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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Comet Cleaners

Dry cleaning & laundry services

Background

Founded: 1947 Franchising since: 1967
R.L. (Jack) Godfrey founded the original Comet Cleaners in 1960. Today, the family-run company, under the direction of Godfrey's son and grandson, has over 300 location in the United States and Mexico providing one-hour dry cleaning services.
406 W. Division St.
Arlington, Texas 76011
Phone:
(817)461-3555


Franchisor has 7 employee(s); 5 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2006 272 0 11 10
2005 265 0 11 9

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah

Exclusive territories available.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $237.5K-472K
Franchise fee: $25K-50K
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No Yes
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Third-party financing source(s): various lenders

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $200K
Cash liquidity requirement: $50K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience

Operations
  • 55% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (75% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 1 week
  • At franchisee's location: 2 weeks

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Grand opening
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations
  • Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support
  • Co-op advertising
  • Ad slicks

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#365 (2006); #338 (2005);