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How to Start $417K/Year Food Truck Business

July 11, 2023

How to Start $417K/Year Food Truck Business

Have you ever bought a sandwich or a taco from a food truck and thought, “I wish I could quit my job and start a food truck for a living!” Then you’ve come to the right place!

We interviewed food truck owners Nic and Jada Jones to learn how they run Hen House, a food truck modeled after the farm-to-table style. Jada and Nic started Hen House in Nashville, Tennessee, and shared insights on how to make $300K in your first year as a food truck business.

We’ll share the lessons learned from these food truck owners to guide you through how to start a food truck business. Click on any step below to learn more about food truck operations.

How to Start a Food Truck Business

beautiful woman wearing orange apron

Starting a food truck business is as simple as following these eleven steps: 

  1. Learn About the Food Truck Industry
  2. Choose Your Food Truck Concept
  3. Estimate Food Truck Startup Costs
  4. Plan for Business Operating Costs
  5. Write a Food Truck Business Plan
  6. Get Food Truck Financing
  7. Obtain Licenses and Permits
  8. Buy Your Truck
  9. Purchase a POS System
  10. Streamline the Process
  11. Build Your Food Truck Business/Brand

Nic had been a cook his whole life before moving to Nashville with Jada and starting their food trucking business. They knew they wanted to start a food truck business and decided to seek a unique food truck concept while they were moving.

They told us:

One of our goals when we started a food truck business was to help local businesses.

Hear about how to start a food truck business directly from Nic and Jada below.

If you are ready to learn how to start a food truck business, keep reading! You’ll get your food truck business up-and-running, feeding people and bringing in a profit in a fairly short amount of time.

Step #1. Learn about the food truck industry

According to IBIS World, the food truck industry makes $1.5 billion per year with a median profit of 6.4%. Food trucks are expected to see industry revenue growth of 1.2% per year between now and 2028. 

There’s a lot of competition, though. There are over 36,000 food truck businesses and 2,000 new people are starting a food truck business every year.

How much do food trucks make a year?

Over the past decade, food trucks have become a viable, reputable business option far beyond the tired pretzel or questionable hot dog vendor. The average food truck makes $41,295. 

Don’t assume you can’t make more. We’ve interviewed five food truck owners, and each business owner makes more than $300K per year. 

Check out our interview with the most successful food truck owner, Carlo Chalisea, who built his food truck business from a taco truck to a brick-and-mortar location and multiple local food trucks.

Next, find out if starting a food truck business is profitable.

Are food trucks profitable?

Many food truck owners are making peanuts, but a great food truck idea can make great money. Nic told us:

Our food truck makes $20K-30K per month depending on the catering and seasonal fluctuations. The expenses break down to: 

  • Food: 30%
  • Labor: 25%
  • Overhead: 25%
  • Profit: 20%

That means they make about $60K profit after deducting all the business expenses. Given the business owners are working in their business, they pay themselves an undisclosed wage, too.

Assuming they pay themselves the average for a food service worker, that means they are making about $30K each, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Think working with your spouse and making a combined $120K sounds good? Keep reading to learn more about becoming a food truck owner.

Step #2. Generate food truck ideas

food truck with sign board pointing both ways

You might wonder, “What is the best food to serve in a food truck?”

You should look for the intersection between what you’re good at cooking and what the area needs.

According to other food truck operators, those choosing which food to serve for their food truck should heed this advice: do one thing and do it well. Make it a quality product and keep it very, very simple.

How do I price my food truck menu?

One of the key things to research about how to start a food truck is the menu pricing. Pricing menu items can be tricky. Charging too little causes losses, while charging too much means no one will buy from you.

Food costs should stay under 35% of the revenue for successful food trucks. The most commonly used pricing method for food trucks is based on the food cost percentage formula. 

The formula can be worked in two ways:

  1. Actual Food Cost / Food Cost Percentage=Customer Price
  2. (Choose a Value between 3.33 and 5) x Actual Food Costs=Customer Price

Nic told us:

I prefer to stay under 30%.

Step #3. How much does it cost to start a food truck business?

Expect to spend between $15K and $250K to purchase a food truck and start the business. Nic told us starting a food truck business required spending:

∙ Purchase Food Truck New: $150K
∙ Wrapping The Food Truck: $12K
∙ Branding: $10K-15K


The good news is that buying a food truck normally requires less than 20% down. That means starting a food truck company can get started for $57K instead of $250K+.
You can also rent a food truck, which we’ll discuss in a separate blog. Food trucks have some additional costs, which we’ll discuss next.

Other startup costs

Other startup costs for a food truck may include:

∙ Opening Day Ingredients: $1000
∙ Licenses and Permits: $2000
∙ Parking and Maintenance: $300 (first month)
∙ Kitchen Supplies: $1700
∙ Packaging: $2000
∙ Marketing: $3000
∙ Bookkeeping and Office Supplies: $1000
∙ Insurance: $2000
∙ Miscellaneous: $1000


Kyle, the owner of Vet Chef, bought a food trailer and custom designed his kitchen, which required adding in $8000 for equipment,  another $7000 for truck permits/inventory, and various other costs. All in all, it came to just over $40K. Check out our interview with him below.

Step #4. Figure business operating costs

To figure out if this will work for you and exactly how to start a food truck, it’s vital to understand what your business will cost so that you know what kind of profit you can expect to make. As with any restaurant, expect your largest costs to be food, supplies, and labor.

Other food truck financial projections for regular costs may include:

∙ Parking Permits
∙ Delivery Costs
∙ Fuel and Vehicle Maintenance
∙ Paper Goods, Packaging, Labels, etc.
∙ Phone/Internet/POS system
∙ Bookkeeping
∙ Marketing
∙ Equipment and Vehicle Repairs


Should I hire employees for my food truck business?

While it’s advisable to keep the staff small, it won’t be long until you’ll need another person or two on your team. If you have a business partner, this might be delayed since you can both commit your time to working in the food truck.

Customers do expect fast delivery times from a food truck, so having staff will help you get those orders out efficiently and keep the wait times down. (Of course, you can only fit a limited number of employees in a truck at one time.)

Keeping labor costs as low as possible is vital to profitability, but you can’t do everything alone. Kyle notes that:

You have to have employees, or you’ll drive yourself into the ground. We hired my cousin, who was a high schooler then. We gave her a few hours, and we were able to only pay her for the time we were open. I cleaned and sent the employees home.

According to Kyle, it’s best to hire part-time staff that are willing to work very short shifts on an ad-hoc basis at the food truck. High-school students, family members, and others who need just a few hours are often a great way to begin.

Kyle also advises that, at least for the first year, it is important to make sure that you minimize what you need to pay employees for. Do all of the prep work and cleaning yourself until the business becomes more viable.

How much do food trucks make a year?

businessman holding a money and a food truck at the background

Over the past decade or more, food trucks have become a viable, reputable business option that has gone far beyond the tired pretzel or questionable hot dog vendor of long ago. In fact, food trucks have now become a $1.2 billion industry annually.

Local profit figures vary greatly based on location, products offered, and other factors. However, according to IBISWorld, profit for a food truck may be around 7.7% of your entire revenue, after accounting for overhead costs and wages. That means a food truck making $400,000 in sales each year would pull in just over $30,000 in profit.

So, you aren’t necessarily going to get rich quick as a food truck entrepreneur. But with determination (and some hard work) you can make a decent living and own your own profitable business!

Of course, all of this is after you break even in your business, which is when your business finally stops costing you money and becomes profitable. The Vet Chef reached this at around the one-year mark, which is fairly typical. You may need to plan for longer if your starting costs are high.

Step #5. Write a food truck business plan

One of the most important steps in how to start a food truck is a solid business plan. According to Business News Daily, two important purposes of a business plan are to establish focus and secure funding.

Writing a business plan is a fairly detailed, time-consuming process, and you may want to access online business plan resources to help you with a template.

A general run-down of what you’ll need in your food truck business plan includes:

∙ Business summary
∙ Detailed profile
∙ Information about legal business setup
∙ Menu and price list
∙ Marketing plan


After you’ve written a business plan, you’ll want to consider how to buy a food truck.

Step #6. Determine financing options

woman in business outfit holding money on both hands

If you’re one of those lucky people with tens of thousands of extra dollars lying around to start a business, that’s great! But otherwise, you may need to figure out how to finance your food truck business until it provides more cash flow.

