How much does a ServiceMaster Restore franchise cost?
A new U.S. ServiceMaster Restore franchise requires an estimated initial investment of $287,800 to $474,340. The April 30, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document applies this range to the Disaster Restoration License, the only license currently offered to a new franchisee. The range includes the $72,500 Initial Franchise Fee and $80,000 to $135,000 of Additional Funds for pre-opening expenses and the first three months of operation.
2026 FDD, Item 7, pages 44–47, for a Disaster Restoration License. The official total includes opening equipment, a truck financing assumption, premises costs, training travel, insurance, launch advertising and three months of Additional Funds. It does not establish a separate Liquid Capital or Net Worth threshold.
Data basis. Legal franchisor: ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC. FDD issuance date: April 30, 2026. Cost sources: Item 5, pages 28–30; Item 6, pages 30–43; Item 7, pages 44–47; Item 10, page 53; cost-relevant portions of Items 11 and 17. Information checked July 19, 2026. The franchisor appears on the Wisconsin active franchise registration list. No matching 2026 FDD was located on an official franchise-controlled public website, so FDD references below are intentionally unlinked.
An official franchise cost article published in 2023 still displays $255,075 to $365,310. That marketing-page range does not match the April 2026 FDD. For the current offer, the FDD's $287,800 to $474,340 range is the controlling disclosure.
Which figures matter most before opening?
The five figures below separate the entry payment, physical setup, working capital and recurring obligations. They are not interchangeable: the Initial Franchise Fee is only one part of the Estimated Initial Investment, and the Additional Funds estimate is already included in Item 7.
What is included in the $287,800 to $474,340 range?
The 2026 Item 7 range combines payments to ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC with amounts paid to vendors, insurers, a landlord, employees, utilities and government agencies. The largest disclosed variables are Equipment and Supplies and Additional Funds.
The geometry compares disclosed low and high bounds on a common $0–$150,000 scale; it does not imply a recommended spending level.
Source: 2026 ServiceMaster Restore FDD, Item 7, pages 44–47. All plotted values are official FDD ranges or fixed amounts.
Contract, equipment and pre-opening operating setup
These categories are generally committed at signing or before the Restore Franchise opens. A Conversion Franchise may be able to reuse compliant assets, but Item 7 still presents one official range for new and conversion development.
| Item 7 category | 2026 range | When due | FDD page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $72,500 | Upon signing the Franchise Agreement | 44 |
| Equipment and Supplies | $85,000–$150,000 | Before opening, as incurred | 44–45 |
| Truck | $9,000–$13,500 | Before opening, as incurred | 44–45 |
| Technology System | $1,800–$3,000 | Before opening, as incurred | 44–45 |
| Travel and Other Expenses During AOS Training | $4,000–$7,000 | Before opening | 44–46 |
| Insurance | $10,000–$26,000 | Before opening, as arranged | 44–46 |
Launch, premises and initial working capital
The Additional Funds category covers expenses before opening and through the first three operating months. It includes employee salaries, wages and benefits, payroll taxes, ongoing vehicle and rent payments, utilities, Initial Local Advertising Fees, Local Advertising Commitments, leasehold improvements and other operating items. The FDD does not expressly identify owner compensation as included.
| Item 7 category | 2026 range | When due | FDD page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certifications | $0–$340 | Before opening, as arranged | 44–46 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $10,000–$12,000 | As incurred; at least $10,000 before services begin | 44–46 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Expenses | $1,000–$10,000 | As incurred | 44–46 |
| Real Estate Expenses | $8,000–$25,000 | As incurred | 44–47 |
| Professional Fees | $5,000–$15,000 | As incurred | 44–47 |
| Additional Funds — first 3 months | $80,000–$135,000 | Before and after opening, as incurred | 44–47 |
| Official Total for Disaster Restoration License | $287,800–$474,340 | Multiple payment points | 44 |
The Item 7 line items add arithmetically to $286,300 at the low end and $469,340 at the high end, while the FDD states an official total of $287,800 to $474,340. The document does not explain the $1,500 low-end and $5,000 high-end differences. This article preserves the official total rather than replacing it with a recalculated total; a prospective franchisee should request written reconciliation from the franchisor.
Does the cost change for a conversion or multi-unit purchase?
Yes, but the differences operate through asset reuse and Initial Franchise Fee tiers rather than separate Item 7 totals. New franchisees receive a Disaster Restoration License. A Conversion Franchise is included within the same $287,800 to $474,340 Item 7 range, although compliant existing equipment, trucks or premises may reduce actual out-of-pocket spending.
The fee declines per territory when multiple Restore Franchises are purchased at the same time. These are fee tiers, not total development costs.
Source: 2026 ServiceMaster Restore FDD, Item 5, pages 28–29. Values are official Initial Franchise Fee amounts per franchise.
ServiceMaster Restore's license and conversion distinctions
The FDD names three SM License types, but they do not represent three new-franchise investment packages. The distinction matters because an existing license transfer or renewal can create a different cost contract from opening a new Restore Franchise.
Item 5 also discloses a 20% Military Discount, a 15% Affiliate Discount and a 15% Conversion Franchise Discount. Only one discount may be used. Incentives can be changed or canceled, and a discount reduces the Initial Franchise Fee rather than every Item 7 category. The official multi-unit franchise information confirms that the system supports multiple territories, but the 2026 FDD controls the actual fee tiers.
