# Home Clean Heroes franchise: cost, fees, the Buzz model and the independent option

> The Home Clean Heroes franchise is a young residential cleaning brand from Buzz Franchise Brands in Virginia Beach, founded in 2017 and franchising since 2018, with a first-responder giving program called Heroes First. It posts a $50,000 franchise fee and a typical total investment of $112,745 from its December 2024 FDD. Entrepreneur’s directory lists a 6% royalty, a 2% ad fee, a $395 monthly technology fee, a 10-year term and 21 units.

Published 2026-11-06 by Broombook · Start your cleaning business · 13 min read  
Canonical page: https://broombook.com/guides/home-clean-heroes-franchise

## Key takeaways

- Home Clean Heroes posts a $50,000 franchise fee, $35,350 of upfront marketing and equipment, $27,695 for the first three months and a typical total of $112,745 (Item 7, December 2024 FDD).
- Entrepreneur lists the same $50,000 fee, a total of $112,745 to $196,049, a $300,000 net worth and $100,000 cash requirement, a 6% royalty, a 2% ad fee and a $395 monthly technology fee.
- The brand was founded in 2017, began franchising in 2018, and had 21 units in Entrepreneur’s listing; its own site says 18 locations in 12 states.
- Territories are zip-code protected with about 40,000 qualified households; training is three phases ending in five days in person in Virginia Beach.
- In our 5-year example with hypothetical revenue, the franchise owner pays about $175,760 more than an independent owner with the same sales.
- Federal rule 16 CFR 436 gives you the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay; with a system this small, call every owner in Item 20.

## What is Home Clean Heroes and who is behind it?

Home Clean Heroes is a residential cleaning franchise owned by Buzz Franchise Brands, a multi-brand franchisor headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Its distinguishing feature is the Heroes First program, under which the company says a portion of every cleaning goes to supporting first responders in the areas it serves ([Home Clean Heroes Franchise](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/)).

The company’s about page says it currently operates in 18 locations across 12 states, that it was named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 in 2025 and a top New and Emerging Franchise by Entrepreneur in 2022 and 2023, and that its brand president and COO is Joe Delatte, a former home services franchise owner. It describes Buzz Franchise Brands as founded in 2012, with a first brand, Mosquito Joe, that grew to almost 300 locations and was sold to Neighborly in late 2018 ([Home Clean Heroes: About](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/about-us/)). The franchise home page lists the group’s other brands as Pool Scouts, British Swim School and Wonderly Lights ([Home Clean Heroes Franchise](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/)).

Entrepreneur’s directory lists Home Clean Heroes as founded in 2017, franchising since 2018, with 21 units and Buzz Franchise Brands as the parent company ([Entrepreneur: Home Clean Heroes](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733)). That makes it one of the smallest and youngest maid franchises you can buy, which cuts both ways: more room to pick a good territory and more influence on the system, but a shorter track record than the brands in our general guide to the [cleaning business franchise](https://broombook.com/guides/cleaning-franchise) model.

### How the business works

The FAQ says none of its owners had a residential cleaning background, and that the franchisor does not want owners cleaning in the field regularly: the owner’s role is to train teams, run the business and market locally. The company’s in-house marketing department runs national programs (direct mail, digital, public relations) and a national call center turns those leads into bookings. Some owners run manager-led or semi-absentee businesses, though the franchisor wants owners heavily involved at launch ([Home Clean Heroes FAQ](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/faq/)). The home page states that 92% of services come from recurring clients ([Home Clean Heroes Franchise](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/)), a figure the franchisor reports about its own system.

