 3 | $163,654 | $96,600 – $200,000 |
| Junk Removal & Dumpsters | 10 | $163,650 | $93,000 – $671,182 |
| Commercial Services | 15 | $163,000 | $47,750 – $372,050 |
| Electrical & Generators | 3 | $159,500 | $133,273 – $434,950 |
| Flooring | 3 | $157,000 | $81,905 – $202,100 |
| Restoration & Mold | 19 | $154,844 | $84,650 – $277,070 |
| Plumbing & Drains | 6 | $148,699 | $127,780 – $259,618 |
| Closets & Garages | 14 | $137,700 | $69,095 – $531,500 |
| Windows & Gutters | 7 | $136,064 | $96,900 – $206,244 |
| Pest & Mosquito Control | 8 | $128,702 | $93,850 – $169,900 |
| Handyman & Remodeling | 18 | $128,532 | $72,568 – $329,705 |
| Lawn & Landscape | 13 | $125,800 | $24,000 – $335,040 |
| Outdoor Lighting | 3 | $123,603 | $36,200 – $180,700 |
| Cleaning & Maid Service | 7 | $119,100 | $37,250 – $147,100 |
| Foundation, Concrete & Crawl Space | 3 | $118,900 | $93,070 – $138,100 |
| Blinds & Shades | 4 | $114,230 | $100,500 – $163,466 |
| Heating & Cooling | 3 | $113,808 | $100,935 – $143,273 |
| Surface Repair & Refinishing | 8 | $105,428 | $74,500 – $128,175 |
| Painting | 6 | $104,425 | $81,450 – $171,000 |
| Moving & Storage | 4 | $104,084 | $75,760 – $163,250 |
| Specialty | 7 | $96,325 | $65,950 – $164,550 |
| Pool & Spa | 3 | $88,695 | $75,000 – $115,445 |
| Home Inspection & Testing | 5 | $73,878 | $41,200 – $151,550 |
Trades with fewer than three franchises publishing a full range are left out of the table: Carpet & Upholstery, Dryer Vent Cleaning, Insulation.
Where home services franchises start.
Number of franchises in each starting price band. The biggest group starts between $100,000 and $150,000.
- 5Under $50K
- 38$50K–$100K
- 75$100K–$150K
- 40$150K–$200K
- 15$200K–$250K
- 18$250K and up
Lowest published starting figures
Highest published starting figures
What's inside the initial investment.
Franchisors in the U.S. disclose the initial investment in Item 7 of the franchise disclosure document (FDD). It is an estimate of what you will spend to open and operate through the first few months. It normally includes:
The franchise fee
A one-time payment for the license, training and launch support.
Vehicles and equipment
Trucks, wraps, tools, machines and the first inventory. In home services this is often the largest line.
Space and setup
An office or warehouse if the model needs one, deposits, licenses and insurance.
Launch marketing
The grand-opening spend many brands require in the first months.
Training costs
Travel and living costs while you attend the brand’s training.
Working capital
Cash to pay bills and staff before the business covers itself. Often estimated for only three months.
What it doesn't cover
- Ongoing fees. Royalties, the brand marketing fund and technology fees are charged for the life of the agreement. They're listed in Item 6 of the FDD, not in the initial investment.
- Your own living costs while the business ramps up.
- Growth after opening: a second truck, more staff, a bigger territory.
What owners say they wish they'd budgeted for.
In owner forums and franchise Q&A threads, the same surprises come up again and again.
Running out of cash before it pays.
Working capital in Item 7 often covers only a few months. Owners commonly advise planning for six months or more.
Fees on top of the price.
Royalties and marketing fund contributions come out of revenue every month. Model them before you compare brands.
Support that differs from the pitch.
What the brand actually provides, such as lead generation, a call center or software, varies widely and changes your costs.
Advice from someone paid by the brand.
Many franchise brokers and consultants are paid a fee by the franchisor when you buy. Ask how your advisor is paid.
Drawn from owner and buyer discussions, for example on SearchFunder.
Five things to do before you commit
- Read the whole FDD, especially Item 7 (initial investment), Item 6 (ongoing fees), Item 19 (financial performance, if the brand provides it) and Item 20 (how many locations opened and closed).
- Call current and former owners from the list in Item 20. Ask what they actually spent to open and how long it took to cover their costs.
- Build your own budget from the high end of the published range, not the low end.
- Have a franchise attorney and an accountant review the agreement and your numbers.
- Compare at least two or three brands in the same trade.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's consumer guide to buying a franchise covers these steps in more detail.
Already run a crew? Look at dealer programs too.
A dealer program lets an existing contractor sell and install a manufacturer's products under their own company name. Dealer programs don't publish franchise disclosure documents, so terms and costs vary by program. Ask each one for its terms.
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a home services franchise cost?
Across the 191 home services franchises on ServiceStake that publish a full range, the median starting investment is $135,135. Half start between $102,095 and $174,998. The top of the published ranges has a median of $239,300.
What is the typical franchise fee?
The median initial franchise fee is $55,000 across the 129 franchises in this set that list one, from $10,000 to $100,000. The fee is part of the total initial investment, not on top of it.
Does the initial investment include royalties?
No. The initial investment covers what you spend to open and run the first few months. Ongoing royalties, marketing fund contributions and technology fees are separate and continue for the life of the agreement. The franchise disclosure document lists them in Item 6.
What is the cheapest home services franchise?
Of the franchises on ServiceStake with a published range, 5 start under $50,000 and 43 start under $100,000. The lowest published starting figure is $24,000 (LawnValue). A low starting figure doesn't make a business cheaper to run, so compare the ongoing fees too.
Where do these figures come from?
From each brand's own website or, for 26 brands, a franchise disclosure document filed with a state regulator. Every program page on ServiceStake shows the source and the date it was checked.
How we got these numbers.
ServiceStake lists 295 home services franchises. 191 of them publish a full low-to-high initial investment range, either on the brand's own website (165 brands) or in a franchise disclosure document filed with a state regulator (26 brands). Brands that publish no figures, or only a fee, are left out of these numbers.
"Starting investment" means the low end of each brand's published range. Medians are used instead of averages so that a few very large figures don't skew the result. Each brand's figure, its source and the date it was checked are shown on its ServiceStake program page.
Figures are estimates published by the brands. They are not quotes, and your costs will depend on your market, territory and choices. This guide contains no earnings claims and is not financial or legal advice.