How to start a food truck business with no money

While it’s great if you have some money upfront, it is possible to get business credit. Many food trucks start by using:

∙ Personal credit
∙ Business credit
∙ Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans
∙ Equipment Backed Loans
∙ Partner/Venture Capitalist


The Small Business Association (SBA) Microloan Program makes available small loans of up to $50,000 (although the average loan is $13,000). Entrepreneurs may use this for supplies, startup costs, equipment, etc. 

Instead of applying directly through the SBA, you’ll need to find a non-profit intermediary to get you started with your food truck.

Step #7. Obtain licenses and permits

man working on a laptop

As with any business, you will need to make sure your food truck complies with all of the local government standards regarding permits and licenses. This is a very important step when you learn how to start a food truck. These may range from permission to run a business to food-handling certifications and will change based on state and local regulations.

Similar to the advice of other food truck owners, Kyle’s advice is that potential owners of food trucks should contact their local health department right away, and they’ll know how to proceed from there. He says to expect approximately 6 months from the time you make your first contact until you can get up and running.

Entrepreneur.com parallels Kyle’s advice, noting that your local department of health should be first on your list of contacts and then go from there.

Below is a general idea of what you might need, but, of course, it is necessary to find out exactly what is needed for starting a food truck in your particular location.

What licenses are needed to start a food truck?

Here are some commonly required licenses and permits for a food truck:

  • Business License –This depends on the city/county/state where you work and is based on the type of service you provide, whether events, catering, etc. In addition to licensing fees, a percentage of the revenue may also go to the government agency, so be sure to factor this into your budget.
  • Employer Identification Number – You need this in order to start legally paying employees, withholding taxes, etc.
  • Business Permits – This is usually issued by local municipalities. These can change over time, so be sure to review this annually so you understand what is required in the way of food truck permits.
  • Vehicle Licensing – Make sure the person driving the food truck is appropriately licensed and insured for that particular vehicle. Find out if you need a commercial driver’s license in order to drive the food truck (this is often related to the size/length/weight of the truck.)
  • Food Handler’s Permit – This may require you and your employees to take a Food Safety Course. Often done online and fairly inexpensive, it may be necessary for truck owners and all employees to complete this in order to comply with food safety requirements.
  • Health Department Permit – This differs between states but is typically similar to what a restaurant requires since, technically, your food truck is a restaurant on wheels.
  • Fire Certificate – This requires a local fire department inspection. Your equipment must be safety certified, whether electric, propane, generator, etc. If you purchase your truck new and/or have it retrofitted, the vehicle supplier should already know these requirements and have it ready for this inspection.
  • Parking Permits – If your food truck is invited to a festival or a private event, this shouldn’t be an issue. But if you plan to simply park your food truck on the side of the road, you’ll need to do your homework about local parking ordinances in your area.

Where should I park my food truck?

This is the beauty of a mobile food truck business! You can park it almost anywhere you are invited. Look for opportunities like local festivals, schools, neighborhood events, and more.

Festivals can be some of the most profitable (and least profitable!) locations for the mobile food truck business. Kyle mentions that some festivals can be packed with customers, with 200 people standing in line. On the other hand, based on weather or other circumstances, they can also be dead and cause you and your food truck to take a financial loss.

One festival, we served 900 people in a day. So we went back the next year and we had all this food ready for long lines of people—but they added 20-30 more food trucks and we were doing nothing.

Along the lines of locations, the Vet Chef truck has recently been invited to park at Boeing during their lunch breaks, which is like striking gold. This came after the business had built a good reputation and won the “Best of Western Washington” Award.

But it took some building of the brand before these types of invitations started rolling in for Kyle and his food truck. In the beginning, he says, you just need to go wherever the people are and take the opportunities as they come.

Eventually, once you gain a reputation, you can become choosy about which events you’ll agree to, based on how profitable they will be for you.

Step #8. Buy your truck

orange food truck with upflip logo and price tag

Now comes the exciting (and perhaps a bit scary) part! Buying your truck and outfitting it for your needs is critical to the success of your food truck business.

What types of food trucks are there?

Essentially, you can choose from two styles of food trucks: drivable and pull-able.

Drivable Food Trucks are licensed motor vehicles that can be driven from one place to another on their own. These are typically like a standard delivery truck, often retro-fitted to create a kitchen and serving window in the back.

Trailers and Carts are other options for mobile food service that must be towed from one place to another by a separate vehicle. These are outfitted with cooking and refrigeration capabilities and everything needed to prepare and serve food. Food carts are smaller, whereas food trailers can be as large as an over-the-road semi.

Step #9. Secure your suppliers

woman having a phone call in front of a laptop

While your food truck is in the midst of being purchased or retro-fitted, you should be making contact with the vendors and suppliers you plan to use to source your food. You may choose these based upon quality, price, and sustainability factors.

You may want to start by asking other food trucks and similar concept restaurants who their vendors are. Restaurant industry trade shows may also reveal vendors you didn’t know were out there.

Of course, a quick online search might reveal dozens of restaurant supply chains, but many small business owners prefer to deal with local suppliers.

One thing to think about is that you may want to consider vendors who will allow you to be billed monthly (rather than cash up front). Centralized billing and other contract options may help to streamline the financial processes of running a food truck business.

Step #10. Streamline the process  

One of Kyle’s sticking points for his food truck is that he aims to get food to his customers in 30 seconds or under from the time of ordering. It’s part of the reason his customers love the Vet Chef food truck.

This means you’ll need to have your kitchen organized for maximum efficiency. Everything that can be prepared in advance should be. And employees need to be trained to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The good news? Your food truck is very small, so you should have everything available at your fingertips!

Should my food truck have a POS system?

man pays using credit card

One important consideration along the lines of efficiency is whether your food truck will offer a Point of Sale system for credit and debit cards.

While cash used to be the mainstay for food truck mobile businesses, it’s a bit slow and can be complicated when it comes to making change.

More and more mobile food truck businesses are taking advantage of Square and other Point of Sale options for accepting credit and/or debit cards. This not only makes it fast and easy for the customer, but it may also allow for an integrated accounting and business tracking system for your food truck business.

The startup costs for these can be very low, and the fees are typically minimal. But the convenience could definitely be worth it—and you aren’t turning away customers who don’t have cash.

Step #11: Build your food truck business/brand

Here is the place where the rubber meets the road (figuratively and literally). Once you’re ready to open your food truck, getting your name out there is everything!

Throwing a bunch of money at advertising is one option. And social media might be a helpful way to get people to find your food truck—since you’re often on the go. On top of that, social media can often be a free option for advertising. A solid Instagram or Facebook social media page may be an effective business tool. But even social media hype can only take your food truck so far.

According to Kyle, the best way for food truck owners to become successful is to create a dependable business that offers a quality product people want:

We don’t spend a lot of time on Facebook. You don’t have time to focus on marketing. It wasn’t our most important thing. What was the most important thing was putting out the very best food, the top quality that we possibly could.

If you want to jump right in, you may be thinking of buying an already-established food truck business from someone who has done the startup work and created a good reputation for you. Check out this step-by-step guide that will help you understand your options for buying an established business.

Why do food trucks fail?

failed document data and a food truck at the background

Kyle told us many food truck businesses fail because their business owners lack dedication. They agree to be at a community event and arrive late, leave early, or maybe even don’t show up at all. The Vet Chef says:

If you say you’re going to be there, be there. I don’t care if your tire pops on the side of the road, you better have AAA and make it to where you say you’re going to be.

Your successful food truck business needs to have a solid reputation for being reliable so that you’ll be the first one who gets an invitation to the next event.

If you do this, hopefully you will be one of the people who survives the first five years of business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about 55% of all new businesses last through this period.

Are you ready to start a food truck business?

It’s possible to open a food truck business with less than $50,000 in startup costs and some hard work. You can start earning $100K gross revenue really quickly by following this guide.

Though you’ll put in a lot of work to enter the food truck industry, it’s worth it for those who wonder how to start a food truck. With dedication, you can be like Kyle and run a successful small food truck business within a year or two.

What kind of food would you serve in a food truck?

