CottageCare vs ServiceMaster Clean Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of CottageCare vs ServiceMaster Clean including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
CottageCare Franchise
ServiceMaster Clean Franchise
Investment $49,500 - $75,500$76,500 - $274,500
Franchise Fee $9,500 - $17,000$31,500 - $69,500
Royalty Fee 5.5%4%-10%
Advertising Fee -0.5%-1%
Year Founded 19881947
Year Franchised 19891952
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years5 years
Renewal Fee $3K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
CottageCare Franchise
ServiceMaster Clean Franchise
Experience -
  • General business experience
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    CottageCare Franchise
    ServiceMaster Clean Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoYes/No
    Start-up Costs No/NoYes/No
    Equipment No/NoYes/No
    Inventory No/NoYes/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    CottageCare Franchise
    ServiceMaster Clean Franchise
    Training - Classroom Training: 80 hours Additional Training: Annual convention and regional seminars
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing -Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Website development
    Operations 25% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 Franchise can be run from home.

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 10-15% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    CottageCare Franchise
    ServiceMaster Clean Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About CottageCare

    Using the experience he gained as the operator of a housecleaning franchise in the '70s and '80s, Tom Schrader founded Overland Park, Kansas-based Cottage Care in 1988. Franchisees offer a variety of tailored cleaning services for bathrooms, furniture, kitchens, floors and carpets.
    CottageCare has the distinguished record of using environmentally friendly cleaning products since our beginning in the mid-’70s. We were eco-friendly before the recent popular trend of all natural products.  Every product we use is non-toxic and non-abrasive which protects the environment, our customers’ homes, and the crew members providing our services.  It’s always been that way, and always will. 

    About ServiceMaster Clean

    ServiceMaster was incorporated in 1947 as Wade, Wenger and Associates. Marion Wade got the idea for his company after an accident with chemicals left him temporarily blind in 1945. Today, it is part of the ServiceMaster Co. franchise family which includes franchise companies Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and Terminix. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and has enjoyed more than 25 years of consecutive growth.

    1. Disaster Restoration Services: provides disaster restoration services directly to residential and commercial customers and to customers following a fire, flood, earthquake or storm. The total investment necessary to begin operation of this franchise ranges from $229,500 to $274,500. This investment includes from $144,500 to $189,500 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    1. Janitorial Services: provides contracted janitorial services on a continuing basis and may also provide carpet, furniture and other periodical non-janitorial cleaning and maintenance to management or tenants of commercial or institutional buildings. The total investment necessary to begin operation of this franchise ranges from $76,500 to $86,500, which includes $51,500 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    1. Recovery Management Services: provides recovery management and disaster restoration services directly to commercial customers that have the capacity to provide commercial restoration opportunities meeting or exceeding $500,000 in contract value. The total investment necessary to begin operation of this franchise ranges from $165,150 to $274,150. This includes 61,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.
    Veteran Incentives  20% off franchise fee
    "Top  ""
    #87 in Canada's Top franchises.

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #71 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #77 in Franchise 500 for 2020.