Start a Clothes Bin Franchise in 2025

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $141K - $196K

Units as of 2024: 67 76.3% over 3 years

Clothes Bin is a clothing and textile recycling franchise that has developed technology-powered bins that operate in a semi-absentee process for managing, collecting, distributing, and recycling clothes, shoes, and textiles throughout the U.S. Annually, a typical American will discard dozens of pounds of clothes, shoes, and materials. Most of this waste ends up in landfills, where they occupy unnecessary landfill space.

With more than 800 bins at schools throughout the country, Clothes Bin educates the masses on the importance of textile recycling. The franchise also pays the schools for every pound recycled in a bin provided to them. Clothes Bin’s first franchise opened in November of 2016, and the company currently has over 80 operating territories. With absentee ownership allowed, the franchise can be run from home.

Why You May Want to Start a Clothes Bin Franchise

This part-time and semi-absentee ownership franchise may be easy to start, as it requires little equipment to operate. Franchisees who choose Clothes Bin could have more time to spend with their family and do things they love. Clothes Bin may be an ideal opportunity for veterans, firefighters, teachers, entrepreneurs, part-time workers, and anyone looking for a hands-on business.

The company's part-time nature and flexibility also may make it an excellent opportunity for existing franchisees who are willing to diversify and expand their interests into another industry. Prior sales experience is not necessary as a Clothes Bin franchisee. Clothes Bin offers a free training program that equips franchisees with the knowledge required to start and run the business.

What Might Make a Clothes Bin Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Clothes Bin team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees and potential renewal fees. A typical franchise agreement runs for five years. Franchisees may be allowed to renew their agreement if they meet the Clothes Bin requirements. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

Clothes Bin has third-party sources offering financial aid to franchisees that cater to franchise fee, startup costs, and equipment. However, you may need to meet a different set of requirements to get financial assistance.

As you decide if opening a Clothes Bin franchise is the right move for you, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Clothes Bin franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

How To Open a Clothes Bin Franchise

The first step towards Clothes Bin ownership begins with filling out a simple franchise request form. A Clothes Bin franchise representative may contact you to provide you with additional information about their franchise opportunity after receiving your request.

As you progress through the franchising process, be prepared to speak with current franchisees and franchise executives. Prepare questions for them as you read the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document. You may then be asked to attend a discovery day at company headquarters in Davie, Florida.

Should you be granted a Clothes Bin franchise, a suitable territory will be allocated to you, and you'll pay the necessary initial fees. After this, you will participate in the relevant training program and be free to open your Clothes Bin franchise.

Company Overview

About Clothes Bin

Industry	Services (Other)
Related Categories	Miscellaneous Services
Founded	2014
Parent Company	Recycling Brands LLC
Leadership	Marc Douglas, Chairman
Corporate Address	3911 S.W. 47th Ave., #903 Davie, FL 33314
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2015 (10 years)
# of employees at HQ	20
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
# of Units	67 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Clothes Bin franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$49,500
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$141,340 - $196,380
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$500,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$125,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$5,000 off first-unit franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	$6/bin/wk.
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	5 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

In-House Financing	Clothes Bin offers in-house financing to cover the following: equipment
Third Party Financing	Clothes Bin has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

Classroom Training	8 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Social Media SEO Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	Yes
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	Yes
# of employees required to run	1-2
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes