The Maids Home Services Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1979

Franchising Since: 1980

Headquarters: Omaha, Nebraska

Estimated Number of Units: 1,630

Franchise Description: The franchisor is The Maids International, LLC. The franchisor grants the personal right and license to establish and operate a The Maids Business household maintenance and home services business. The primary service provided is household cleaning.
Training Overview: Training includes a pre-opening program (SMART Start Set-Up) to teach the franchisee about The Maids business system and the operation of a The Maids business and coach the franchisee through the setup of the business. Once franchisees have completed the SMART Start Set-Up, the franchisor will provide up to five days of training in Omaha, Nebraska for franchisees to teach and familiarize them with the methods and procedures of operating a The Maids business. The franchisor expects the SMART Start Set-Up and SMART Start Training to take franchisees approximately 5-7 weeks to complete depending on the amount of time they devote to training. Within 90 days of franchisees opening their franchise, the franchisor will provide a training program (Power Training) that consists of a minimum of one on-site visit by one of its staff members to provide on the job training for the manager. The franchisor may also provide additional requested on-site training for franchisees or their manager during the term of the Franchise Agreement. At the franchisor’s discretion, online training may be provided for management staff via webinar at no charge. Optional fee-based courses may also be provided. In addition, numerous self-paced pay-per-use courses are available via the online catalog on the franchisor’s e-learning platform. After franchisees begin operating their franchise, the franchisor’s staff will provide support by telephone or other means of communication. Franchisees must attend each of The Maids National Conventions which held periodically but not more than once a year.

Territory Granted: The franchisor will work with franchisees to customize their designated market area. The designated market area will consist of one or more franchise territories. Designated market areas range in size from approximately 60,000 to 168,000 households. The designated market area will be defined by hard boundaries, such as streets, highways, rivers, or other identifiable physical boundaries. A franchise territory is approximately 24,000 households. The number may be higher or lower based on the local demographic data of the franchise territory. So long as the Franchise Agreement is in effect, the franchisor may not open any other The Maids businesses, company-owned or franchised, within the designated market area without the franchisee’s written permission.

Obligations and Restrictions: Franchisees do not have to participate in the operation of their The Maids business; however, the business must be managed by a person who has completed the training program. Franchisees, their spouse and all individuals with an equity stake in The Maids business must also promise in writing that during the term of the Franchise Agreement, they will not participate in any business that is in any way competitive with a The Maids business and that, for 18 months after the expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, they and their spouse and all individuals with an equity stake in The Maids business will not participate in any competitive business located within the designated market area or any other designated area granted by the franchisor or within 20 miles of any of the above described areas. Franchisees may only sell the products and services the franchisor specifically approves in writing.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The term of the franchise is 10 years with an option to renew for the term of the then-current standard Franchise Agreement, if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor, in its sole discretion, may offer financing to new and existing franchisees of up to 80% of the initial franchise fee for the purchase of territories. Financing is not offered for any other purpose either in connection with the establishment or the operation of a The Maids franchise. Except as stated, the franchisor, its agents, and its affiliates offer no financing arrangements, and the franchisor, its agents, and its affiliates do not receive payment or other consideration for the placing of financing, or do not guaranty any note, lease or obligation the franchisee enters into for The Maids business.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Territory Fee	$30,000	$84,000
SMART Start Package	$19,900	$19,900
Office Security Deposit	$0	$2,150
Office Fixtures, Decorating & Furniture	$500	$2,000
Auto Down Payments or Lease Payments and Paint or Wrap Installation	$1,800	$4,500
Telephone and Internet	$900	$1,800
Insurance Deposit	$2,200	$3,200
Washer and Dryer	$0	$1,500
Start-Up Professional Services	$500	$1,500
Wages, Travel and Living Expenses During SMART Start Training	$1,040	$4,650
Additional Funds – 3 months	$24,880	$34,500
ESTIMATED TOTAL	$81,720	$159,700

Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Continuing License Fees	From 6.9% down to 3.9% of gross revenues depending on weekly gross revenues (minimum continuing license fees may apply).
Technology Innovation Fund Fee	Currently 0.25% of gross revenues.
Advertising Fund Fee	2% of gross revenues.
Software and Support Fee	Currently $140 (Additional $85 per month per additional office). Subject to change with 30 days’ notice.
The Maids International National Convention	The then-current fee. The current registration fee is up to $750 per person. If franchisees fail to attend the national convention, they will be charged an additional non-attendance fee of $1,000.
(Optional Service) National Sales Center Fees	Sales Calls: $57 per week $36 per sold quote $7.50 per unsold quote
Audit Fees	Amount incurred by franchisor to audit the franchise, but no less than $5,000.
Transfer Fee	$15,000
Collection Costs for Unpaid Fees	Amount the franchisor incurs to collect fees.
Interest Charges for Unpaid Fees	18% per annum or the maximum legal rate allowable in the state in which the franchisee’s business is located.
ACH Draft – Insufficient Funds	Currently up to $25 per insufficient fund draft.
Requested Training and Consulting Service Provided by Franchisor	Currently up to $250 per day plus travel expenses.
Territory Infringement Fee	Varies depending on the type and severity of the infringement.
Cost of Alternative Supplier	The franchisor’s costs of alternative supplies and/or equipment which may vary under the circumstances.
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees	Will vary under the circumstances.
Indemnification	Will vary under the circumstances.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of The Maids. Year of FDD: 2025.
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