A home services franchise costs $73,878 to $385,570 to open across eight trades in 2026 FDDs, and the trade you pick also decides whether a state license, a $90,000 truck or neither stands between you and the first paid job.
Key takeaways
- Plumbing or HVAC, pest control and restoration need a state license in all three states checked here: California, Florida and Texas (for example Texas Occupations Code section 1301.351).
- Florida lets unlicensed workers take jobs under $2,500 in total contract price (Fla. Stat. 489.103(9)); California’s cap is under $1,000 and only without a building permit (Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code 7048).
- College Hunks Hauling Junk estimates a new junk truck at $90,000 in Item 7, Note 6 of its FDD issued April 30, 2026, as amended August 26, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS filing).
- Molly Maid must open with at least two vehicles, typically $23,500 to $26,500 each to buy new (Item 7, Note 5, FDD issued April 1, 2026).
- Seven of the eight sample FDDs put the low end of Item 7 above $130,000; the exception is HouseMaster at $73,878 (FDD issued April 1, 2026).
| Key number | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Item 7 low end in the eight-trade sample | $73,878 (home inspection) | HouseMaster FDD, issued April 1, 2026, Item 7 |
| Highest Item 7 high end in the sample | $385,570 (restoration) | Servpro FDD, issued April 15, 2026, Item 7 |
| New junk truck with custom dump bed | $90,000 | College Hunks FDD, Item 7, Note 6 |
| California unlicensed job cap | under $1,000, no permit, no employees | Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code 7048; CSLB release #24-21 |
| Florida unlicensed job cap | under $2,500 | Fla. Stat. 489.103(9) |
| Fee discount for a licensed pesticide applicator | $2,500 | Mosquito Joe FDD, issued April 1, 2026, Item 5 |
The eight trades side by side: license load, vehicles and Item 7
Each row below pairs one home service trade with one current Franchise Disclosure Document, the vehicle rule that FDD sets and the Item 7 total it discloses. Item 7 is the “YOUR ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT” table required by 16 CFR 436.5(g). Trades run alphabetically; the brand in each row is a sample filing, not a pick.
| Trade | Sample FDD (issued) | Item 7 total | Vehicles and equipment the FDD sets | States of 3 with a license required at any job size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning (residential) | Molly Maid (April 1, 2026) | $144,150 to $203,950 | At least two vehicles at opening; Initial Startup Package $8,000 to $9,000 | 0 | Molly Maid FDD, Item 7 |
| Handyman | Ace Handyman Services (March 25, 2026, amended June 5, 2026) | $132,200 to $226,000 | No vehicle required until three full-time craftsmen; truck or van line $0 to $9,000 | 0 (license above the CA $1,000 and FL $2,500 caps) | Ace Handyman Services FDD, Item 7 |
| Home inspection | HouseMaster (April 1, 2026) | $73,878 to $132,689 | Not coded in our dataset; read the Item 7 notes | 2 | HouseMaster FDD, Item 7 |
| Junk removal | College Hunks Hauling Junk (April 30, 2026, amended August 26, 2026) | $138,100 to $232,000 | One truck with a custom dump bed; about 1,500 square feet of office and warehouse | 0 | College Hunks FDD, Item 7 |
| Lawn and pest | Mosquito Joe (April 1, 2026) | $150,155 to $191,575 | 1 to 2 vehicles; tools and equipment $5,500 to $6,500 | 3 | Mosquito Joe FDD, Item 7 |
| Painting | Painter Bros (April 15, 2026) | $187,579 to $375,874 | Not coded in our dataset; read the Item 7 notes | 0 (CSLB C-33 from $1,000 in CA) | Painter Bros FDD, Item 7 |
| Plumbing or HVAC | Mr. Rooter (April 2, 2026) | $152,900 to $298,675 | Vehicle $25,000 to $69,300; equipment, supplies and inventory $25,000 to $40,000 | 3 | Mr. Rooter FDD, Item 7 |
| Restoration | Servpro (April 15, 2026) | $263,305 to $385,570 | Vehicle $5,000 to $69,900; Equipment and Products Package $112,000 | 3 | Servpro FDD, Item 7 |
The license column counts California, Florida and Texas statutes we opened in November 2026. A zero does not mean no paperwork: Molly Maid’s Item 7 still budgets $100 to $1,000 for permits and licenses, and College Hunks budgets $500 to $2,000, including dump permits. For the sector’s franchise share and loan counts, see our home service franchise statistics report.
Which trades need a state license before the first paid job?
