Molly Maid vs The Maids franchise USA 2026: which one wins on real numbers?
The Maids is the lighter bet on entry — $118K vs $144K (about $26K less). Molly Maid runs the bigger network at 432 vs 394 outlets.
01 What actually matters
Numbers that separate them on a 5-year horizon — not the franchise-development pitch.
Molly Maid (432 outlets) and The Maids (394) operate at comparable scale — neither has a decisive network advantage, so your location-specific due diligence matters more than brand size here.
Molly Maid charges 6.5% royalty on revenue — recurring, uncapped, and deducted before your own margin is calculated. Factor it into every pro-forma.
02 The numbers, visualised
Primary format per brand, from FDD Item 7. A brand's smaller express or non-traditional formats can cost materially less.
Initial investment (FDD Item 7)
Total initial investment, low end of each brand's FDD Item 7 range for its primary format. Several US brands also run smaller express, non-traditional or conversion formats at materially lower investment — check the brand page for the full Item 7 table.
Network scale — total outlets
Total US outlets from FDD Item 20. Bigger networks mean more brand recognition and supplier scale; smaller ones mean less intra-brand competition in your trade area.
Customer ratings
Which brand's outlets are rated higher by customers, aggregated across locations. Exact star rating and review volume are in Brand Health.
Direction only — the underlying rating & review count are Pro data.
03 Side-by-side
Straight from each brand’s FDD. Green badge marks the more favourable value for a typical first-time operator.
| Metric | Molly Maid | The Maids |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment (Item 7) | $144K | $118K ↓ Lower |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 6.5% | — |
| Gross margin | — | — |
| Min space (sq ft) | — | — |
| Total US outlets (Item 20) | 432 ↑ Bigger | 394 |
| Franchise fee (Item 5) | $15K ↓ Lower | $60K |
| Additional funds | — | — |
Not sure if Molly Maid or The Maids actually fits *you*?
BrandFit asks 6 visual questions about your operator profile, capital, and location — then ranks all 182 brands by predicted success-fit for your situation. See where these brands really stand for someone like you.
Ready to talk to Molly Maid or The Maids?
FRANticc is independent — not the franchisor, and paid nothing by either brand. We send you straight to the brand's own franchise-development team, and we never collect or forward your contact details.
04 Explore these brands in depth
Same data plus the full FDD breakdown, fee load, contract fairness and SBA lending picture — free on every brand page.
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05 Frequently asked
Wrapped in FAQPage JSON-LD for SERP rich-result eligibility.
What are the hidden costs in Residential Cleaning Services franchises?
FDD Item 7 is the honest list, and it runs well past the headline number: initial franchise fee (Item 5), leasehold improvements and build-out, equipment and signage, opening inventory, insurance, training travel, grand-opening advertising, and three months of additional funds. On top of that sit the recurring Item 6 fees — royalty, national ad fund, technology, and often a local-marketing minimum. FRANticc separates the one-time spend from the recurring load on every brand page so you see the real exposure.
What is the cheapest Residential Cleaning Services franchise in the US?
The lowest-investment option here is The Maids starting from $118K. Remember this is the LOW end of the brand's FDD Item 7 initial-investment range — Item 7's high end is the number to plan against, and it sits before the working capital you burn until the unit turns over.
Are these Residential Cleaning Services franchises still awarding territory in my state?
FDD Item 20 lists every outlet by state, plus openings, closures, transfers and terminations for the last three years — the fastest way to see whether a brand is still expanding near you or has gone quiet. Molly Maid runs the largest network here at 432 outlets. Note that fourteen states — California, New York, Illinois, Virginia, Washington and others — require franchise registration, so a brand may simply be unregistered in yours.
How many Residential Cleaning Services franchise brands are available in the US?
FRANticc's database lists 2 brands matching this comparison with verified investment data, store counts, and format details. Several more are covered across our full directory. Every figure is traced to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document.