## How much does a Home Clean Heroes franchise cost?

Home Clean Heroes posts a $50,000 franchise fee, $35,350 for upfront marketing and start-up equipment, $27,695 for the first three months of operating costs, and a typical total investment of $112,745, referring to Item 7 of its December 2024 franchise disclosure document ([Home Clean Heroes: The Investment](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/)). The franchisor says the initial fees include the equipment and vehicles you need plus the first several months of marketing.

| Item | Figure | Where it is posted |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Initial franchise fee | $50,000 | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/); [Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733) lists the same |
| Upfront marketing and start-up equipment | $35,350 | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/) |
| First three months of operating costs | $27,695 | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/) |
| Typical total investment | $112,745 | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/) (Item 7, December 2024 FDD) |
| Total initial investment range | $112,745 to $196,049 | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/); [Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733) lists the same |
| Net worth and cash requirements | $300,000 net worth, $100,000 cash | [Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733) only; not posted on the franchisor’s site |
| Veteran discount (VetFran) | “20% off, or $7,000,” on the initial franchise fee (20% of $50,000 would be $10,000, so ask which applies) | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/); Entrepreneur lists 20% off the first-unit fee |
| Community Heroes discount | 20% off, or $7,000, for current or former law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, 911 operators, teachers and school staff | [Investment page](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/) |

### Two numbers that do not match

The franchisor’s FAQ page still says the initial investment ranges from $85,510 to $105,235 ([Home Clean Heroes FAQ](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/faq/)), which is lower than the $112,745 to $196,049 range on its investment page and in Entrepreneur’s listing. The FAQ figure is most likely from an older FDD. The investment page’s own chart does not add up either: $50,000, $35,350 and $27,695 come to $113,045, not the $112,745 “typical” total it shows. Treat the current FDD’s Item 7 as the only number that counts, and ask the development team why the top of the range is about $83,000 above the “typical” figure: the answer is usually a bigger territory, a second vehicle or a longer runway of operating funds.

Area development deals (several territories at once) are also offered, at costs the site says may differ from the single-territory estimates.

## What are the ongoing royalty and fees?

Entrepreneur’s directory lists a 6% royalty fee, a 2% ad royalty fee, a technology fee of $395 a month and a 10-year term of agreement that is renewable ([Entrepreneur: Home Clean Heroes](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733)). The franchisor’s own site does not post the royalty or the technology fee, so confirm them in Items 5 and 6 of the FDD before you rely on them.

What those fees come to at a few hypothetical revenue levels:

| Annual revenue (example) | Royalty at 6% | Ad fee at 2% | Technology fee at $395 a month | Total that year |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $150,000 | $9,000 | $3,000 | $4,740 | $16,740 |
| $300,000 | $18,000 | $6,000 | $4,740 | $28,740 |
| $500,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 | $4,740 | $44,740 |

Also ask about the Heroes First contribution. The franchisor says a portion of every cleaning goes to first responders; find out in the FDD whether that comes out of your revenue, out of the royalty, or out of the national fund, and how much it is. It is a selling point with clients, and it is also a cost line.

## What do you get: territory, training and support

You get a zip-code protected territory of about 40,000 qualified households, a three-phase training program, national marketing run by the franchisor’s in-house team, and a national call center that books the leads. All of this comes from the franchisor’s FAQ ([Home Clean Heroes FAQ](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/faq/)).

- **Territory.** You choose your territory if it is available. Each is zip-code protected and holds approximately 40,000 qualified households. That is smaller than the 45,000-plus household territories some older maid brands describe, so ask how “qualified” is defined.
- **Training.** Phase one is self-paced video training from onboarding onward. Phase two is three half-day Zoom sessions followed by five days in person at the company’s headquarters in Virginia Beach, covering operations, cleaning technique and more. Entrepreneur records 32 hours of classroom training ([Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733)), far less than the 180 to 200 hours MaidPro describes, so expect to learn a lot on the job.
- **Marketing.** The franchisor’s marketing department acts as your in-house agency for national programs (direct mail, digital, public relations) and works with you on a local plan.
- **Call center.** A national call center converts marketing leads into booked cleanings.
- **Parent company depth.** The franchisor says being part of Buzz Franchise Brands gives franchisees financial backing and access to more than 20 functional experts across the group ([Home Clean Heroes Franchise](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/)).

Not posted anywhere we read: the software you must use, what the $395 monthly technology fee covers, and whether there is a minimum royalty. Those are Item 6 and Item 11 questions.