Three of the eight trades need a state license in every state checked: plumbing or HVAC, pest control and restoration work that touches mold. The FDDs say so themselves. Mr. Rooter’s Item 1 states that “You are responsible for obtaining a plumbing license”, and Mosquito Joe’s Item 1 warns that some jurisdictions require 1 to 3 years of pesticide experience before a business license issues.
The license does not always have to sit with the franchise owner. Mosquito Joe’s Item 1 says an owner without the experience “must hire (or partner with) at least one individual who has and maintains the valid necessary license”. Its Item 7, Note 10 prices that route: the high estimate of $3,200 for licenses covers “retaining a certified pest control professional for three months, along with a pesticide business license.”
Restoration carries a layered rule. The Servpro FDD issued April 15, 2026 lists in Item 1 a California license to remove water or fire damaged building materials, a mold remediation license in Louisiana, Texas, the District of Columbia, New York, Tennessee and Florida, and IICRC or equivalent certification in Illinois and Virginia. A buyer who wants Servpro specifics can read our Servpro franchise cost breakdown.
Which trades carry little or no state licensing?
Residential cleaning and junk removal carry the lightest state load. Molly Maid’s Item 1 says “There are no regulations specific only to the residential housekeeping industry that we are aware of.” College Hunks lists dump permits and local business licenses in Item 7, Note 9, and warns that moving licenses, for owners who add the College Hunks Moving concept, “vary significantly state by state.”
California, Florida and Texas rules, trade by trade
The three states license the same trades through different agencies and thresholds. California runs most construction trades through the Contractors State License Board with letter classes; Florida splits them among the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Texas uses separate chapters of the Occupations Code for plumbers, air conditioning, inspectors, pest control and mold.
| Trade | California | Florida | Texas | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | No state trade license found | No state trade license found | No state trade license found | Molly Maid FDD, Item 1 |
| Handyman | Unlicensed only under $1,000 total and no permit or employees (BPC 7048) | Unlicensed only under $2,500 total (s. 489.103(9)) | None found for general handyman work; plumbing and AC work still licensed | BPC 7048; Fla. Stat. 489.103 |
| Home inspection | Defined in BPC 7195; no state inspector license found | DBPR license (s. 468.8314) | Texas Real Estate Commission license (Occ. Code 1102.103) | BPC 7195; Fla. Stat. 468.8314; Occ. Code ch. 1102 |
| Junk removal | No state trade license found | No state trade license found | No state trade license found | College Hunks FDD, Item 7, Note 9 |
| Lawn and pest | Structural pest control license (BPC 8550) | FDACS pest control business license (s. 482.071) | Department of Agriculture business license (Occ. Code 1951.301) | BPC 8550; Fla. Stat. 482.071; Occ. Code ch. 1951 |
| Painting | CSLB C-33 Painting and Decorating license at $1,000 and up | Not among the s. 489.105 contractor definitions | None found | CSLB classifications; Fla. Stat. 489.105 |
| Plumbing or HVAC | CSLB C-36 Plumbing or C-20 HVAC license | Plumbing or Class A air-conditioning contractor (s. 489.105) | Plumbing license under a responsible master plumber (Occ. Code 1301.351); TDLR air conditioning license (Occ. Code 1302.251) | Occ. Code ch. 1301; Occ. Code ch. 1302 |
| Restoration | License to remove water or fire damaged materials (Servpro Item 1) | Mold assessor and remediator rules (Part XVI, ch. 468; s. 468.8419) | Mold remediation license (Occ. Code 1958.101) | Fla. Stat. 468.8419; Occ. Code ch. 1958 |
California’s handyman ceiling rose from $500 to $1,000 on January 1, 2025 under Assembly Bill 2622, and the CSLB release of December 30, 2024 says the $1,000 “includes all costs associated with the project.” Florida’s cap in s. 489.103(9) does not protect a person who “advertises that he or she is a contractor.”
Which federal rule applies to painting and handyman work on older homes?
Painting and handyman franchises face one federal layer on top. Under 40 CFR 745.81(a)(2)(ii), no firm may perform renovations in target housing (homes built before 1978) without EPA certification since April 22, 2010. Ace Handyman Services’ Item 1 requires that certification for the business and at least one person before initial training; our handyman franchise comparison of four FDDs covers the rule in detail.
Texas pest licensing reaches outdoor work. Occupations Code section 1951.003 counts identifying pests “of trees, shrubs, or other plantings in a park or adjacent to a residence” as the business of structural pest control, so a mosquito or tick barrier service in Texas sits inside chapter 1951. This is general information about statutes, not legal advice; confirm the current rule with the licensing agency in your state before you sign.
