Stanley Steemer franchise
Stanley Steemer cleans carpets, upholstery, tile and air ducts and handles water damage, using its own truck-mounted cleaning machines. It manufactures the equipment and cleaning products franchisees use. At the end of 2025 there were 264 Stanley Steemer locations in the US, 210 franchised and 54 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $176K–$510K
- Franchise fee
- $20K–$100K
- Royalty
- 3–7%
- Locations, 2025
- 264−5 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1972
- Franchisor based in
- Dublin, Ohio
- Time to open
- Must open within 3 months of signing
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- Some financing offered
From Stanley Steemer International, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Stanley Steemer franchise costs
Opening one Stanley Steemer cleaning business, excluding real estate costs an estimated $175,685 to $509,745. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Stanley Steemer International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 24
Stanley Steemer franchise fee
The franchise fee is $20,000 to $100,000, about $20,000 per 100,000 people in the franchised area. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Stanley Steemer International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 11
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 7% of gross sales from carpet and core cleaning and 3% from related services, with a minimum annual royalty, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 10% of gross sales |
Source: Stanley Steemer International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 13
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Stanley Steemer publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives 2025 average annual gross sales for franchisees open all year. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Stanley Steemer International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 74
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 212 (−3) | 57 | 2 |
| 2024 | 210 (−2) | 57 | 0 |
| 2025 | 210 (0) | 54 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Stanley Steemer International, Inc, 2026 filing, page 77
How Stanley Steemer compares
Of the 10 cleaning franchises on this site, Stanley Steemer is the 9th cheapest to open and the 9th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Stanley Steemer | Typical cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $176K | $122K |
| Closed or left per year | 0.3% | 5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −2.3% | −4.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 7 of 10 |
Typical is the median across the 10 brands in cleaning franchises.
Other cleaning franchises
Stanley Steemer franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Stanley Steemer?
Must open within 3 months of signing, according to Stanley Steemer's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Stanley Steemer help with financing?
Yes, in some cases. Stanley Steemer may finance part of the cost, such as the franchise fee, for qualified buyers; terms are in its filing.
Do Stanley Steemer franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Stanley Steemer assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Stanley Steemer franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Stanley Steemer growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 1 franchised locations opened and 2 closed or left, a net change of −2.3%. About 0.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 5% typical for cleaning franchises.
How does Stanley Steemer compare with other cleaning franchises?
Of the 10 cleaning franchises here, Stanley Steemer is the 9th cheapest to open (low end $176K against a $122K median) and the 9th largest by number of locations.
Does Stanley Steemer say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives 2025 average annual gross sales for franchisees open all year. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Stanley Steemer based?
Stanley Steemer International, Inc is based in Dublin, Ohio and the brand has sold franchises since 1972.