A Stratus Clean master franchise typically costs $275,000 to $300,000 all in: a master license fee averaging about $125,000 plus roughly $150,000 in working capital to launch and grow your territory. Candidates need $250,000 or more in net worth and $125,000 to $150,000 in liquid capital. Item 7 of our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is the authoritative source for the full estimate, and every candidate reviews it before making a decision.
This article breaks down every component of the master franchise cost: what the license fee buys, what the working capital funds, how territory size moves the number, how candidates typically fund the investment, and how the nine revenue streams in the model relate to the capital you put in.
| Cost component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master license fee | Approximately $125,000 on average, scaled to territory population |
| Working capital | Approximately $150,000 on average |
| Total investment, all in | $275,000 to $300,000 |
| Net worth required | $250,000 or more |
| Liquid capital required | Approximately $125,000 to $150,000 |
| Veteran incentive | 10% discount on the initial franchise fee for qualifying veterans through our VetFran participation |
The typical investment figures are published in our master franchise FAQs. The qualification criteria and our VetFran incentive are on the Investment Opportunity page.
A master franchise is a different asset from a single cleaning franchise. You are not buying one operating business. You are buying the exclusive right to build and support a network of unit franchises inside a protected territory, and to sell the commercial cleaning contracts those units service. In effect, you become the franchisor for your region. Our guide What Is a Master Franchise? explains the model, fees, and revenue mechanics in plain language.
That is why the investment is structured around two layers rather than equipment and vehicles:
Across the broader franchise market, upfront territory fees for established U.S. master franchises commonly fall in the $100,000 to $500,000 range, according to franchise counsel Lopes Law, with larger territories and stronger brands pricing higher. Our average fee sits well inside that band, and the total investment is modest for an executive-level, territory-wide business. For a side-by-side look at how the two ownership paths differ, see Master Franchise vs Unit Franchise: Which Should You Own?
The master license fee is the one-time payment for your exclusive, protected territory. Our territories are sized by population and can cover a state or a cluster of counties. The fee for a specific territory is confirmed during discovery, and the $125,000 figure is the system average.
The fee is not just a right to operate. It includes the infrastructure that makes the role executable without any prior cleaning experience:
Full detail on the training sequence and ongoing programs is on our Training and Support page.
Working capital is the larger half of the master franchise cost, and it is easy to overlook when you compare opportunities on fee alone. In a master model, your early months are spent building the two revenue-generating activities of the business: recruiting unit franchise owners and securing cleaning contracts to assign to them. Working capital carries you through that ramp.
Working capital in a master model typically covers:
Franchise cost guidance from FranchiseIQ recommends new franchise owners hold several months of operating reserves. The master model demands more than a typical single unit because you are funding business development, and our $150,000 working capital estimate reflects that. Item 7 of our FDD lists the exact categories for a Stratus Clean territory.
Every franchisor in the United States must disclose its costs in a standardized format under the FTC Franchise Rule. Four sections matter most when you evaluate master franchise cost:
The FTC's Franchise Rule Compliance Guide explains each item in plain language. We walk through the document with you during discovery, and you receive the FDD with the required 14-day review period before signing. Our primer What Is an FDD and Why It Matters covers the items in more depth.
Candidates for a Stratus Clean master franchise typically bring:
Territory size and market can affect the specifics, which is why qualification is part of the discovery conversation rather than a fixed gate.
Our masters come from education, sales, insurance, engineering, retail, and C-suite backgrounds. No prior cleaning experience is required, and it is not what made them successful. What they share is a sales and management track record and the people skills to recruit and support unit owners. The master franchise fit guide goes deeper on profile.
We discuss funding structure with qualified candidates during discovery, because the right approach depends on your financial position. The paths franchise buyers use most often:
| Funding path | How it works | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| ROBS retirement rollover | Uses qualified retirement funds to capitalize the business without early-withdrawal penalties. | Not a loan, so it creates no monthly debt service. Providers set a minimum rollover balance and charge setup and administration fees. |
| Home equity or personal lending | A HELOC or personal line of credit. | Frequently used to cover a down payment or supplement working capital. |
| Cash | Fund the investment outright from personal capital. | No financing costs or approval process. |
Qualifying veterans receive a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee through our participation in VetFran, the International Franchise Association Foundation's veteran program. For a broader look at preparing financially, read Paying for a Franchise: Considerations to Help Entrepreneurs Avoid Regret.