## What should you check about a franchise this young?

With about 20 units, every number in the FDD is driven by a handful of owners, so you should check three things harder than you would with a 250-unit brand: how many of the first owners are still open, what the ones who left say, and whether the franchisor itself is profitable.

1. **Item 20, outlet history.** Entrepreneur’s chart for the brand starts at a single company-owned unit in 2017 and shows a 200% growth rate in its latest listing ([Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733)). Growth from a small base looks dramatic; the useful figure is closures and transfers. Call every current owner and every former owner listed. With a system this size, that is an afternoon of phone calls.
2. **Item 19, earnings.** If the franchisor publishes revenue figures, ask how many units are in the sample and how long each had been open. An average built from five locations tells you little.
3. **Item 21, the franchisor’s financials.** Buzz Franchise Brands has sold a brand before (Mosquito Joe, to Neighborly in 2018). A sale of Home Clean Heroes to another franchisor would not void your agreement, but it could change who supports you. Ask what happens to your agreement on a change of control.
4. **Item 3, litigation.** We found no sourced record of franchisee lawsuits or regulator actions involving Home Clean Heroes, and this guide does not repeat claims it cannot source. Read Item 3 yourself: it is where any such history must be disclosed.
5. **Brand recognition.** With 18 to 21 locations nationwide, few households in your territory will have heard the name. Your first year of marketing builds the brand locally as much as it builds your business.

## What the FDD must give you under 16 CFR 436

The FTC’s Franchise Rule requires the franchisor to give you its current disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay anything, and to give you any revised agreement at least seven calendar days before signing ([16 CFR 436.2, eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-436)). The rule’s cover-page format also requires the document to state the total investment from Item 7 and the amount paid to the franchisor from Item 5.

For Home Clean Heroes specifically, match these items against the website figures above:

- **Item 5:** the $50,000 fee and whether the $35,350 marketing and equipment bundle is paid to the franchisor or to third parties.
- **Item 6:** the 6% royalty, 2% ad fee, $395 technology fee, the Heroes First contribution, and any minimums, renewal or transfer fees.
- **Item 7:** the full range behind the $112,745 “typical” figure, and how many months of operating funds it assumes (the site says three).
- **Item 12:** the exact zip codes in your territory and how online bookings from inside it are credited.
- **Item 17:** the 10-year term, renewal conditions and the non-compete after you leave.

Have a franchise lawyer read the agreement. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.

## Home Clean Heroes vs going independent: a 5-year example

In our example, a Home Clean Heroes owner pays about $212,900 to the franchisor over five years, and an independent owner with the same revenue spends about $37,140 on booking software and matching marketing. The gap of about $175,760 is what the brand, the call center, the training and the Heroes First story must earn back.

These are hypothetical numbers that show the method, not a forecast. We assume both businesses grow to the same revenue, use the posted $50,000 fee and the 6% royalty, 2% ad fee and $395 technology fee from Entrepreneur’s listing, and apply the percentages to gross revenue. The independent owner pays for Broombook’s Pro plan at $39 a month (see [pricing](https://broombook.com/pricing)) and spends the same 2% of revenue on their own marketing.

| Over five years (example) | Home Clean Heroes franchise | Independent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revenue, years 1 to 5 (assumed) | $1,740,000 | $1,740,000 |
| Franchise fee | $50,000 | $0 |
| Royalty at 6% | $104,400 | $0 |
| Marketing (2% ad fee, or the independent’s own 2%) | $34,800 | $34,800 |
| Software (technology fee, or a booking subscription) | $23,700 | $2,340 |
| **Total** | **$212,900** | **$37,140** |

### What the independent has to supply

- **Booking, scheduling, reminders and billing.** Software such as Broombook covers online booking, crew scheduling, automatic reminders and card-on-file billing for an independent company (see [features](https://broombook.com/features)). You still answer your own phone or hire an answering service.
- **A cause, if you want one.** Nothing stops an independent company from giving a share of every clean to a local fire department or first responders’ charity and saying so on its website. The difference is that Home Clean Heroes has built a program and a brand around it.
- **Training and standards.** Your own checklists and crew training. Our [housekeeping checklist](https://broombook.com/guides/housekeeping-checklist) and [guide to hiring cleaners](https://broombook.com/guides/how-to-hire-cleaners) are the starting point.
- **The first clients.** [How to start a cleaning business](https://broombook.com/guides/how-to-start-a-cleaning-business) covers licenses, insurance and how the first customers come in.