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Cleaning businesses are among the most commonly started businesses in the United States. In fact, Thimble estimates there are nearly 2 million cleaning companies in the U.S.   Christobal and I have worked together to develop this cleaning service checklist. We’ve broken it into the following sections: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] 1. Create a Plan Checklist 2. Name Your Cleaning Business Checklist 3. Form the Cleaning Business Structure Checklist 4. Get the Financial Tools to Run Your Cleaning Business Checklist 5. Get the Insurance to Run Your Cleaning Business 6. Get Equipment to Operate Your Cleaning Business Checklist 7. Get the Software to Run Your Cleaning Business Checklist 8. Marketing Tools for a Cleaning Service Checklist 9. Cleaning Company Supplies Checklist for 15 Types of Cleaning Companies[/su_note] If you want to learn about the process of starting a cleaning business, you can also check out our podcast or YouTube video where we interview Christobal Mondragon, Christobal started Queen Bee Cleaning Services for less than $5K and is making $120,000 per month!   [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4Iip7BHXwg"] Keep reading if you need to start a cleaning business from scratch.

Every Great Cleaning Business Starts with a Plan 

Starting a cleaning business requires juggling a lot of different tasks. Something will surely fall through the cracks if you don’t have a plan. Our first checklist involves creating a plan for how you’ll start a cleaning business. You’ll need to document each of these at a minimum: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] 1. Cleaning business ideas 2. Goals for your cleaning business 3. Your budget 4. Your pricing strategy 5. Your marketing plan[/su_note]

Name Your Cleaning Business Checklist

Every cleaning company needs a name. You’ll want to consider the name of your cleaning company early in the process of becoming a professional cleaner. You’ll want to cover each of these tasks before starting your own cleaning business:
  •  Make the name easy to spell
  •  Purchase a domain
  •  Register and pay the DBA fee (if not included with the business structure)
  •  Trademark the business name and logo
Learn more about naming a cleaning business.

Form the Cleaning Business Structure Checklist

You’ll need to register your business with the state to become a cleaning business owner. Each state, county, and municipality has business license regulations. You can also expect different insurance requirements depending on where you are located, your business structure, and whether you have employees. For any of the 50 U.S. states, you’ll need an EIN. These are the most common requirements for forming a cleaning business:
  • Register your business with the state (choose one).
    • Sole Proprietorship
    • Limited Liability Company
    • Corporation
    • Partnership
  • Get a DBA if you will operate under a different name.
  • Apply for an EIN on the IRS website.
  • Get county and city licenses.
  • Apply for the required insurance.
  • Get a seller’s permit (state tax ID).
Lean more about cleaning licensing by state.

Get the Financial Tools to Run Your Cleaning  Business Checklist

Girl working on payroll Every cleaning business will need to have some financial tools to operate successfully. Cleaning business owners should take some time for each of the following points:
  • Set up a business bank account.
  • Apply for a business credit card.
  • Consider getting business loans.
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Cleaning Business Insurance Checklist

A startup cleaning business will probably need insurance. The requirements will be different based on what segment of the cleaning industry you are in, but most cleaning companies will need one or more of these: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] 1. General liability insurance 2. Worker compensation insurance (if you hire employees) 3. Bond insurance 4. Unemployment (if you hire employees) 5. Professional liability insurance 6. Cybersecurity insurance 7. Commercial vehicle insurance 8. Health insurance (if required by law or if you want to be an awesome boss)[/su_note]

Cleaning Business Equipment Checklist

Most cleaning businesses will need the following equipment to operate effectively:
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  • Point-of-Sale machine or credit card reader

Get the Software to Run Your Cleaning Services Checklist

Unless you plan to run your business old-school (which may be less than ideal), you’ll need software to run a cleaning business. We’ve provided a list of the most common software you’re likely to need when starting a cleaning business. As you begin, consider which ones you need right away and which you can wait until you hire employees:
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Marketing for a Cleaning Service Checklist

Young man make a marketing plan You’ll need marketing tools to help your cleaning business grow and find prospective clients. Small business owners will benefit from the following brand assets:
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Cleaning Supplies Checklist

Depending on the type of cleaning services you offer, you’ll need different cleaning supplies and equipment. We’ve broken the cleaning supplies you’ll need into different categories based on the kind of cleaning business you plan to start. Use the list below to skip to the section with supplies for starting a cleaning business in your sector: Cleaning checklist
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  2. Mobile Laundry Cleaning Services, Laundromat, Clothes Cleaning Business, Dry cleaning
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  4. Green Cleaning Services
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  7. Move-In, Move-Out Cleaning
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  9. Duct Cleaning
  10. Carpet Cleaning
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  12. I.T. Cleaning
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We provide the Amazon links for cleaning products in another blog.

Home Cleaning Supplies Checklist

This is the checklist I would expect most cleaning services to want, so I put it first. You’ll need the following supplies to clean homes:
  • Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
  • Aprons
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Wet floor signs
  • Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
  • Regular mop
  • Gloves
  • Toilet bowl brush
  • Bags for dirty rags
  • Bags to carry clean rags
  • Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar)
  • Disinfectant cleaner
  • Cleaning bucket
  • Mini grout brush
To download a “House Cleaning Business Checklist” for residential cleaning supplies, click here.

Mobile Laundry Cleaning Services, Laundromat, Clothes Cleaning Business, Dry cleaning

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  • Garment covers
  • Spot cleaner
  • Information tags
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  • Presses
To download the “Starting a Cleaning Business Checklist” for laundry cleaning supplies, click here:

Decluttering Services or Organizer

  • Trash bags
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To download the “Cleaning Checklist” with organizational supplies, click here.

Green Cleaning Services

  • Organic glass cleaner 
  • Aprons (from recycled materials)
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Wet floor signs
  • Microfiber mop
  • Regular mop
  • Eco-friendly gloves
  • Toilet bowl brush
  • Reusable bags for dirty rags
  • Reusable bags to carry clean rags
  • Gas mileage-friendly, hybrid, or electric car
  • Natural floor cleaner
  • Natural disinfectant 
  • Cleaning bucket
  • Mini grout brush
To download the “Starting a Cleaning Business Checklist” with sustainable cleaning supplies, click here.

What do I need to start a cleaning business for Airbnb properties?

Group of cleaning items If you want to serve Airbnb, Vrbo, and other short-term rentals, you’ll need the same cleaning supplies as you would for a home or apartment:
  • Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
  • Aprons
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Microfiber mop (Optional)
  • Regular mop
  • Gloves
  • Toilet bowl brush
  • Bags for dirty rags
  • Bags to carry clean rags
  • Booties for shoes
  • Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar)
  • Disinfectant cleaner
  • Cleaning bucket
  • Mini grout brush
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  • Dish soap
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  • Conditioner
  • Body wash
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If you want our “Start a Cleaning Business Checklist for Airbnbs,” download it on our Airbnb download page.

New Home Construction Cleaner or New Commercial Construction Cleaning

Some commercial cleaning businesses are focused on post-construction cleanup. They have unique needs because the debris in construction zones is horrible for indoor air quality. These cleaning jobs pay more, but they require special tools that you might not need with other cleaning companies. You’ll want to have the following:
  • Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
  • Aprons
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Indoor, outdoor vacuum
  • Booties for shoes
  • Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
  • Regular mop
  • Gloves
  • Toilet bowl brush
  • Bags for dirty rags
  • Bags to carry clean rags
  • Neutral floor cleaner
  • Disinfectant cleaner
  • Cleaning bucket
  • Mini grout brush
  • Dust mask
To download the “Starting a Construction Cleaning Business Checklist” with residential cleaning supplies, click here.

Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning, Apartment Cleaning

  • Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
  • Aprons
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Indoor, outdoor vacuum
  • Booties for shoes
  • Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
  • Regular mop
  • Gloves
  • Toilet bowl brush
  • Bags for dirty rags
  • Bags to carry clean rags
  • Neutral floor cleaner
  • Disinfectant cleaner
  • Cleaning bucket
  • Mini grout brush
  • Degreaser
  • Putty to help fill holes
  • Putty application tool
To download the “Starting an Apartment Cleaning Business Checklist,” go to our apartment cleaning download page.

Office Cleaning

Woman cleaning computer monitor Commercial cleaning services are also in high demand. You’ll want the following supplies when cleaning offices:
  • All-purpose stain and spot remover
  • Baking soda
  • Wet floor signs
  • Toilet paper
  • Bucket 
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Dish soap
  • Clorox disinfecting wipes 
  • Facial tissue
  • Feather duster 
  • Floor cleaning solution or vinegar
  • Cleaner for glass and mirrors
  • Gloves
  • Bulk supply of hand soap to refill dispenser
  • Sponges
  • Disinfecting spray
  • Micro-fiber cleaning cloths 
  • Paper towels
  • Sponge mop and/or dry mop
  • Toilet cleaner
  • Trash bags 
  • Vinegar 
  • Vacuum
  • Industrial mop bucket
  • Wood polish 
  • Floor polishing machine
  • Extension cords
To download the “Starting a Commercial Cleaning Business Checklist” with commercial-grade cleaning supplies, click here.