How much vehicle does each trade make you put on the road?
Vehicle rules split the trades more sharply than fees do. Ace Handyman Services requires no vehicle until three full-time craftsmen, while Molly Maid and Mr. Handyman require two at opening and College Hunks requires a truck with its own dump bed design. The Item 7 vehicle line usually prices a lease, a down payment or a wrap, not a purchase.
| Trade and FDD | Item 7 vehicle line (low to high) | What the line assumes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning: Molly Maid | $3,900 to $5,500 (auto lease deposit and lease expense) | Leasing; two vehicles minimum | Item 7, Note 5 |
| Handyman: Ace Handyman Services | $0 to $9,000 (truck or van) | No vehicle until three full-time craftsmen | Item 7, Note 5 |
| Junk removal: College Hunks | $3,000 to $25,000 (down payment), plus $5,500 to $10,000 paint and signage | Financed truck; one service vehicle | Item 7, Notes 5 and 6 |
| Lawn and pest: Mosquito Joe | $3,000 to $10,000 (vehicle, shelving and decals) | Lease with costs bundled at the low end; 1 to 2 vehicles | Item 7, Note 6 |
| Plumbing or HVAC: Mr. Rooter | $25,000 to $69,300 (vehicle) | Low: marks on an existing vehicle; high: purchase plus marks and racks | Item 7, Note 2 |
| Restoration: Servpro | $5,000 to $69,900 (vehicle) | Low: repaint of an existing vehicle; high: new vehicle | Item 7, Note 2 |
Vehicle lines run from $0 (Ace Handyman Services) to $69,900 (Servpro, new vehicle). Source: Item 7 of 2026 FDDs, Minnesota CARDS, accessed October and November 2026.
Where the business can sit matters for the same reason. Mosquito Joe’s Item 7, Note 4 says “We encourage you to operate your franchise from your home, if local zoning laws permit,” and Mr. Rooter’s Note 10 allows home operation inside the territory. College Hunks’ Note 4 says the opposite: “You may not operate your Franchised Business from your home.” Our home-based franchise review of 48 FDDs lists more systems on each side.
Buying the trucks instead of leasing: arithmetic from the Item 7 notes
Item 7 vehicle lines in this sample assume a lease, a down payment or an existing vehicle, so a buyer who pays cash for vehicles needs more than the Item 7 total. The rows below multiply the purchase prices printed in each FDD’s own notes by the vehicle count that FDD requires, then subtract the Item 7 high figure for the same line.
| FDD | Vehicles required | Purchase cost from the FDD note | Item 7 line, high | Extra cash if bought outright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molly Maid | 2 | 2 x $23,500 to $26,500 = $47,000 to $53,000 | $5,500 | $41,500 to $47,500 |
| Mr. Handyman | 2 vans | 2 x $50,000 to $60,000 = $100,000 to $120,000 | $15,000 (vehicle expenses, 3 months) | $85,000 to $105,000 |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk | 1 truck | 1 x $90,000 = $90,000 | $25,000 (down payment) | $65,000 |
| Mosquito Joe | 1 to 2 | Decals and upfit: 2 x $6,800 = $13,600 (vehicle itself not priced) | $10,000 | $3,600 before the vehicle |
The Mr. Handyman figures come from Item 7, Note 4 of its FDD issued April 1, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS filing), which states the business “must begin operation with two vans” at $50,000 to $60,000 each to buy and outfit. Financing instead of paying cash shifts this gap into monthly payments, which then compete with the $50,000 to $75,000 that College Hunks budgets as three months of additional funds for a junk-only unit.
Where do the eight Item 7 ranges sit against each other?
The eight ranges overlap heavily between about $130,000 and $230,000, with home inspection below that band and painting and restoration above it. HouseMaster starts at $73,878, while Painter Bros reaches $375,874 and Servpro $385,570. Ranges this wide inside one trade mean the vehicle and territory choices inside a system can matter as much as the trade itself.
Item 7 totals run from $73,878 (HouseMaster, low) to $385,570 (Servpro, high). Source: 2026 FDDs, Minnesota CARDS, accessed October and November 2026.
Item 7 totals also include a working capital line, which explains part of the spread. Mr. Rooter budgets $20,000 to $45,000 in additional funds for 3 months, Molly Maid $50,000 to $60,000 and Mosquito Joe $16,780 to $28,050. The research report on franchise initial investment across 259 FDDs places these totals against other sectors.
What does a home services FDD say about owner income, and where?
