Is The Cleaning Authority right for you?
Recurring Revenue Model
Core residential cleaning contracts generate repeat weekly or bi-weekly revenue with documented customer retention metrics disclosed in the financial-performance disclosure.
Territory Protection
Franchisor will not open or authorize competing units inside a compliant franchisee's defined territory of 15,000-60,000 designated households.
Centralized Lead Generation
Mandatory local marketing program and franchisor-managed call center supply new-customer leads on a weekly fee basis.
About The Cleaning Authority
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise founded in 1996 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. It is a subsidiary of Authority Brands, Inc. The company offers protected territories sized by number of designated households, either Enterprise Markets of 30,000 or more or Hometown Markets of 29,999 or fewer. As of the end of 2024 the system included 233 franchised outlets across the United States.
Franchisees deliver recurring interior home cleaning as a core service. With franchisor consent they may also provide non-core services such as carpet cleaning, window cleaning, furniture cleaning and limited commercial work. Operations rely on a mix of owner oversight, trained cleaning teams and centralized call-center support to schedule and retain residential customers within a defined zip-code territory.
Authority Brands, Inc. (formerly Villa BidCo, Inc.) is our indirect parent company and was restructured as part of the May 2021 Securitization Transaction. It provides management services and acts as franchise sales agent pursuant to a management agreement.
The business model
How a The Cleaning Authority territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise and Territory Fees
Franchise fee is $20,000 for Enterprise Markets and $15,000 for Hometown Markets. Territory fee is calculated at $0.75 per designated household, typically ranging from $11,250 to $45,000 depending on market size.
Royalty Structure
Royalty is 6% of gross revenue with tiered reductions for higher volume: Enterprise Markets drop to 5% between $600,001 and $1,300,000 then 4% above that; Hometown Markets drop to 5% between $300,001 and $550,000 then 4% above that. Rates reset to 6% each calendar year.
Marketing and Technology Fees
Brand fund contribution is the lesser of 1% of gross revenue or $200 per week. Local marketing fee is currently $0.374 multiplied by a percentage of designated households (9-13%). Software access fee is $40.24 weekly.
Initial Investment Range
Total initial investment for an Enterprise Market is estimated between $92,850 and $147,100. Major categories include territory fee, vehicles, equipment, insurance, opening inventory, real estate deposits and three months of working capital.
Supply Chain Requirements
Franchisees must purchase 50-70% of establishment costs and 10-30% of ongoing needs from the franchisor or approved suppliers including proprietary software, branded materials, payment processing and BuyMax program items.
Call Center and Marketing Support
Franchisor administers a paid call center at $2.97-$4.21 per call and manages the local marketing program and brand fund to generate and convert residential leads.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$20,000
Total investment range
$92,850 to $147,100
Royalty
6.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
1.00% of gross revenue
Founded
1996
Headquarters
Columbia, MD
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +10-business-day initial training program (82.5 total hours) at headquarters in Columbia, Maryland covering leadership, operations, marketing, staff management, culture development and TCA IQ software.
- +45.5 hours of on-the-job training integrated into the initial program.
- +3-day site training at a designated existing franchise location for buyers of existing businesses.
- +Ongoing required and optional training delivered in-person, via video or internet modules after opening.
- +Access to proprietary TCA IQ software training modules included with one-time $250 software access fee.
- +Franchisee Portal providing continuous access to brand standards, marketing materials and operational resources.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
Franchisor training is limited to delivery of approved services reflecting system standards. Franchisees remain solely responsible for training their own employees and for all employment decisions. No specialized technical certifications such as pesticide-applicator training are provided.
Multi-unit growth path
The the filed disclosures does not disclose a formal multi-unit development schedule or incentives. Franchisees may acquire additional territories or existing units after demonstrating compliance and operational proficiency in the first location. Each additional territory requires a separate franchise agreement, full territory fee and training for new key personnel. Success in scaling depends on replicating staff recruitment, training and customer retention systems across multiple markets.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
Many franchisees finance a portion of the $92,850-$147,100 investment through SBA-guaranteed loans. The Cleaning Authority is listed on the SBA Franchise Registry which can expedite approval.
Equipment and Vehicle Leasing
Cleaning equipment, vehicles and technology packages can often be leased from third-party providers, reducing upfront cash requirements.
