Merry Maids franchise
Merry Maids is a residential house cleaning service that sends teams of cleaners to homes on a recurring schedule. It is part of ServiceMaster's group of home service brands. At the end of 2025 there were 684 Merry Maids locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $127K–$169K
- Franchise fee
- $55,000
- Royalty
- 5–7%
- Locations, 2025
- 684−224 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1980
- Franchisor based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Time to open
- About 90 days after signing
- Agreement length
- 5 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Merry Maids SPE LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Merry Maids franchise costs
Opening one Merry Maids franchise costs an estimated $126,875 to $169,325. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Merry Maids SPE LLC, 2026 filing, page 34
Merry Maids franchise fee
The franchise fee is $55,000, for a territory of about 40,000 qualified households. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Merry Maids SPE LLC, 2026 filing, page 23
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 7% of gross sales, which can fall to 6% or 5% with yearly sales incentives, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 1.3% of gross sales |
Source: Merry Maids SPE LLC, 2026 filing, page 25
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Merry Maids publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 results for franchised businesses active all year under the same owner. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Merry Maids SPE LLC, 2026 filing, page 63
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 846 (−62) | 0 | 76 |
| 2024 | 764 (−82) | 0 | 89 |
| 2025 | 684 (−80) | 0 | 103 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Merry Maids SPE LLC, 2026 filing, page 67
How Merry Maids compares
Of the 10 cleaning franchises on this site, Merry Maids is the 6th cheapest to open and the 5th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Merry Maids | Typical cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $127K | $122K |
| Closed or left per year | 10.8% | 5% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −24.7% | −4.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 7 of 10 |
Typical is the median across the 10 brands in cleaning franchises.
Other cleaning franchises
Merry Maids franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Merry Maids?
About 90 days after signing, according to Merry Maids's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Merry Maids help with financing?
No. Merry Maids does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Merry Maids franchise agreement?
The initial term is 5 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Merry Maids growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 47 franchised locations opened and 268 closed or left, a net change of −24.7%. About 10.8% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 5% typical for cleaning franchises.
How does Merry Maids compare with other cleaning franchises?
Of the 10 cleaning franchises here, Merry Maids is the 6th cheapest to open (low end $127K against a $122K median) and the 5th largest by number of locations.
Does Merry Maids say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 results for franchised businesses active all year under the same owner. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Merry Maids based?
Merry Maids SPE LLC is based in Atlanta, Georgia and the brand has sold franchises since 1980.