The Maids

About

Established in 1979 by Daniel J. Bishop and franchising since 1980, The Maids is a distinguished pioneer and market leader in the residential cleaning industry. Operating as a proud member of the Neighborly family of home service brands, The Maids encompasses over 1,300 franchised territories across North America. The company pioneered the use of specialized four-person cleaning teams and its signature 22-Step Cleaning Process, incorporating commercial-grade HEPA filtration vacuums to eliminate dirt, dust, and allergens for a healthier home environment. An exclusive co-branding partnership with Mr. Clean further strengthens consumer confidence, market visibility, and brand authority in local residential territories, establishing a clear competitive edge over independent operators. The total investment required to open a franchise ranges from $118,000 to $160,000, depending on territory size, initial inventory, and local operational requirements. Prospective franchisees must possess a minimum liquid capital of $60,000 and a net worth of at least $250,000. Initial franchise fees average $65,000 based on territory household density, while ongoing royalty fees follow a favorable sliding scale starting at 6.9% and dropping to 3.9% as sales volume expands. The business model benefits from strong recurring revenue generated by scheduled weekly or bi-weekly residential cleaning contracts, low material costs, and manageable physical overhead without weekend demands or complex inventory management. The Maids offers world-class corporate infrastructure, including extensive initial training at corporate headquarters covering office administration, dispatch logistics, team leadership, and consultative sales. Franchisees gain access to proprietary scheduling software, national call center lead conversion support, and Neighborly's extensive cross-promotional marketing ecosystem. Ideal franchise partners are growth-minded executives and team builders who excel at staff management, customer service, and local networking, operating comfortably within standard weekday business hours while building a valuable, recurring revenue business asset.