Retirement Account Rollover (ROBS)
Qualified retirement funds may be used to fund the franchise fee, territory fee and initial setup costs without early withdrawal penalties or taxes.
Seller Financing for Existing Units
Buyers of existing territories may negotiate seller financing from the current owner for a portion of the purchase price beyond the initial investment range.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with franchisor leadership and existing franchisees, validate territory availability and financial representations.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign franchise agreement and pay $15,000-$20,000 franchise fee plus territory fee of $0.75 per designated household.
Pre-Training Preparation (Weeks 1-4)
Secure location, obtain insurance, purchase initial equipment and vehicle, complete background checks and enroll in TCA IQ software.
Initial Training (Week 5)
Attend 10-business-day training program in Columbia, Maryland (82.5 hours) for key person and owners.
Site Launch & Grand Opening (Weeks 6-8)
Complete local marketing setup, hire and train initial cleaning teams, begin customer acquisition through call center and local marketing program.
First 90 Days
Operate with ongoing call-center support, local marketing execution and access to franchisee portal while building recurring customer base.
Ongoing Operations
Monthly performance reviews, optional advanced training, annual conference attendance and continuous lead generation within protected territory.
Match assessment
Are you a The Cleaning Authority match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a The Cleaning Authority franchise cost?
Total initial investment ranges from $92,850 to $147,100 for an Enterprise Market according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. This includes a $20,000 franchise fee, territory fee of $22,500-$45,000 and costs for vehicles, equipment, insurance, inventory and working capital.
What is the royalty fee for The Cleaning Authority?
Royalty is 6% of gross revenue with tiered reductions based on volume and market type. Enterprise Markets pay 5% between $600,001 and $1,300,000 and 4% above that. Hometown Markets receive reductions at lower thresholds. Rates reset to 6% each calendar year.
Does The Cleaning Authority provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 gross revenue for 212 full-year Enterprise Market territories segmented by top, middle and lower thirds. Top third averaged $2,486,854; middle third $1,285,477; lower third $629,131. No net profit figures are provided.
How many The Cleaning Authority locations are there?
The system had 233 franchised outlets at the end of 2024. Of these, 241 territories were operating during the full 2025 fiscal year for the financial-performance disclosure reporting purposes.
What training does The Cleaning Authority provide?
Franchisees attend an 82.5-hour initial training program over 10 business days at headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. This includes classroom sessions on operations, marketing, staff management and software plus 45.5 hours of on-the-job training. Ongoing training is available after opening.
Is territory exclusivity included with a The Cleaning Authority franchise?
Franchisees receive a protected territory defined by zip codes and number of designated households. The franchisor will not open or authorize competing franchised units inside the territory while the franchisee remains in compliance.
How does The Cleaning Authority generate customers?
The franchisor administers a mandatory local marketing program funded by a weekly fee and operates a call center that supplies leads at $2.97-$4.21 per call. The brand fund also supports national and regional advertising assets.
What is the difference between Enterprise and Hometown Markets?
Enterprise Markets require at least 30,000 designated households and carry a $20,000 franchise fee. Hometown Markets are 29,999 households or fewer and carry a $15,000 franchise fee. Royalty and marketing fee tiers differ between the two.
Can I buy multiple The Cleaning Authority territories?
Multi-unit ownership is possible after successful operation of the first unit. Each additional territory requires a new franchise agreement, full territory fee and separate training. No formal area development program is disclosed in the the filed disclosures.
How does The Cleaning Authority compare to competitors like Merry Maids or Molly Maid?
The Cleaning Authority emphasizes protected territories sized by household count, a centralized call center and tiered royalties that decrease with volume. Prospective buyers should compare disclosed the financial-performance disclosure revenue ranges, initial investment and ongoing fee structures across brands.
Are there any The Cleaning Authority franchisee reviews or success stories?
The the filed disclosures provides contact information for current and former franchisees. the financial-performance disclosure shows wide variation in gross revenue performance across the top, middle and lower thirds of reporting territories. Prospective buyers are encouraged to speak directly with operators during validation.
Does The Cleaning Authority offer financing?
The franchisor does not offer direct financing. Most buyers utilize SBA 7(a) loans, equipment leasing, retirement account rollovers or seller financing on existing locations. The brand appears on the SBA Franchise Registry.
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