# Merry Maids franchise: cost, fees, Item 19 earnings, reviews and the independent option

> A Merry Maids franchise is a residential cleaning business run under the Merry Maids brand, part of ServiceMaster Brands, which is owned by Roark Capital. The franchisor’s Item 7 table posts a $55,000 initial fee and a total initial investment of $126,880 to $165,610, and it says you should have about $50,000 in cash. Entrepreneur lists a 5% to 7% royalty and a 1.3% ad royalty.

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

## Key takeaways

- Merry Maids posts an Item 7 total of $126,880 to $165,610, including a $55,000 initial fee and $38,000 to $43,000 of additional funds for three months.
- Entrepreneur lists a 5% to 7% royalty, a 1.3% ad royalty, a $499 per month technology fee and a 5-year agreement term.
- Founded in Omaha in 1979 and bought by ServiceMaster in 1988; ServiceMaster Brands has been owned by Roark Capital since 2020.
- Item 19 figures posted are top-quartile averages ($1,261,533 for single-unit groups), not medians, so ask for the whole distribution.
- In our hypothetical 5-year example, the franchise path costs about $237,300 more in fees than running the same business independently.

## What is Merry Maids and who owns it?

Merry Maids is a residential cleaning franchise brand that belongs to ServiceMaster Brands, the Atlanta-based franchisor of ServiceMaster Clean and ServiceMaster Restore, and ServiceMaster Brands is owned by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group. The franchisor’s own site says its owners are “backed by private equity giant, Roark Capital Group” and that its brands serve over 75,000 homes and businesses a day ([Merry Maids: ServiceMaster Brands](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/about-us/servicemaster-brands)).

Merry Maids was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1979 by Dallen Peterson and his family, and was bought by ServiceMaster in 1988 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Maids)). Roark Capital purchased ServiceMaster Brands in 2020 ([Wikipedia: ServiceMaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ServiceMaster)). Entrepreneur’s directory lists ServiceMaster Systems LLC as the parent company, 1,504 units, and a 2026 Franchise 500 rank of #248 ([Entrepreneur Franchise 500](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/merry-maids/282578)).

Why the ownership matters: Merry Maids has the most units of the maid brands we compare in Entrepreneur’s directory, it is nearly 50 years old, and it has changed hands. A private equity owner can bring capital and systems, and it can also change fees, vendors and support over the life of your agreement. Ask owners who signed before 2020 what changed.

## How does the Merry Maids model work?

You buy an exclusive marketing territory, train for two weeks, open a small office and warehouse, and run teams that clean homes on a recurring schedule. The franchisor says the territory it builds and awards is exclusive: you will be the only Merry Maids provider in the area ([Merry Maids FAQ](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/faqs)).

From the franchisor’s FAQ and investment pages:

- **Training.** Five days in person in Memphis, Tennessee, and five days virtually. Week one covers cleaning basics and the Merry Maids system, week two covers applying it plus business planning, people, customers, marketing and sales.
- **Office.** If you do not own suitable space, you must lease one. The franchisor recommends 450 to 1,800 square feet of office and warehouse space for morning huddles and supply drop-off. Item 7 budgets $2,000 to $4,000 for real estate and improvements.
- **Support.** A dedicated Business Development Consultant, sales and marketing support, proprietary software, and the franchise network.
- **Equipment.** The FAQ says the equipment package is included in the initial fee; Item 7 lists $6,500 to $8,000 of opening inventory paid to the franchisor.
- **Marketing.** A $6,000 online marketing fund deposit is due at signing ([Merry Maids investment page](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/investment)).

The franchisor also says it is looking for owners with “a dedication to professionalism” and the financial qualification of about $50,000 in cash, with other fees financed. Like Molly Maid and The Cleaning Authority, this is a manager’s business: you hire and lead cleaners rather than clean yourself.