All four FDDs opened for this page include an Item 19 financial performance representation, and none of them is an owner income statement. Mr. Rooter’s Item 19 starts on page 81 with a report on gross sales, Mosquito Joe’s on page 72, College Hunks’ on page 68 and Molly Maid’s on page 66. We do not reproduce those figures; the FTC rule makes Item 19 optional under 16 CFR 436.5(s).
Gross sales are not what an owner keeps. To move from an Item 19 sales figure to your own estimate, subtract the Item 6 royalty and marketing fees, the vehicle payments the Item 7 notes imply, technician wages and insurance. College Hunks’ Item 7, Note 14 states that its estimate “assumes you will not draw a personal salary or self-payment for at least the first twelve (12) months of operation,” a planning fact to test against your savings.
Published claims against the filings
Several top-ranking pages on this topic give cost and licensing statements with no FDD item, issue date or statute. The table sets five of those statements, described without naming the sites, against what the filed documents and statutes say as of November 2026. Each correction cites the primary document, so a reader can check it in the original.
| Statement in circulation | What the filing or statute shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A consultant guide (June 2025) puts home service investment at “under $50,000 to well over $150,000” | Seven of eight sample FDDs start above $130,000; the lowest low end is $73,878 | Item 7 of the eight FDDs listed above |
| Home service models need “minimal equipment” | Mr. Handyman requires two vans at $50,000 to $60,000 each; College Hunks prices a new junk truck at $90,000 | Mr. Handyman Item 7, Note 4; College Hunks Item 7, Note 6 |
| Licensing matters “especially for electrical and plumbing work” | Pest control, home inspection and mold remediation also require state licenses in Florida and Texas | Fla. Stat. 482.071, 468.8314; Tex. Occ. Code 1951.301, 1102.103, 1958.101 |
| Directory “cash required” figures read as the cost to open | Item 7 totals add three months of working capital, for example $50,000 to $75,000 at College Hunks (junk only) | College Hunks Item 7, Note 14 |
| Home service franchises run from home | College Hunks bars home operation and plans about 1,500 square feet of office and warehouse | College Hunks Item 7, Note 4 |
Which trade fits the license you hold and the cash you have?
Start from the license question, then the vehicle question, then the job size question. A buyer who holds or will hire a plumbing, HVAC, pest or inspector license can consider every row; a buyer without one is limited to cleaning and junk removal, or to handyman work under California’s $1,000 and Florida’s $2,500 caps, unless a licensed partner joins.
| If this describes you | Then look first at | Threshold or rule behind it |
|---|---|---|
| You hold a plumbing, HVAC, pest or inspector license, or will hire someone who does | Licensed trades: plumbing or HVAC, lawn and pest, home inspection, restoration | Tex. Occ. Code 1301.351, 1302.251, 1951.301, 1102.103; Fla. Stat. 489.105, 482.071, 468.8314 |
| No license, and you can finance a new junk truck estimated at $90,000 | Junk removal or cleaning (no state trade license found) | College Hunks Item 7, Note 6; Molly Maid Item 1 |
| No license, no truck financing, and most jobs stay under $1,000 in California or $2,500 in Florida | Handyman under the cap, or cleaning with two vehicles at $23,500 to $26,500 each | BPC 7048; Fla. Stat. 489.103(9); Molly Maid Item 7, Note 5 |
| No license and larger jobs | Cleaning, or a licensed partner for painting (CSLB C-33) and larger handyman jobs | CSLB classifications; BPC 7048 |
| You need the lowest Item 7 low end in this sample | Home inspection at $73,878, if you can be licensed in Florida or Texas | HouseMaster Item 7; Fla. Stat. 468.8314; Tex. Occ. Code 1102.103 |
| You want to start without a branded vehicle | Handyman systems that defer vehicles, such as Ace Handyman Services until three full-time craftsmen | Ace Handyman Services Item 7, Note 5 |
| You want to run the business from home | Lawn and pest or plumbing systems that permit it; not junk removal | Mosquito Joe Item 7, Note 4; Mr. Rooter Note 10; College Hunks Note 4 |
A franchise consultant can shortlist systems inside a trade once the trade is settled; our page on what a franchise consultant does explains how they are paid. For commercial janitorial instead of residential cleaning, the commercial cleaning franchise account packages page covers a different model, where the franchisor sells accounts.