## Who is a Home Clean Heroes franchise right for?

It fits an owner with $100,000 in cash and the net worth to match who likes the first-responder mission, wants a franchisor small enough to know them by name, and accepts that the brand carries little recognition yet. It fits less well for someone who wants a proven name on the van, or for a working cleaner looking for a low-cost way in.

### Good signs

- You have sales or management experience, and you are comfortable being one of the first 30 owners.
- The territory you are offered has 40,000 qualified households and strong first-responder ties you can market to.
- The owners you call from Item 20 confirm the call center books enough recurring clients to justify 8% of revenue plus the technology fee.

### Warning signs

- You are shown earnings that are not in Item 19.
- You would be stretched by the $112,745 typical total and have nothing left for the months before recurring revenue builds.
- What you want most is the software and the online booking, which you can rent for much less than a royalty.

Write out the comparison with your own revenue assumptions before you sign. The franchise is the right call when the gap in the table above is smaller than the extra revenue the brand, the mission and the call center will bring you.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a Home Clean Heroes franchise cost?

The franchisor posts a $50,000 franchise fee, $35,350 for upfront marketing and equipment, $27,695 for the first three months of operating costs and a typical total of $112,745, citing Item 7 of its December 2024 FDD. The same page and Entrepreneur list a total range of $112,745 to $196,049; Entrepreneur adds a $300,000 net worth requirement and $100,000 in cash.

### What is the Home Clean Heroes royalty fee?

Entrepreneur’s directory lists a 6% royalty, a 2% ad royalty and a $395 a month technology fee, on a 10-year renewable agreement. The franchisor’s site does not post these figures, so confirm them in Items 5 and 6 of the FDD.

### Who owns Home Clean Heroes?

Home Clean Heroes is a brand of Buzz Franchise Brands, a Virginia Beach franchisor founded in 2012 that also runs Pool Scouts, British Swim School and Wonderly Lights, and that sold its first brand, Mosquito Joe, to Neighborly in 2018.

### How many Home Clean Heroes locations are there?

The franchisor’s site says 18 locations across 12 states; Entrepreneur’s listing counts 21 units. The brand was founded in 2017 and began franchising in 2018.

### What is the Heroes First program?

Heroes First is the giving program at the center of the brand: the franchisor says a portion of every cleaning goes to supporting first responders in the areas it serves. Ask in the FDD who pays that contribution and how much it is.

### Does Home Clean Heroes offer discounts on the franchise fee?

Yes. The franchisor posts “20% off, or $7,000,” of the initial franchise fee for veterans through VetFran, and the same discount through its Community Heroes program for current or former law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, 911 operators, teachers and school staff. 20% of $50,000 would be $10,000, so confirm the amount in Item 5.

### Is Home Clean Heroes a good franchise?

It is a small, young system with a clear mission and a parent company that has grown and sold a brand before. Whether it is good for you depends on Item 19 earnings, Item 20 closures and what current and former owners tell you, measured against the roughly 8% of revenue plus technology fee you would pay versus running independently.

## Sources

- [Home Clean Heroes Franchise: the investment](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/investment/)
- [Home Clean Heroes Franchise: frequently asked questions](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/faq/)
- [Home Clean Heroes Franchise: about and leadership](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/about-us/)
- [Home Clean Heroes Franchise: home page (Heroes First, Buzz Franchise Brands)](https://homecleanheroesfranchise.com/)
- [Entrepreneur Franchise 500: Home Clean Heroes](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/home-clean-heroes/335733)
- [eCFR: 16 CFR Part 436, Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-436)

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Broombook is scheduling, online booking and crew software for residential cleaning businesses. More guides for cleaning business owners: https://broombook.com/guides