Specialty Cleaning

The following services are specialties that come with additional challenges. They may require special business licenses, services, or equipment. Lean about specialty cleaning services you can offer.

Duct Cleaning

Duct cleaning removes indoor air pollutants from the ductwork of a home or business HVAC unit. If you are going to offer this service, start by going to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association website to learn how to do it right.  Without the proper equipment and training, you might cause damage to residential cleaning customers' HVAC units. Nobody wants to have to replace an HVAC system because a house cleaning business didn’t follow proper quality control standards.  You will need these items:
  • Caution signs
  • Air compressor
  • HEPA vacuum
  • Duct restoration products
  • Parts for maintenance of equipment
  • HEPA filters and bags
  • Indoor air quality testing equipment
  • Tape
  • Safety goggles
  • Booties
  • Latex gloves
  • Electric shock prevention gloves
  • Masks to protect against dust in lungs (or chemicals in some industrial facilities)
  • Lockout, tagout system (a lock with a tag that specifies who locked the breaker)
To download the “Starting a Duct Cleaning Business Checklist” with NADCA authorized cleaning supplies, go to our duct cleaning business download page.

Carpet Cleaning Business, Rug Cleaning

Young man cleaning the carpet
  • Vacuum 
  • Spot cleaner
  • Caution signs
  • Carpet shampooer
  • Air scrubber
  • Carpet cleaning wand
  • Rubber gloves
  • Corner guards
  • Defoaming agent
  • Crevice tools
  • Carpet rake
  • furniture protectors 
To download the “Starting a Carpet Cleaning Business Checklist” with carpet cleaning supplies, click here.

Window Cleaning Business

  • Two 18” squeegees
  • Window cleaner with silicon (keeps dust from sticking to windows)
  • Rags to catch excess liquids
  • Booties
  • Scrapers 
  • Replacement s-channels (the rubber part of a squeegee)
  • Sleeves (goes over squeegee to wash the window)
  • Step stool
  • Ladder
  • Hard hat (primarily for use on scaffold)
  • Safety harness (use with scaffold)
  • Scaffold (for larger windows)
To download the “Starting a Window Cleaning Business Checklist” with window cleaning supplies, go to our window cleaning business download page.

IT Cleaning Business

Cleaning computers and other equipment that has circuit boards requires specific cleaning chemicals. In addition, make sure to carry proper insurance because the potential data loss from using the wrong chemicals could destroy a business. The Association of Data Center Cleaning Professionals is the leader in standards for IT equipment. Review their standards before using this checklist. The following is from their standards on cleaning equipment:
  • Vacuums: Two Options
  • Preferred: ULPA (Ultra Low Particulate Air) filter with 99.999% efficiency at 0.12 microns
  • OK: HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter with 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 microns
  • Tools, Attachments, and Supplies: Requirements
  • Non-conductive 
  • Low-lint materials
  • Packaging specifies that it is designed to be used in cleanroom environments
  • Cleaning Chemicals
  • Floor surfaces
  • Non-ammoniated
  • Designated as safe for data center environments
  • Intended for HPL floor tiles
  • Equipment Surfaces
  • Anti-static cleaner 
  • Designed to be used in a data center environment
To download the “Starting an IT Cleaning Business Checklist” with cleaning supplies that are safe to use on circuit boards, click here.

Property Cleaning Services, Power Washer Business

Man using pressure washer on concrete floor We grouped pressure washing businesses and property cleaning services together because they are similar and both outside. They are both outside and can be done as a team to improve the number of customers helped in a day. You will need:
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Trash picker
  • Trash bags
  • Blower
  • Rake
  • White and yellow paint (maintain the parking lot lines)
  • Graffiti removal kit
  • Pressure washer
  • Water tank
  • Towing hitch (if tank won’t fit in vehicle)
  • Nozzles 
  • Hoses
To download the “Starting a Property Cleaning Business Checklist” with a power washer, go to our property cleaning business download page.

Hazardous Waste Removal, Mold Remediation

We grouped hazardous waste removal and mold remediation businesses together because they have similar requirements, but each type of hazardous material will have its own requirements. For many of these you will need:
  • Portable air scrubbers
  • Filters
  • Negative air machines
  • Mobile containment tent
  • Meters to measure levels
  • Asbestos testing kit
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Zip walls
  • Disinfectants 
  • Sealants
  • Knee pads
  • Kneeling mats
  • Gloves 
  • Ventilators
  • Hazmat suits (for some materials)
  • Special licensing based on type of removal
To download the “Starting a Hazardous Waste Removal Business Checklist” with waste and mold remediation supplies, go to our waste removal cleaning business download page.

Boat Cleaning

You’ll likely need the same items as when cleaning a home, plus some outdoor items. Based on my time in Florida, I would recommend products that help protect against salinity (salt in the air). Don’t forget these:
  • Bucket 
  • Rust remover 
  • Deck brush
  • Degreaser
  • Metal polish
  • Wood varnish
  • Soap
  • Mop
  • Mop bucket
  • Fabric cleaner
  • Rubber cleaner
To download the “Starting a Boat Cleaning Business Checklist” with related supplies, click here.

Hopefully, You Found the Cleaning Company Checklist You Need

Use these lists to get your brain rolling as you prepare for the cleaning company course with Chris. If you want more help to simplify starting your cleaning business, sign up to be one of the first to take the Cleaning Business Master Course. What kind of cleaning business are you thinking about starting?
Business ideas

How to Start a $9K/Month Carpet Cleaning Business (with $3K Budget)
Have you ever wondered how to start a carpet cleaning business? Matt Crimi started North Seattle Carpet Cleaning with a $3,000 loan and a course from a janitorial supply company. Now he's on track to make $108k this year! We’ll show you how to do it too. If you want to know how to start a carpet cleaning business, keep reading. We’ll walk you through the process with tips on:
  1. Developing the skills to run a carpet cleaning business.
  2. Choosing a name for a carpet cleaning business.
  3. Writing a business plan for a carpet cleaning business.
  4. Registering a carpet cleaning business.
  5. Funding a carpet cleaning business.
  6. Preparing for launch
  7. Operating a carpet cleaning business
  8. Marketing a carpet cleaning business

Step 1: Developing the skills to run a carpet cleaning business

Before starting a carpet cleaning business, you'll need to develop some skills. When creating a carpet cleaning business, you'll need to be familiar with the following skills or hire someone who is: Each of the links will take you to free Udemy classes on the subject matter to help entrepreneurs develop their skills in their personal time. I know. Learning these skills can be a challenge, so let me answer some common questions.

Is carpet cleaning an excellent business to start?

A lady cleaning a carpet using a vacuum cleaner There are a ton of articles written on the best business to start. Most consider cleaning businesses like North Seattle Carpet Cleaning one of the most accessible types of companies for a new small business owner to start. Matt told us: [su_quote]I had an Economics degree and experience doing forestry and wildlife management work. The logistics and equipment management are similar (Outdoor environmentalism vs. indoor environmentalism).[/su_quote] He went on to explain: [su_quote]My dad lent me $3,000, and I took a carpet cleaning tech course offered at a local janitorial supply company.[/su_quote] That sounds like a reasonable startup cost, but how much can you make owning a carpet cleaning business? Matt told us: [su_quote]I make $9,000 in revenue per month.[/su_quote] According to ChemDry, their franchise owners average over $90k per franchise. The carpet business is a pretty reasonable industry to operate in.

Step 2: Choosing a Name for the Carpet Cleaning Business

Every carpet cleaning business is going to need a name. It's how your customers will identify the carpet cleaning business. Several considerations should be considered when naming your carpet cleaning business. Keep reading for some considerations.

Does the name explain the carpet cleaning business?

North Seattle Carpet Cleaning tells precisely what it does. It cleans carpets. Try to follow their example to create a company name that readily identifies your services.

Is the carpet cleaning business name easy to spell?

Make sure your carpet cleaning business name is easy to remember when using a search engine. Register domain names for common misspellings and forward them to your website to ensure you don't lose customers due to spelling mistakes.

Does the carpet cleaning business name include your location?

Including your state, county, or city identifies you as a local business. North Seattle Carpet Cleaning took this approach. Matt told us: [su_quote]I went with a territorial name ‘North Seattle’ so it would naturally come up in online searches.[/su_quote]

Does the branding fit the carpet cleaning business?