## How much does a Merry Maids franchise cost?

The franchisor’s Item 7 table posts a total initial investment of $126,880 to $165,610, including a $55,000 initial fee, and says you should have access to about $50,000 in cash ([Merry Maids investment page](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/investment)). The full table, as posted on October 28, 2026:

| Type of expenditure (Item 7) | Low | High | Paid to |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Total initial fee | $55,000 | $55,000 | Franchisor, at signing |
| Travel and living during training | $2,500 | $3,500 | Vendors |
| Real estate and improvements | $2,000 | $4,000 | Vendors |
| Software and tablet | $1,700 | $4,400 | Vendors |
| Office equipment | $5,250 | $6,850 | Vendors |
| Opening inventory | $6,500 | $8,000 | Franchisor |
| Insurance | $3,400 | $9,400 | Vendors |
| Employee screening | $80 | $160 | Vendors |
| Telephone answering service | $50 | $300 | Vendor |
| Online marketing fund deposit | $6,000 | $6,000 | Franchisor, at signing |
| Miscellaneous opening costs | $1,400 | $10,000 | Vendors |
| Professional fees | $5,000 | $15,000 | Lawyers and CPAs |
| Additional funds (3 months) | $38,000 | $43,000 | Employees, suppliers, utilities |
| **Total** | **$126,880** | **$165,610** |  |

Ongoing fees and other figures from Entrepreneur’s directory ([Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/merry-maids/282578)):

- Royalty fee: 5% to 7%. Ad royalty: 1.3%. Technology fee: $499 per month.
- Initial investment: $126,875 to $169,325 (slightly different from the franchisor’s current table, so the directory is likely a different FDD year).
- Net worth requirement: $150,000. Cash requirement: $50,000. Term of agreement: 5 years.

Three things to notice:

- **The fee is posted two ways.** The investment table says $55,000; the FAQ on the same site says the initial franchise fee is $37,500 to $51,500 and that the equipment package is included. The difference may be territory size or FDD year. Ask which applies to your territory and get it in Item 5.
- **Discounts.** The franchisor posts 20% off for military veterans and 10% off for minorities and women.
- **A 5-year term is short.** Most maid brands sign 10 years. A shorter term means a renewal decision, and possibly a renewal fee, sooner. Item 17 covers renewal conditions.

Compare with five other maid brands in our guide to [cleaning franchise fees and royalties](https://broombook.com/guides/cleaning-franchise).

## What does Merry Maids publish about franchisee earnings?

Merry Maids posts Item 19 averages for its top performers: $1,261,533 average gross sales for single-unit groups in the top quartile and $2,267,595 for all franchise groups in the top quartile, based on the 12 months ending December 31, 2022, as stated in the 2023 FDD ([Merry Maids investment page](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/investment)). The franchise home page posts top-10% figures: $1,556,478 for single-unit groups and $3,241,966 for multi-unit groups ([Merry Maids franchise](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/)).

How to read those figures:

- **They are gross sales, not profit.** Labor is the largest cost in residential cleaning, and the 5% to 7% royalty and 1.3% ad royalty come off the top.
- **They are the top quartile and top 10%.** By definition, three quarters of single-unit groups did less than $1,261,533. Ask for the median, the bottom quartile and how many groups were counted.
- **“Groups” can mean several territories.** A franchise group owning three territories is one data point. Ask what one territory does.
- **The year matters.** The posted base year is 2022. The FDD you receive will carry a newer Item 19; compare the two to see the trend.

Under the FTC Franchise Rule, financial performance representations may only be made in Item 19, and the franchisor must have a reasonable basis and written substantiation for them ([16 CFR 436.5(s)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-436)). You are entitled to ask for that substantiation.

## Which FDD items should you read before signing?

The FDD must reach you at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay anything ([16 CFR 436.2](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-436)). With Merry Maids, the items that deserve the most time are:

- **Item 1, the franchisor and its parents.** Which entity you contract with (Entrepreneur lists ServiceMaster Systems LLC) and how it sits under ServiceMaster Brands and Roark Capital.
- **Item 3, litigation.** Suits involving the franchisor, its predecessors and affiliates, including those brought by franchisees.
- **Items 5 and 6, fees.** Reconcile the $55,000 fee with the $37,500 to $51,500 FAQ range, and read the royalty schedule behind “5% to 7%”.
- **Item 7, initial investment.** The table above, in its current version.
- **Item 8, restrictions on sources.** Which products, software and equipment you must buy from the franchisor or approved vendors, and whether the franchisor earns rebates.
- **Item 12, territory.** The FAQ promises an exclusive territory; read how it is defined and whether it can be reduced.
- **Item 17, renewal and termination.** Important with a 5-year term.
- **Items 19, 20 and 21.** Earnings, outlet counts by year (Entrepreneur shows an 8% decline in units) and audited financials.

