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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Duraclean Int'l. Inc.

Disaster restoration & cleaning, mold remediation

Background

Founded: 1930 Franchising since: 1945
When Marjorie Marshall got her rug back from the cleaners, the color was faded and the rug damaged. Upset by the condition of her rug and the fact that no cleaners could guarantee safe upholstery cleaning, Marshall asked her husband if he could develop a process to safely clean carpets and upholstery.

He did, and in 1930 Irl Marshall Sr. opened The Home Service Co., parent of Duraclean International Inc., in Racine, Wisconsin. The company originally offered mothproofing service, but eventually switched to upholstery and carpet cleaning. In 1943, the Marshalls began franchising.

Today Duraclean has expanded its services to include drapery cleaning, ceiling cleaning, fire and water damage restoration, deodorization, fabric protection and janitorial services.

220 Campus Dr.
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
Phone:
(800)251-7070/ (847)704-7100


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 20 employee(s); 3 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 172 3 171 8
2008 174 3 170 8
2007 173 3 171 18
2006 196 4 174 20
2005 214 6 168 8

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $51K-91.5K
Franchise fee: $17.5K
Ongoing royalty fee: 4-8%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable


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

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

Operations
  • Franchise can be run from home
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 14 days
  • Continuing education classes, annual meeting

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Ad slicks

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#328 (2007); #330 (2006); #170 (2005);

Low-Cost Franchises:
#85 (2006); #40 (2005);

Top Home Based Franchises:
#95 (2007); #90 (2006); #42 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#124 (2007); #109 (2006); #97 (2005);