Global upholstery and carpet cleaning franchise Chem-Dry has just been named to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 ranking for 2019. This marks the 31st year in the row that the franchise business brand has come in at No. 1 for its category, and it also landed at No. 72 in the ranking overall. The Franchise 500 list is created by Entrepreneur staff based on several factors, including franchise system growth rate and size and financial stability and strength, and it's also one of the most highly regarded lists in the franchise industry.
Dan Tarantin, CEO of Harris Research, the carpet cleaning brand's parent company, said the achievement was a reflection of the franchisee network and the excellent customer service they provide. Tarantin also credited the growing demand for environmentally-friendly maintenance services for the home as a force behind the company's continued growth and success.
Chem-Dry professionals use the Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) process to clean upholstery and carpets. This proprietary process is a green-certified solution that provides a deep, long-lasting cleaning that means healthier workplaces and homes. A study conducted by an independent lab found that the HCE process removed around 98 percent of common allergies from upholstery and carpets and 89 percent of airborne bacteria with an added sanitizer. Since part of the brand's mission is to ensure home health, it now offers more than 50 green-certified products.
With more than 3,000 franchise locations across 55 countries, Chem-Dry has received this top franchise opportunity ranking at a time of tremendous growth. Just this year, the company signed 67 new franchise business agreements, with plans to open 105 locations by the year's end.
Chem-Dry is planning to accelerate its franchise development plans throughout the rest of the year and moving forward. For the last five years, close to 35 percent of the brand's new locations have been current franchisees expanding their own businesses, which demonstrates the strength of the business model. The initial investment for this brand ranges from $67,645 to $178,907, and many areas are still available.