Designers creating a good branding for business Does your name fit your branding? Some business owners focus on visual ideas for a logo before a name. North Seattle Carpet Cleaning uses a logo that readily communicates what it does. In addition to the name, the logo shows a person cleaning carpet and the Space Needle, a famous attraction that is readily identifiable as a Seattle landmark.

Register a .com

Find a name for which the .com domain is available. It’s the most recognizable. Use Namechk to find out if the domain name you want is available.

Give it a go!

See how people like it. Make sure to check what happens if people shorten it.  You wouldn’t want to name a carpet cleaning business Seattle Uber Clean Klub because it could get shortened to SUCK, and that isn’t what you want to communicate. Check Google Trends. Read articles like Five Tools for Naming a Business. Check out our blog about cleaning business names. Finally, register your business name with the government. Keep reading to learn more about registering your name and choosing a legal structure.

Step 3: Writing a Carpet Cleaning Business Plan

Small business owners who write a business plan tend to have 30% faster growth because the business plan helps guide their decision-making. Matt is on board with this thinking. He explained: [su_quote]I initially wrote out a business plan. I think it helped orient me in the right direction. I think I should write it out again now that I'm in a different place than when I started.[/su_quote] If you want to start a successful carpet cleaning business, I highly recommend you write a business plan and use it to guide you while you grow your carpet cleaning business. The aspects that need to be covered include:
  • Business Plan Cover Page
  • Table of Contents
  • Executive Summary
  • Company Description
  • Description of Products and Services
  • Marketing Plan
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Competitor Data
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Marketing Expenses Strategy 
  • Pricing Strategy
  • Distribution Channel Assessment
  • Operational Plan
  • Management and Organizational Strategy
  • Financial Statements and Financial Projections
  • Funding
This outline is an excerpt from our previous article, How to Write A Business Plan. Make sure to read it and download the template to create a business plan that will walk you through the steps to starting a commercial cleaning business. [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] IMPORTANT: What to learn the best way to start a cleaning company? Check out  The 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint. You’ll discover exactly how Chris Mondragon created $4.5M cleaning services revenue in record time! [/su_note]

Step 4: How to Register a Carpet Cleaning Business

A man doing online registration on his iPad Once it's time to register your new carpet cleaning business, you'll deal with several government agencies. Federal, state, and local laws govern an owner's legal requirements when starting a business. Let's look at the most common conditions.

 Licenses, Permits, and Taxes

Each location has different licenses, permits, or tax forms required. Use the SBA License and Permits page to identify what your carpet cleaning business needs. Keep reading for information on different legal structures.

Options for Business Structures

Sole proprietorships and Limited Liability Companies are the most common business structures for carpet cleaning businesses, but some people opt for partnerships or corporations. We'll discuss each.

Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the easiest way to start a company, but the structure doesn’t protect the owner’s assets from legal issues. If something goes wrong, you could lose your carpet cleaning company and your home. I’d only start a sole proprietorship if you need to save some money initially. Because you'll be in customers' homes and offices providing your service, it is essential to prevent personal liability. As soon as you can, convert it to an LLC. To start a sole proprietorship, fill out a particular tax form called a Schedule C. Sole proprietors can join the American Independent Business Alliance.

Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)

An LLC is the most common business structure used in the United States because the company protects the new business owner’s assets. It’s similar to partnerships and corporations but can be a single-member LLC in most states. An LLC requires a document called an operating agreement. Each state has different requirements. Here’s a link to find your state’s requirements. People may register in specific states due to the cost of doing business. Delaware and Nevada are common states to file an LLC because of their business-friendly laws. Here’s a blog on the top 10 states to get an LLC.

Partnerships and corporations

Partnerships and corporations are typically for massive organizations or legal firms. Unless there is a specific reason you need a partnership, it is better to do a multi-person LLC. Investopedia has good information about partnerships and corporations.

Apply for an EIN

Every business operating in the United States needs an employer identification number. It’s like a social security number for your business. Apply for it on the IRS website. When filing taxes, it’s used on tax forms and to tie employees’ pay to the proper employer.

State/Local Business Licenses

Each location has different licenses, permits, or tax forms required. Use the SBA License and Permits page to identify what your business needs. You'll want to look for a cleaning business license as the type of license.

Unemployment Insurance

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has many resources on unemployment insurance (UI) and offers links to each state agency that handles state unemployment. You’ll have to pay $420 per employee on a federal level plus any state UI.

Step 5: Funding a Carpet Cleaning Business

Man at with a monitor on his desk Opening a cleaning service requires time, money, or both. Hopefully, you've created a business plan already and have a good idea of the minimal financial resources necessary when starting a carpet cleaning business. Here are some considerations you should look at when seeking funding:
  • What equipment, software, and inventory do I need?
  • How much will the carpet cleaning equipment cost?
  • Will I need a location where customers can come? If so, how much will it cost?
  • What are the costs for marketing and a website?
  • Will the company have employees or sub-contractors?
  • How much money is currently available to start a carpet cleaning service?
  • How many routine customers do I have? Will the current revenue and savings cover costs?
  • How much financing do I need?
  • How will I get the financing?
You'll need to know the answer to these questions when starting a carpet cleaning service. If you have created a business plan, you'll already know the costs and financial needs of the cleaning services. Keep reading to learn more about ways to fund carpet cleaners. Matt explained how he got funding and what it went to: [su_quote]My dad lent me $3000 to get started. Much of the initial cost was the equipment I needed. I bought a portable carpet cleaning machine and the hoses and attachments necessary to start cleaning.  I had to trade my car for a larger vehicle to transport the equipment to jobs.  One of the first things I did was join BNI, which meant paying about $500 for their annual fees. I also took a carpet cleaning tech course offered at a local janitorial supply company.[/su_quote]

How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?

Most commercial carpet cleaning businesses can be started with less than $5,000. A commercial carpet cleaning business will typically get funding from at least one of the following sources:
  • Personal Savings
  • Loans or Gifts from Friends and Family
  • Small Business Loans
  • Crowd Funding
  • Credit Cards

Personal Savings

If you're working, put aside part of your income every paycheck. Most financial advisors recommend placing at least 8-10% of your income into savings. One of the best ways to fund mobile carpet cleaning is to open a business bank account and transfer money into it every paycheck. This will help you develop a banking relationship under your business name if you decide to take out a business loan in the future. Nerd Wallet has a great list of free business checking accounts. Check it out and decide which one is best for you.

Loans or Gifts from Friends and Family

If your friends and family have the money, they may be willing to help launch your cleaning business. Just make sure you get the loan terms or gift in writing. Make sure to follow through on the agreement. You may be able to negotiate pre-payment for services to fund your small business if you can negotiate to provide your family and friends your business services, congratulations! You have your first customers. I thought, "When I start my own business, everyone I know will be supportive." I was wrong. Most of my network fell into two categories:
  • "Isn't this risky? Shouldn't you go get a job?"
  • "Can I get your service for free?"
Neither of these responses helped start a business. Be careful about working for your personal network. They can be a drain on your business.

Small Business Loans

A lady holding an iPad and a credit card Most banks offer small business loans. If you can qualify for them, loans are a great way to start a business. Unfortunately, the requirements for business loans have become more challenging than they were in the past. Banks want to invest in a successful business, so they'll be looking to loan to people in a growing field and have unique ideas. If your business model is similar to existing businesses, you may find it challenging to get bank loans before generating substantial revenue. Business owners should document their business idea meticulously before applying for loans. A bank will expect entrepreneurs to thoroughly understand the industry, customer, and costs associated with the business idea. The business plan will be crucial while applying with banks. Upflip has developed relationships with lenders to help our readers seek business funding. Check out our Business Loans page for our preferred resources.

Crowd Funding

With the rise of social media and online businesses, companies have a new way of reaching customers and getting funding for their business idea. Crowdfunding is a way to start a business where you come up with the business idea, create a request for funding, and people who like the idea help fund it. GoFundMe and Kickstarter are the most well-known crowdfunding sites, but others help people start businesses. Take a look at this article to find the right crowdfunding site for you. Read our blog about Pooch Selfie to get insight into Jason Hernandez's process to start his company with Kickstarter.

Credit Cards

You can use business or personal credit cards to start a carpet cleaning business, but their rates can dramatically increase the costs. Businesses that use credit cards to start a carpet cleaning business should know the interest rates and make sure they have the funds to pay the monthly bills. If you have to pay interest on the credit because you didn't pay it in full, you may be paying up to 25%. While credit cards are one of the more costly ways to start a business, carpet cleaning, they are also one of the easiest. As long as the business owner has good credit, it is easy to get a credit card. After routinely paying it off, you can request a higher credit limit. For some, it might be the best option. I prefer using Credit Karma to decide which kind of personal credit card to get. They have recommendations based on your individual credit history. Find out what they recommend online today.

Step 6: Preparing to start a commercial cleaning business

We can't discuss how to start a carpet cleaning business without discussing preparing for carpet cleaning services. You'll want to take these actions to prepare to start cleaning carpets during this stage. Some of the primary tasks in this phase will be:
  • Getting equipment, inventory, and other supplies.
  • Creating a website.
  • Setting up social media accounts.
  • Signing up for payment processors.
  • Setting up a Customer Relationship Management system and other administrative software.
  • Establishing a physical location if necessary.
  • Getting general liability insurance.
If you want the best experience when starting your cleaning business, sign up to be one of the first to take our cleaning business course Let's look at what you need to do with each of these to start your own carpet cleaning company.

Carpet Cleaning Equipment, Inventory, and Other Supplies

Every cleaning company will have specific equipment they need to accomplish the job. In the case of a carpet cleaning business, you'll need:
  • A truck or van - Just search "dealerships near me." They should have a truck that works.
  • A Carpet Cleaning Machine - Bissell, Janilink, and Hoover are some brands to consider. 
  • Carpet Cleaning Tools - Make sure they are compatible with the model of the machine you buy.
  • Cleaning products - Make sure they are compatible with the model of the machine you buy. Eco-friendly products can be used as premium or differentiating products.
I would typically look for cleaning equipment online or at trade stores. If you have a Home Depot or Lowes nearby, you can find carpet cleaners there.

Create a website

An entrepreneur creating a website for his business Everyone should have a website. If you are selling products, you may need an online store. Mobile apps are great for restaurants and companies with reward programs. They all serve the same purpose: helping your customers learn more about the products or services the business is selling. Check out our blog on creating a website to learn how to build your website or online store.

Setting Up Social Media Accounts

Every business needs social media. Your customers expect to be able to reach you there. Which social media you need depends on where your customers are. In general, my suggestions are to use the following:
  • Facebook - Selling products or services to people over 30.
  • LinkedIn - Selling products or services to other businesses.
  • Twitter - Best for current events.
  • TikTok - Best for products and services for kids and teens
  • Instagram - Best for products and services targeting people under 35.
You just need to create an account and start posting relevant content. Each platform has a ton of tips for how businesses can make money using their marketing tools. Check out our blogs about finding cleaning clients and commercial contracts for more great information on finding clients.

Choosing a payment processor

Paypal and Square are the payment processors that most businesses use, but there are plenty of other options. Unless you have large quantities of transactions and high ticket items, the differences between most are nominal. Payment processors typically charge a per-transaction fee and a percentage of sales. Make sure to price that into the cost of doing business. You'll also need to consider your where you'll accept payments?
  • Online
  • In a store
  • At different locations
  • A combination of the above
The ways your company will accept payments will impact which processor is best for you. To determine which payment processor is best for you, try Credit Donkey's payment processor quiz.

Setting up a CRM and other administrative software

Every company needs software to support operations. Typically this will consist of a Customer Relationship Management program like Hubspot or Salesforce. Both CRMs can connect to email, social media sites, marketing, inventory platforms, etc. The purpose is to have as much knowledge about your customers as possible to make better decisions about how to market to them. A CRM also helps establish which types of prospective clients generate the highest sales. Other platforms you might want to connect with Hubspot include Xero for accounting.

Finding a physical location

If you need a physical location for your carpet cleaners, I suggest reaching out to a commercial real estate agent. They'll help you find a site that meets your needs. I'd suggest waiting until you have another truck or two before getting a physical location. This will reduce startup costs and help you grow your business faster. Once you have several employees and need more space to store all the equipment associated with carpet cleaning businesses, I'd recommend looking in the commercial warehouse district.

Getting business insurance

A man holding a stamp with the word "insurance" Carpet cleaning businesses may need several types of business insurance that most people don't usually carry. The three primary insurances the cleaning industry might need are:
  • General liability insurance- Used when a freak accident occurs. Typically $1m/2m coverage is needed, but it varies based on location and type of business.
  • Professional liability- Used when the work you are doing causes damage. If a carpet cleaner causes mold, this will cover the mold remediation service.
  • Cybersecurity insurance- This insurance protects against cyber attacks. If your systems are hacked, it will help protect your company.
Contact your insurance agent to see what insurance costs are. If they don't offer the proper insurance, they'll be able to recommend someone who provides the coverage your industry needs.

Step 7: How to operate a carpet cleaning business

You've done all the preparation to get started. Now it's time to start washing your customers’ carpets. Time management is the key here. Some tips I've learned over the years of running a business include:
  • Plan specific times of day to focus on tasks like:
    • Sending emails
    • Performing marketing tasks
    • Handling payroll
    • Doing interviews
  • Keep consistent business hours. If customers don't know when you'll be available, they'll go to someone who they know is available.
  • Provide estimates you know you can meet. A customer would rather be quoted more and spend less than be approached for more money later. The same goes for time.
  • Set time aside for life. Entrepreneurs are notorious workaholics. If you don't make time for the other aspects of life, they will suffer and seep into your work.
  • Keep business and personal accounts separate. Depending on your legal structure, this is mandatory.
  • Put 50% of the revenue aside for ongoing expenses, tax payments, and business re-investment. If you don't do this, you'll eventually have a scenario where you have to come up with the money you don't have.
  • The customer expects their home to be spotless when you leave. Use Industry best practices like wearing booties in their home to protect the customer's property.
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] IMPORTANT:  The 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint prepares you for everything you need to know to provide cleaning services. Find out how Christopher Mondragon made $4.5M in record time! [/su_note]

Step 8: Marketing Your Commercial Carpet Cleaning Companies

Marketing is done to make money, but it costs a substantial amount of money. The SBA suggests spending 8% of the desired revenue on marketing. If you want to make $100k/year, you need to spend $8,000 a year on marketing. That is a lot for a carpet cleaning business income. If you don't have the 8%  of desired revenue to spend on marketing, use 8% of your startup costs. In Matt's scenario, 8% would be approximately $240, but he spent more. He told us: [su_quote]One of the first things I did was join BNI, which meant paying about $500 for their annual fees.[/su_quote] This sounds like a great strategy. Before today, I hadn't heard of BNI, but it's a networking and referral program for local businesses. I found it so interesting that I have scheduled an appointment to meet with my local chapter. I'd suggest checking it out. Matt also told us: [su_quote]I went with a territorial name "North Seattle,"  so it would naturally come up in online searches. I made sure to have a nice-looking website and a Google business page. I recently hired my first employee and am now exploring Facebook and google ads. I also put up ads on Next Door and Yelp occasionally.[/su_quote] Matt used some of the best cost-effective ways of marketing a carpet cleaning business. I'd suggest using similar strategies if you pursue a carpet cleaning business opportunity. When you start going into Google Ads and Facebook Ads, you need to have a more thorough understanding of your target market. You also need to understand the CPC and CPA strategies because the advertising costs can add up quickly. I strongly recommend hiring a marketing professional to manage any paid ads. Upwork is a great place to find freelancers you can pay based on the level of service you need.

Related Reading

A book of ideas for a successful business Usually we would provide a list of influencers to follow, but Matt offered us a list of his favorite books and business resources. I felt like this might help you better understand how to start a successful cleaning business. Check out his list of suggested reading! Also, check out this incredible story of Chris starting $120K/month cleaning business here.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to start a carpet cleaning business, I hope you'll attempt to start a small carpet cleaning company. Alternatively, you could start a home cleaning business, buy a carpet cleaning business from our  business listings, or check out these carpet cleaning franchises: Because these franchise opportunities have a proven method, it will be easier to get your cleaning business started. Subscribe to our blog to keep up with what business owners are doing to maximize their profits. 
Business ideas

Best Franchise Under $100K (2024)

There are thousands of franchise opportunities in the United States and Canada. How are you supposed to choose the best franchise under $100K?

We’ll discuss the top franchises under $100K to help you understand the services they offer, the initial investment involved, and other considerations you need to look at before you get a $100K franchise.

First, we’ll look at our picks for top franchises under $100K, then review cleaning franchises, service businesses, food franchises, and other franchises.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] Read about all your options, or click any link to jump to a specific section, where you’ll learn about companies that are a good fit for your initial investment in a business franchise.

Best Franchise Opportunities Under $100K

Upflip has partnered with specific companies that are committed to providing new business owners with the franchise tools they need to become profitable franchises. The best franchises we’ve interacted with, and our top recommendations, are:

  • Wise Coatings
  • MaidThis
  • Spray-Net
  • Brown’s Pressure Washing
  • EverLine Coatings

We’ll discuss these first.

#1. Wise Coatings

Wise Coatings owner holding tools and personal protective equipment in the foreground and a Wise Coatings franchise screenshot in the background

Brandon Vaughn used just $15,000 to start Wise Coatings. The majority of the initial investment went to marketing and learning how to work with the unique concrete floor coating materials. There are currently eight franchises and 140 applicants (and growing). Wise Coatings helps its franchisees navigate the marketing and systems needed to run the business right. This franchise opportunity requires:

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $117,400-$160,000 (including 3 months working capital)
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: 2-4 employees (suggested)
• Territories: Discounts for buying more than 1
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through Benetrends. Learn how to qualify.

Check out our interview with Brandon below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6mghjqijuU

#2. MaidThis

Neel Parekh started MaidThis just over 10 years ago, and now the company is making over $166,000 a month. It currently has 17 franchisees and is making a name for itself by helping small business owners start their own remote cleaning companies.

• Franchise Fee: $39,000
• Total Investment: $50,400-$72,650
• Royalty Fee: 7%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Work it yourself or hire employees.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about starting a remote cleaning business franchise below.

https://youtu.be/kVyLriqFVdc

#3. Spray-Net

Carmelo started Spray-Net because he realized the residential painting space needed modernization to speed up the house painting process. Today, Spray-Net has 40 franchisees and owns patents on its processes so nobody else can offer them.

• Franchise Fee: $45,000
• Total Investment: $170,825-$241,825
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees or subcontractors to do the cleaning.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about starting a painting franchise in our exclusive interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va7wL-C_kxg

#4. Brown’s Pressure Washing

A pressure washing franchise is among the easiest to operate. You don’t need any special skills or a big team, and the initial investment is low.

When you buy a Brown’s franchise, you’ll get extensive training and comprehensive support, making it even easier to turn your investment into long-term success.

• Franchise Fee: $20,000
• Total Investment: $50,000-$100,000
• Royalty Fee: 10%
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees or use subcontractors.
• Territories: Multiple territories are allowed.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

You can learn founder Joshua Brown’s successful business strategies in The 7-Figure Pressure Washing Blueprint, or hear his story in this interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDVizUeYuIU

#5. EverLine Coatings

John Evans started the Canadian company EverLine Coatings and has received the Canadian Franchise Association Awards of Excellence two years running. The average EverLine parking lot repair franchise makes nearly $900K in its first year. To get started you’ll need:

• Franchise Fee: $49,500
• Total Investment: $164,744 - $332,443
• Royalty Fee: 9% or $500 per territory + 3%—whichever is greater
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Hire employees to provide the services.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through third-party financing services.

Learn more about EverLine Coatings in our interview below.

https://youtu.be/8eCkpEh3B9I?si=H7erhilG9lb2Xgzf

Cleaning Franchises for $100K

#6. Augusta Lawn Care Services

Mike Andes is a brilliant entrepreneur who founded Augusta Lawn Care Services when he was a teenager, and today it’s one of the top 500 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Their franchise opportunities offer low barriers to entry and flat fees instead of the standard percentage model. Here’s what it takes to become an Augusta franchise:

• Franchise Fee: $6,999-$25,000
• Total Investment: $12,999-$82,500
• Royalty Fee: $699-$1,200/mo.
• Space Needed: 100-2,000 square feet
• Employees: Solopreneur or hire other employees to work for your franchise.
• Territories: You can buy more than one territory if they are available in your area.
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Yes, through the Franchise Forgiveness Model.

Learn more about starting a lawn care franchise below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLeOYgF54tE

#7. Maid Brigade

The main benefit of franchise business models is having a well-known and established brand reputation to build from.

This is what puts Maid Brigade among the top 10 franchises in the cleaning industry. It’s regularly ranked as one of the Top 100 Franchises for less than $100,000 by Entrepreneur (#44 in 2023).

It’s also a good fit for veteran and minority franchisees, ranked among the top 50 for vets by USA Today and a top 25 franchise for Hispanics by the World Franchising Network.

• Franchise Fee: $27,700-$40,700
• Total Investment: $85,150-$113,850
• Royalty Fee: 3.5%-6.9%
• Space Needed: None (can be home-based)
• Employees: Average of 4 employees per franchise
• Territories: Franchisees get an exclusive operating territory
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#8. Scoop Soldiers

Scoop Soldiers is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to start an in-demand franchise in the yard clean-up sector. With Scoop Soldiers, you ensure homeowners and businesses have clean outdoor spaces by offering pet waste removal solutions.

The unique franchise business model is built to scale while being a good fit for franchisees with busy lives. You can start to operate within 60 days—much faster than many franchises.

Aspiring entrepreneurs also get the option of building from the ground up or moving into an established market. If you want a flexible, corporate-tested franchise under $100K, Scoop Soldiers is one of the top franchises to consider. 

• Franchise Fee: $39,500
• Total Investment: $68,300-$118,300
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: None needed
• Territories: Exclusive territories available in all 50 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

You can learn more by listening to our interview with Scoop Soldiers’ founder:

Best Service Business Franchises: Top Franchises Under $100K

#9. Century 21 Real Estate

If you’re interested in the top franchises in the property management sector, Century 21 is among the best cheap franchises to invest in. Investing in a franchise lets you join a community of more than 14,000 franchisees across 86 countries. You’ll get to leverage brand recognition and Century 21’s strong track record of success as a franchise company.

• Franchise Fee: Up to $25,000
• Total Investment: $24,700-$459,250
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: 30 square feet per agent
• Employees: 1-3 on average
• Territories: Exclusive territories available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for startup costs

#10. Dog Wizard franchise

Dog Wizard is the best franchise opportunity for animal lovers. This unique opportunity provides mobile dog training services or a full kennel, meaning franchisees get multiple ways to grow their businesses.

Investing in a franchise gives you access to a four-part comprehensive training program to ensure your services meet the company’s high standards. If you’re dedicated and passionate about animals, this is among the best franchises to explore.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $81,500-$98,250
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Space Needed: Varies (mobile, retail, and boarding options available)
• Employees: Solopreneur or run with a team
• Territories: Protected territory with 200,000 population (and you can expand your territory easily)
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#11. Kumon

Educators seeking the best franchises under $100K may find a Kumon franchise suits their interests.

Kumon provides tutoring services, and franchisees get full access to training, too. This starts with eight days of training in the Kumon Instructor Development Program, followed by hands-on training in the Kumon Curriculum and Kumon Method.

• Franchise Fee: $2,000
• Total Investment: $68,428-$146,640
• Royalty Fee: $36-$40.50 per student per month
• Space Needed: Recommended minimum of 1,000 square feet
• Employees: 2-3
• Territories: Available across the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Subsidies up to $37,100 and a $10,000 veteran’s incentive

#12. HomeWell Care Services

In-home care for seniors is increasingly in demand. The home care solutions and services you’ll offer with a HomeWell Care franchise set you up for big growth potential, and it’s among the top franchises for entrepreneurs with healthcare experience.

The minimum investment in a HomeWell franchise is only $5,000, so this is also one of the best franchise opportunities for people with limited financial resources.

• Franchise Fee: Up to $49,500
• Total Investment: $52,400-$230,800
• Royalty Fee: 5%-10%
• Space Needed: 500-1,000 square feet
• Employees: Can run as a solopreneur or with a small team
• Territories: Available in 47 states, exclusive territories and site selection support available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available, 20% discount for veterans

#13. Signal Security

Signal is a world-class security brand with a reputation for excellence. It’s among the best franchises under $100K for veterans and law enforcement professionals and is Entrepreneur’s #1 security franchise brand.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000-$200,000
• Total Investment: $57,450-$273,150
• Royalty Fee: 4%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: Average of 2-4 per location
• Territories: Available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house and third-party financing available

Top Food Franchise Under $100K

#14. Cinnabon

Cinnabon is the only food or, more specifically, bakery franchise under $100K with global brand recognition. It also has a relatively low minimum investment for a food franchise, and franchisees get complete training and marketing support.

• Franchise Fee: $5,500-$30,500
• Total Investment: $60,300-$621,400
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: 600 square feet on average
• Employees: 5+
• Territories: Exclusive territories available in the U.S. and around the world
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

Additional Food Franchises Under $100K

#15. Carvel

This iconic ice cream franchise has been around for more than 80 years, and that staying power is part of what puts it among the top franchises in the food industry.

Franchisees get complete support in multiple facets of their businesses, from menu development to cost optimization, as well as access to a top-notch in-house marketing team.

• Franchise Fee: $10,500-$30,500
• Total Investment: $67,875-$536,400
• Royalty Fee: $2.88/gallon
• Space Needed: 100-1,600 square feet
• Employees: 2-6
• Territories: Exclusive territories available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#16. Champs Chicken

With its low minimum investment and no franchise fee, Champs Chicken is one of the best businesses in the food industry for entrepreneurs with limited financial resources.

They also offer excellent franchisee support, with continual training and a strong investment in the growth of their owners.

• Franchise Fee: $0
• Total Investment: $9,000-$349,000
• Royalty Fee: None
• Space Needed: Varies depending on format
• Employees: Minimum of 2
• Territories: Available in 11 U.S. states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

More Best Franchises to Own (Under $100K)

Investing in any of the following franchises could be a great way to start a successful business, whether you want a brick-and-mortar store in your community, a mobile business, or a lucrative creative outlet.

#17. The UPS Store

Buying a UPS Store franchise gives you the power of a recognized brand with a track record of franchise success. The extensive ongoing support and training are what consistently make UPS one of the top franchises to own and manage.

• Franchise Fee: $9,950-$29,950
• Total Investment: $101,819-$476,993
• Royalty Fee: 5%
• Space Needed: 800-1,800 square feet
• Employees: 3-5
• Territories: Over 5,000 locations available worldwide
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for all franchisees as well as 10% off for veterans

#18. Cornwell Quality Tools

Cornwell Quality Tools has been a leading name in high-quality, professional equipment for over 100 years, and it is the best franchise to own in the mobile tool and repair industry.

Additionally, it’s a very accessible franchise business, with relatively low up-front costs, excellent training, and strong franchisee support. It’s one of the few all-mobile franchise opportunities, which is one reason it requires such a low initial investment.

• Franchise Fee: $0
• Total Investment: $54,525-$298,825
• Royalty Fee: 7%
• Space Needed: None (mobile franchise)
• Employees: Can be run as a solopreneur
• Territories: Available in 48 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: In-house financing for equipment and startup costs

#19. Minuteman Press

Minuteman Press is the #1 printing and marketing franchise business. It’s among the best franchise opportunities in any industry, offering franchisees multiple revenue streams and local support.

As a full-service marketing provider, you can establish strong recurring revenue streams quickly with a Minuteman Press franchise. There’s a reason it’s one of the companies highlighted by Entrepreneur’s franchise list, appearing among their top franchises for 20 years in a row.

• Franchise Fee: $32,500-$48,500
• Total Investment: $78,241-$219,529
• Royalty Fee: Up to 6%
• Space Needed: 1,000 square feet
• Employees: 3
• Territories: Available in all 50 states
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

#20. Big Frog

Big Frog franchise owner holding an UpFlip t-shirt in the foreground and a screenshot of UpFlip’s How to start a clothing brand blog in the background

For aspiring entrepreneurs who want to get into the custom clothing sector, Big Frog is one of the best franchises to open.

• Franchise Fee: $39,500-$60,000
• Total Investment: $180,750-$235,700
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: Under 1,200 square feet
• Employees: 2-4 required per location
• Territories: Available markets in 47 U.S. states and Canada
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Veteran discount and third-party financing

You can make great money with this established brand. Since becoming a Big Frog franchisee in 2008, Sanford Booth has consistently made more than $40,000 a month. Hear his story in this interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmYCYMAsQ8Y

#21. YESCO Sign & Lighting Service

First founded in 1920, YESCO is a family-run company that builds custom signs in addition to providing sign and lighting repair and maintenance services.

You can start a franchise for $100K or less without needing a brick-and-mortar space for the repair side of the business.

• Franchise Fee: $50,000
• Total Investment: $65,000-$389,200
• Royalty Fee: 6%
• Space Needed: None (can be run from home)
• Employees: 3
• Territories: Available in 39 states and Canada, exclusive territories available
• Franchising Funding Assistance: 10% veteran discount and in-house financing available for equipment and franchise fee

#22. Duct Doctor

With over 30 years as a leader in the duct cleaning services market, investing in a Duct Doctor franchise gives you access to their well-known brand and strong marketing and advertising program.

The company also provides extensive training and ongoing support, so you don’t need any special educational background or skills to get started as a franchisee. Another benefit is the growth potential, with ample opportunities to expand beyond your initial market.

• Franchise Fee: $25,000
• Total Investment: $44,100-$201,500
• Royalty Fee: 5%-8%
• Space Needed: None (can be home-based)
• Employees: 2
• Territories: Worldwide exclusive territories available and option to operate multiple units
• Franchising Funding Assistance: Third-party financing available

How did we choose the top franchises under $100K?

We use a variety of factors to select the companies we recommend to a potential franchisee. Some of the factors include:

  • Initial investment
  • Franchisee support
  • Profit margins
  • Limited competition
  • Search engine optimization

Initial Investment

Potential business owners are looking for “Franchise $100K” opportunities, and for this list, we took that specific number into consideration. We use the franchise fee or the total initial investment to judge the franchise up-front costs.

In scenarios where the initial costs are more than that amount, there are other factors that we use when comparing the companies, for example…

Franchisee Support

While costs are important to a franchise business, the main benefit of a franchise is the ability to book clients faster. You don’t have to spend countless hours researching the best strategies to operate your business if the franchise has good business systems.

When it comes to our top five picks, we have personally interacted with the business owners and established that the costs, profit margins, and approaches to finding clients are worth the investment.

Profit Margins

We look for business owners who have created highly automated business structures because the more automation a business uses, the fewer costs (as a percentage of revenue) they have to find and support clients.

Higher profit margins lead to faster business growth and increased personal wealth, which you can then invest in other businesses like rental properties.

Limited Competition

A business that takes a novel approach tends to have less competition, higher revenue, and an easier time finding clients. Combining highly automated business processes with high-demand local businesses reduces the time to recoup costs.

Search Engine Optimization

Every business today needs to take search engine optimization into account. We have to include certain businesses in some blogs (including this one!) because readers (like you!) expect to see them.

Dog Wizard is the only franchise in this blog that our primary SEO tool, SurferSEO, expected us to include. All others were chosen because of our research or personal experience with how the business owner operates their franchising company.

Which franchise under $100K is most appealing to you?

Everyone considers franchise opportunities differently. Some people care most about the initial investment, while others are most concerned with ongoing support. That’s why it is important to do your own research before making the minimum investment in any of the best franchises under $100K.

Which franchise under $100K is most appealing to you? Let us know in the comments.

Business ideas

Comments

Jesse@ 2024-04-23 20:27:04

I really like this article, Thank you for sharing your ideas. I can't wait to implement these tips and level up my business! by the way i also read this blog containing the same topic. I want to know your thoughts about it https://menuwars.com/food-blog/how-food-trucks-conquered-america/

Martin Dubois@ 2023-10-05 05:42:46

Thanks for this informative article on starting a food truck business! It's a great resource for aspiring entrepreneurs like myself. If you're considering a food truck venture, you might also want to check out this page on driver registration for Uber Eats at https://prace-ridic.com/registrace-ridic-uber . It can be a fantastic way to expand your reach and offer delivery services to your customers. Best of luck to everyone looking to get into the food truck industry!

Andriy Muzyka@ 2023-07-17 02:53:00

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Sweta Dutta@ 2022-07-20 03:52:16

Great post! Almost all the key details related to starting a food truck business are covered and explained in detail. I am sure it will help anyone planning to start a food truck or cart business!

Nancy Latham@ 2021-06-25 21:22:32

In regards to the food truck article. can you tell me about the requirements for a commercial kitchen that most public health regulations require?? It is my understanding that your food truck has to have a relationship with a commercial kitchen for the storage and food preparation etc. All of your other information is so valuable...thanks!! Please explain and advise. Thanks so much.

Hanna@ 2021-05-07 01:50:58

One of my school events, I was organize a food shop and I was very impressed when I also got good profits. The right place, the right time, the right decision for the right profit. That moment I took this business just to enjoy But then realized it can be recognized as a profession. Now I'm thinking To transform this business into a career by completing graduation.

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