In a ‘Dirty Job’ Industry, This Franchise Keeps Finding Clean Growth

When Cory Chalmers started Steri-Clean more than three decades ago, the work was practically invisible. He was dealing with crime scenes, hoarded homes, and infectious contamination. It was difficult work that nobody wanted to talk about. Today, that quiet corner of the service world has turned into a remarkably steady growth story.

Steri-Clean is sitting at #353 on Entrepreneur‘s 2026 Franchise 500, and it marks another year as the top brand in the biohazard cleaning category. The company ranks in the top 25% for size and growth and the top 15% for financial strength. That is a huge win for a business built on jobs most people hope they never have to call for.

Unlike restoration brands that treat biohazard work as a side hustle, Steri-Clean has made it the primary fous. They handle extreme cleaning with a level of precision and empathy that most general cleaners can’t match. That specialization is paying off now because demand is rising for services that you just can’t automate or outsource.

Why verification is the new industry standard

Over the past year, the Steri-Clean poured resources into technical innovation. One of the biggest moves was expanding infection-control capabilities with advanced verification technology. This gear detects contamination that traditional cleaning methods miss. The system targets threats like C. diff (Clostridioides difficile), a dangerous bacterium that causes hundreds of thousands of infections annually. It proves to the client that a space is disinfected rather than just looking clean. For franchisees, this moves the conversation away from promises and replaces it with hard data.

This tech has opened doors at hospitals, retirement communities, and residential settings. New relationships with carriers and a national third-party administrator are now delivering steady volume and high-value projects. This means franchisees don’t have to sit around waiting for one-off calls. In a niche industry, that kind of consistency is everything.

Behind the scenes, the company completely overhauled its operating engine. A new HubSpot-based system now runs lead management and customer communication. The result is faster response times and fewer dropped opportunities. By cutting the administrative noise, owners can focus on their bottom line instead of chasing paperwork.

The timing for these changes is perfect.

Hoarding cases are being identified more often now, and trauma calls aren’t slowing down. As AI changes white-collar work, more people are looking for businesses grounded in the real world. You can’t automate compassion and you can’t outsource discretion. You still need people who show up.

Chalmers is still deeply involved. He guides the strategy and stays close to the owners in the field. That leadership, paired with proprietary processes and a growing reputation with big institutions, has positioned Steri-Clean for expansion in a category that very few competitors actually understand.

It’s not easy work, but Steri-Clean keeps proving that the toughest jobs can build a very durable business.

Click here to learn more about Steri-Clean and their exciting franchise opportunities.