The Cleaning Industry Continues to Grow
Residential and commercial cleaning demand has continued growing year after year as more households and businesses outsource cleaning services. Before comparing business models, it helps to see the industry you would be entering.
~$97B
US cleaning services market (2024)
Source: IBISWorld
~6.5%
Global cleaning services CAGR, 2024–2030
Source: Grand View Research
~335K
Annual US cleaner job openings through 2032
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Recurring
Residential cleaning is one of the fastest-growing service segments
Source: IBISWorld
US cleaning services market size
Estimated revenue, USD billions
Source: IBISWorld — Janitorial & House Cleaning Services in the US
Residential vs commercial cleaning revenue
USD billions — both segments expanding
Source: IBISWorld segment estimates
Industry data: IBISWorld · Grand View Research · US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures are estimates and rounded for readability.
A Different Way to Start a Cleaning Business
Compare traditional cleaning franchise models against an operator license that pairs the 10BucksARoom customer-facing brand with a system built from 14+ years of real cleaning operations. Same industry, very different structure.
Traditional Cleaning Franchise vs CleanBucks Operator License
Two structurally different ways to enter the same industry. Compare the cost, contract, and control side by side.
What the structure actually costs over time
Royalty percentages compound for the entire term of a franchise agreement. A flat monthly license does not. Here is the same math, visualized.
10-year total of fees paid to a franchisor / licensor
Illustrative — combined initial fee + 8% royalty + marketing fund (franchise) vs $500/mo flat (CleanBucks). USD thousands.
Source: Modeled on publicly disclosed FDD ranges
Share of each revenue dollar kept by the operator
Assuming a combined 8% royalty + marketing fund on a franchise. CleanBucks: 0% revenue share, flat fee only.
Source: Modeled on publicly disclosed FDD ranges
Operator control — six common decision areas
A franchise is one valid model. It is not the only one.
Cleaning franchises have launched many successful businesses. They also come with structural tradeoffs — cost, control, and term — that some operators prefer to avoid. A few of the most common reasons people look at a licensed model instead:
Lower entry threshold
Traditional franchise structures require six-figure total investments before the first dollar of revenue. A flat-fee license keeps the cost of entry predictable.
No revenue-based royalty
Royalties typically run 4%–8% of gross revenue and continue for the full contract term. The better you do, the more leaves the business. A flat monthly fee does not scale with success.
Operational independence
Franchise systems frequently require approval for vendors, pricing, marketing, and operational changes. Many operators prefer making those calls themselves.
Shorter commitment
Most franchise agreements run 10 years with auto-renewal and exit/transfer fees. A month-to-month license is a meaningfully different commitment profile.
Built from 14+ years of running a real cleaning business
CleanBucks did not start in a boardroom. It started with one van, a husband-and-wife team, and a phone that wouldn't stop ringing. The systems, training, app, and operator playbook in this license were built from real cleaning operations — not from consulting decks or theory.
No outside investors. No franchise sales team. Just operators who packaged the system other operators kept asking for.
14+
Years operating in cleaning
1
Van it started with
0
Outside investors
0%
Royalty on operator revenue
Cleaning franchise alternative — answered straight
Is CleanBucks a franchise?+
No. CleanBucks is a licensed operator model, not a franchise. There are no royalties, no marketing fund fees, and no percentage of revenue paid to a franchisor — just a flat monthly license fee on a month-to-month basis.
Do I pay royalty percentages?+
No. The CleanBucks model is a flat $500/month license fee. Your revenue is your revenue. There is no royalty that grows as your business grows.
How quickly can I start?+
Most operators are fully set up and running within about 7 days of approval. We provide the system, branding, app, phone setup, and training so there is nothing to figure out alone on day one.
Do I need cleaning experience?+
No. Most operators come in with no cleaning or business experience. The system and training walk you through how to take calls, book jobs, dispatch teams, and grow recurring revenue — all from your phone.
Can I run my territory my own way?+
Yes, within brand standards. You set your own pricing, hire your own team, choose your own suppliers, and make your own day-to-day operating decisions. There is no franchisor approval process for routine business changes.
What support is included?+
Branded website, phone system, operator app, customer app, team app, training manual, and operator support — all included in the flat monthly fee. No upsells for the core operating system.
What makes this different from a franchise?+
Three things, mainly: no royalty on revenue, no long-term contract, and operator-controlled day-to-day decisions. You own the business you build. You can scale it, slow it down, or stop at the end of any month without exit fees.
More answers on the full FAQ.
See if your city is open
A flat-fee license. Month-to-month. No royalty. Same growing industry — different structure.