A franchise attorney and an accountant should review the document with you. This guide is not legal or financial advice.

## What do public records and Merry Maids franchise reviews show?

The public court record we found concerns a franchisee’s labor dispute, not a dispute between franchisees and the franchisor. In 2015 the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit enforced a National Labor Relations Board order against Le Fort Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Merry Maids of Boston, a franchise serving about 500 customers, in a dispute over a union representation election among its employees ([NLRB v. Le Fort Enterprises, 791 F.3d 207 (1st Cir. 2015)](https://www.leagle.com/decision/infco20150701064)). Wikipedia summarizes that several Merry Maids franchisees have been sued by employees and federal agencies over labor law ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Maids)).

What that means for a buyer:

- **Employment law is your risk, not the franchisor’s.** Each location is independently owned, as the franchisor’s site states. Wage and hour rules, overtime, travel time between homes and union rights are the owner’s responsibility. Budget for payroll advice.
- **Item 3 is the authoritative list** of litigation involving the franchisor itself. Our search of readable news and dockets on October 28, 2026 found no reported franchisee-versus-franchisor case, which is not proof there is none.
- **Rankings.** Entrepreneur ranks Merry Maids #248 in the 2026 Franchise 500, #34 among franchises under $150,000 and #76 in its top global franchises list ([Entrepreneur](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/merry-maids/282578)).
- **Online reviews** are mostly from cleaners employed by franchisees or from customers of one location. They tell you about that owner, not about the franchise agreement.

## What should you ask current and former Merry Maids owners?

Use the Item 20 list and call owners who signed in different years, including some who left. Ask each the same questions.

1. What did you pay as an initial fee, and did it match $55,000 or the $37,500 to $51,500 range?
2. What is your royalty rate on the 5% to 7% scale, and what moves it?
3. What does the $499 monthly technology fee cover? What do you still pay for separately (phones, answering service, payroll)?
4. How did the three months of additional funds in Item 7 compare with what you actually needed before break-even?
5. What is your gross revenue, and where does it sit against the posted top-quartile average of $1,261,533?
6. What changed after Roark Capital bought ServiceMaster Brands in 2020: fees, vendors, software, support staff?
7. Does the Business Development Consultant actually visit or call, and how often?
8. What happened at your 5-year renewal: fees, new terms, required upgrades?
9. How many cleaners do you employ, what do you pay them, and how long do they stay?
10. Would you sign again today?

## Merry Maids vs going independent: a 5-year example

In our hypothetical example, a Merry Maids owner pays about $268,370 to the franchisor over five years, and an independent owner with the same revenue spends about $31,070 on software and matching marketing. The gap, about $237,300 or $47,460 a year, is what the brand, exclusive territory, training and consultant must earn back.

Assumptions: both businesses reach the same revenue. We use the $55,000 fee, the top of Entrepreneur’s 5% to 7% royalty range, the 1.3% ad royalty and the $499 monthly technology fee. The independent owner pays for Broombook’s Pro plan at $39 a month and spends the same 1.3% of revenue on their own marketing. Check Item 6 for the exact base of each fee and any minimums.

| Example year | Revenue (assumed) | Royalty at 7% | Ad royalty at 1.3% | Technology fee |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 1 | $200,000 | $14,000 | $2,600 | $5,988 |
| Year 2 | $350,000 | $24,500 | $4,550 | $5,988 |
| Year 3 | $480,000 | $33,600 | $6,240 | $5,988 |
| Year 4 | $560,000 | $39,200 | $7,280 | $5,988 |
| Year 5 | $620,000 | $43,400 | $8,060 | $5,988 |
| **5-year total** | **$2,210,000** | **$154,700** | **$28,730** | **$29,940** |

| Over five years (example) | Merry Maids | Independent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Initial fee | $55,000 | $0 |
| Royalty | $154,700 | $0 |
| Marketing (ad royalty, or the independent’s own 1.3%) | $28,730 | $28,730 |
| Booking, scheduling and billing software | $29,940 (technology fee) | $2,340 |
| **Total** | **$268,370** | **$31,070** |

The franchise buys a 47-year-old name, an exclusive territory, two weeks of training, a consultant and a network of about 1,500 units. The independent path keeps every dollar of revenue and every decision, from services to prices to software, and it starts far smaller than $126,880. An owner who has never run a service business may need the system; an owner who already cleans and has referrals may be paying $47,460 a year for things they would do anyway.

The scheduling, reminders and billing in the technology fee are available to independents off the shelf. Broombook gives an independent cleaning company online booking with instant prices, recurring scheduling, automatic reminders, a crew app, and card-on-file billing. It is free for an owner with up to 2 cleaners, or $39 a month on Pro for a bigger crew, with no credit card to start. It does not give you a brand, a territory or a consultant. Our guide on [how to start a cleaning business](https://broombook.com/guides/how-to-start-a-cleaning-business) covers the independent path step by step, and the [profit calculator](https://broombook.com/tools/cleaning-business-profit-calculator) lets you subtract the royalty and ad fee at Merry Maids’ rates from your own forecast.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does a Merry Maids franchise cost?

The franchisor’s posted Item 7 table totals $126,880 to $165,610, including a $55,000 initial fee, a $6,000 online marketing fund deposit and $38,000 to $43,000 of additional funds for the first three months. The franchisor says you should have about $50,000 in cash; Entrepreneur lists a $150,000 net worth requirement.

### What royalty does Merry Maids charge?

Entrepreneur’s directory lists a royalty of 5% to 7%, an ad royalty of 1.3% and a technology fee of $499 per month. The franchisor’s site does not post the royalty; Item 6 of the FDD gives the schedule.

### Who owns Merry Maids?

ServiceMaster Brands, which bought Merry Maids in 1988. ServiceMaster Brands has been owned by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group since 2020. Merry Maids was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1979.

### How much do Merry Maids franchise owners make?

The franchisor posts top-quartile averages from its 2023 FDD: $1,261,533 in gross sales for single-unit groups and $2,267,595 for all franchise groups, and top-10% figures of $1,556,478 and $3,241,966. Those are gross sales for the best performers, not profit or typical results; Item 19 of the current FDD has the full table.

### How long is the Merry Maids franchise agreement?

Entrepreneur lists a 5-year term, shorter than the 10 years common among maid brands. Item 17 of the FDD explains renewal conditions and any renewal fee.

### Is Merry Maids better than starting an independent cleaning business?

It depends on what you bring. In our hypothetical 5-year example, the franchise costs about $237,300 more in fees than an independent business with the same revenue, so the brand, territory and support have to be worth about $47,460 a year to you.

## Sources

- [Merry Maids: Franchise investment (Item 7 table and Item 19 figures, checked October 28, 2026)](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/investment)
- [Merry Maids: Franchise home page, top-10% Item 19 figures (checked October 28, 2026)](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/)
- [Merry Maids: Franchise FAQs (checked October 28, 2026)](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/faqs)
- [Merry Maids: ServiceMaster Brands and Roark Capital](https://franchise.merrymaids.com/about-us/servicemaster-brands)
- [Entrepreneur Franchise 500: Merry Maids franchise information](https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/merry-maids/282578)
- [eCFR: 16 CFR Part 436, Disclosure Requirements Concerning Franchising](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-436)
- [Wikipedia: Merry Maids (founding, acquisition and labor cases)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Maids)
- [Wikipedia: ServiceMaster (Roark Capital purchase, 2020)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ServiceMaster)
- [Leagle: NLRB v. Le Fort Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Merry Maids of Boston, 791 F.3d 207 (1st Cir. 2015)](https://www.leagle.com/decision/infco20150701064)

---

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