The cost question only makes sense alongside the revenue model. Most franchise systems give owners three to seven revenue streams. A Stratus Clean master franchise has nine, and roughly 90% of the revenue is recurring:
In practice, your capital works in two phases. Early on, franchise fees and contract sales generate cash as you build the network. As units mature, royalties, supply sales, insurance revenue, and admin fees compound into a recurring base that does not depend on new sales each month. Roughly 90% recurring revenue is the model's main differentiator.
For system context, franchised regions averaged $3.2 million in unit volume in 2025, the top five regions averaged $9.5 million, and system-wide sales reached $238 million. Calculation and further explanation of these figures appear in Item 19 of our FDD, and Item 7 covers total investment. These are system-level figures, not a representation of what an individual master owner earns, and individual results may differ. We keep every return conversation grounded in Item 19, and we encourage you to do the same with any franchisor. For the full picture, see how a Stratus master franchisee makes money.
The industry you are buying into is an essential service with roughly $100 billion in annual market value. Demand tracks the built environment: every new building and every new business needs cleaning, regardless of the economic cycle, and the sector has held up through pandemics, recessions, and inflation.
Franchising as a whole is expanding, too. The IFA projects $921.4 billion in franchise output across 845,000 establishments in 2026, and commercial and residential services are tied for the fastest-growing franchise sector at 3.2% year over year. Stratus Clean operates in the commercial and facility services category.
Our track record inside that market is why the master franchise cost is a value conversation rather than a price conversation:
"I would definitely do the franchise with Stratus over again. They've been so supportive." Ralph Sizemore, Stratus Clean of Columbia, SC
"Would I do it over? Probably three more times." Michael Seiler, Stratus Clean of Southeast Louisiana
"My experience with Stratus has been excellent, and I would do it over again." David Smith, Stratus Clean of Nashville, TN
Read David Smith's full perspective on the recurring-revenue model and peer support in his franchisee spotlight.
Exclusive territories remain open in dozens of U.S. markets and several Canadian provinces. Check current availability on our Available Territories page, then begin the six-step discovery process. You will review the model, receive the FDD, speak with our leadership team, and validate directly with existing master owners before committing a dollar.
To start the conversation, request information or contact Rob Lancit, VP of Franchise Development, at (516) 551-4773 in the U.S. or (604) 833-0911 in Canada, or by email at rlancit@stratusclean.com. Our Master Franchise Buyer's Checklist is a useful companion as you evaluate the investment.
What does a Stratus Clean master franchise cost in total? The typical all-in investment is $275,000 to $300,000. This includes a master license fee averaging approximately $125,000 and roughly $150,000 in working capital. Item 7 of our FDD provides the authoritative line-item estimate.
Does the master license fee change with territory size? Territories are sized by population and can cover a state or a cluster of counties. The fee for a specific territory is confirmed during discovery. The $125,000 figure is the system average.
How much liquid capital do I need to qualify? Candidates typically need $250,000 or more in net worth and approximately $125,000 to $150,000 in liquid capital. Territory size and market can affect the specifics, which we cover during discovery.
Can I finance a master franchise? Options in franchising include SBA 7(a) loans, ROBS retirement rollovers, home equity, and cash. We discuss the appropriate structure with qualified candidates during discovery, since it depends on your individual financial position.
Is there a discount for veterans? Yes. As a VetFran participant, Stratus Clean offers a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee to qualifying veterans.
Do I need to do any cleaning myself? No. The master franchisor role is an executive, business-development position. You award unit franchises, secure commercial cleaning contracts, and assign those contracts to unit owners. The unit franchisees perform the cleaning.
What does the working capital actually pay for? Office setup, franchise development marketing, contract sales outreach, lean staffing, training travel, and an operating reserve while recurring revenue builds. The master franchisor does not perform cleaning, so the budget centers on business development. Item 7 of our FDD lists the exact categories.
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