How we compiled this
We opened four FDDs filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Mr. Rooter, Mosquito Joe, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Molly Maid), reused verified Item 7 lines from three FDDs in our live source files (Ace Handyman Services, Mr. Handyman, Servpro) and took two Item 7 totals from our coded FDD dataset (Painter Bros, HouseMaster). We read 19 statute sections, federal regulations and agency pages for California, Florida, Texas and the U.S. in November 2026, using Wayback Machine copies where a state site blocked or did not render for automated reading. We excluded every Item 19 figure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a home services franchise?
It is a franchise that sends workers to the customer’s home: cleaning, handyman, inspection, junk removal, lawn and pest, painting, plumbing or HVAC and restoration. In the eight 2026 FDDs reviewed here, Item 7 totals run from $73,878 (HouseMaster) to $385,570 (Servpro), and three of the eight trades need a state license in California, Florida and Texas.
Which home services franchise can I start for under $100,000?
In this eight-trade sample only home inspection starts under $100,000: HouseMaster’s Item 7 low end is $73,878 in its FDD issued April 1, 2026. Florida (s. 468.8314) and Texas (Occ. Code 1102.103) require an inspector license. Our franchises under $100k guide lists other systems below that line.
Can I run a home services franchise from my house?
It depends on the system’s FDD, not the trade label. Mosquito Joe’s Item 7, Note 4 encourages home operation where zoning permits, and Mr. Rooter’s Note 10 allows it inside the territory. College Hunks’ Note 4 says you may not operate from home and plans about 1,500 square feet of office and warehouse space.
How much do home services franchise owners make?
This site does not publish income figures. Mr. Rooter, Mosquito Joe, College Hunks and Molly Maid each include gross sales data in Item 19 of their 2026 FDDs, starting on pages 81, 72, 68 and 66. Owner income is what remains after Item 6 fees, vehicle payments, wages and insurance, so build it from those items.
Do I need a contractor's license to own a home services franchise?
Only for some trades and states. California requires a CSLB license for jobs of $1,000 or more or any job needing a permit (BPC 7048), and Florida’s exemption stops at $2,500 (s. 489.103(9)). Plumbing, HVAC and pest work need state licenses in all three states checked, which a hired license holder can sometimes supply.
Who owns Mr. Rooter, Molly Maid and Mosquito Joe?
Each brand has its own franchisor entity: Mr. Rooter SPV LLC, Molly Maid SPV LLC and Mosquito Joe SPV LLC. Item 1 of each 2026 FDD states that the franchisor is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Neighborly Assetco LLC. Mr. Rooter’s Item 1 lists sister brands such as Mr. Handyman and HouseMaster that may compete in your territory.
Sources
- Mr. Rooter Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 2, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Mosquito Joe Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed November 3, 2026)
- College Hunks Hauling Junk and College Hunks Moving Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026, as amended August 26, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Molly Maid Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Ace Handyman Services Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 25, 2026, as amended June 5, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed October 20, 2026)
- Mr. Handyman Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed October 20, 2026)
- Servpro Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 15, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; accessed October 27, 2026)
- Painter Bros Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 15, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; Item 7 total from our coded dataset)
- HouseMaster Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026 (Minnesota CARDS; Item 7 total from our coded dataset)
- 16 CFR 436.5, FTC Franchise Rule disclosure items, via Legal Information Institute (accessed November 3, 2026)
- 40 CFR 745.81, EPA renovation firm certification, via Legal Information Institute (accessed November 3, 2026)
- California Contractors State License Board, license classifications (accessed November 3, 2026)
- California Contractors State License Board, release #24-21, December 30, 2024 (accessed November 3, 2026)
- California Business and Professions Code section 7048 (read via Wayback Machine capture of August 14, 2026; accessed November 3, 2026)
- California Business and Professions Code section 8550 (Wayback Machine capture of December 31, 2023; accessed November 3, 2026)
- California Business and Professions Code section 7195 (Wayback Machine capture of August 19, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes section 489.103 (2025) (accessed November 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes section 489.105 (2025) (accessed November 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes section 468.8314 (2025) (accessed November 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes section 468.8419 (2025) (accessed November 3, 2026)
- Florida Statutes section 482.071 (2025) (accessed November 3, 2026)
- Texas Occupations Code chapter 1301, Plumbers (Wayback Machine capture of October 17, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Texas Occupations Code chapter 1302, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (Wayback Machine capture of November 16, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Texas Occupations Code chapter 1102, Real Estate Inspectors (Wayback Machine capture of December 7, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Texas Occupations Code chapter 1951, Structural Pest Control (Wayback Machine capture of November 17, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)
- Texas Occupations Code chapter 1958, Mold Assessors and Remediators (Wayback Machine capture of December 7, 2025; accessed November 3, 2026)