When is the money paid?
The capital is not paid as one lump sum. The Initial Franchise Fee is paid at signing; vendor and premises costs accumulate before opening; launch advertising precedes customer service; Additional Funds bridge the opening period; and Operating Fees are collected on recurring schedules.
Pay the applicable Initial Franchise Fee by credit card, check or ACH. For one new Restore Franchise, the 2026 amount is $72,500 and is generally non-refundable once the agreement is executed.
Acquire Equipment and Supplies, the truck, Technology System, insurance, certifications and AOS Training travel. Secure a Dispatch Office and pay related deposits or initial rent.
Spend at least $10,000 on Eligible Local Marketing before beginning services. Item 7 estimates Grand Opening Advertising at $10,000 to $12,000.
Use the $80,000 to $135,000 Additional Funds allowance for payroll, rent, vehicle payments, utilities, licenses, marketing and other opening-period expenses. This amount is already inside the official Item 7 total.
Royalties and advertising obligations are generally due monthly by the 20th. Required Technology Fees are monthly, quarterly or annual depending on the software. The $5,000 Initial Local Advertising Fee continues for 12 months after operations begin.
The FTC's franchise buyer guide explains that the FDD must be delivered at least 14 calendar days before a prospect signs a binding agreement or makes a payment to the franchisor or its affiliate. The underlying requirement comes from the FTC Franchise Rule.
Which fees continue after opening?
The main ongoing burden is not one percentage. A new Restore Franchise combines the Royalty Fee, Ad Fund Contribution, Local Advertising Commitment, first-year Initial Local Advertising Fee and required Technology Fees. Construction Services can create a separate fee basis.
| Ongoing obligation | Amount or basis | Timing | 2026 FDD source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties | Greater of 10% of monthly Gross Service Sales or the applicable minimum | Monthly by the 20th | Item 6, pp. 30–31 |
| Royalty minimum ramp for a new Restore Franchise | $0 in months 1–4 after signing; $250 in months 5–12; $750 thereafter | Applied within the monthly royalty calculation | Item 6, p. 30 |
| Ad Fund Contribution | 2% of monthly Gross Service Sales through $7.5 million in Group Sales; 0.5% above that threshold | Monthly by the 20th | Item 6, pp. 30–31 |
| Local Advertising Commitment | 2% through $7.5 million in Group Sales; 3.5% above that threshold | Spent monthly; shortfall payable on demand | Item 6, pp. 31, 58–59 |
| Initial Local Advertising Fee | $5,000 per month for the first 12 months after opening | Monthly by the 20th | Item 6, p. 31 |
| Required Technology Fees | Restore 365 Plus: $650/month primary office plus $50/month each additional location; estimating software: $1,099/year; business intelligence software: $450/quarter | Monthly, annual or quarterly | Item 6, pp. 33–34 |
| Construction Services Fee | 3% of monthly Gross Service Sales from Construction Services under the amendment; those revenues are excluded from Royalties | Monthly by the 20th | Item 6, pp. 35–36 |
| Credentialing and Background Check Fee | Currently $165 per year, when required | As incurred | Item 6, p. 35 |
For a new Restore Franchise, the Ad Fund Contribution and Local Advertising Commitment are separate obligations, and the $5,000 monthly Initial Local Advertising Fee is additional to both. The FDD caps the combined Ad Fund Contribution and Local Advertising Commitment at 4% of Gross Service Sales, but that cap does not include the Initial Local Advertising Fee.
The required Restore 365 Plus setup fee of $3,500 for the primary place of business is included in the Initial Franchise Fee. Optional sketching and weather software, Optional Programs, additional AOS trainees, ongoing training events andconventions can add further charges. The official U.S. ServiceMaster Restore website describes the restoration service network, but it does not replace the Item 6 fee schedule.
Does ServiceMaster Restore disclose a cash or net-worth minimum?
The 2026 FDD does not state a specific Liquid Capital, Net Worth or Non-Borrowed Funds minimum. A prospect therefore should not treat a directory's financial threshold as an official current requirement. The disclosed Item 7 range is a startup-cost estimate, not a statement of how much cash a lender or the franchisor will require from a particular applicant.
- Estimated Initial Investment
- $287,800 to $474,340 for the Disaster Restoration License under 2026 Item 7.
- Liquid Capital
- No numeric threshold is disclosed in the 2026 FDD. Liquid Capital would ordinarily mean funds readily available, but no brand-specific amount should be inferred.
- Net Worth
- No numeric threshold is disclosed in the 2026 FDD. Net Worth is not the same as cash available to fund opening costs.
- Personal Guarantee
- Item 9 identifies a Personal Guaranty obligation for owners; the agreement terms should be reviewed separately from the startup-cost range.
- Franchisor Financing
- ServiceMaster Clean/Restore SPE LLC and its affiliates do not offer direct or indirect financing and do not guarantee notes, leases or other obligations.
Item 10 says the franchisor may refer prospects to banks or third-party lenders, but it has no financing arrangement with those lenders and receives no benefit if financing is obtained. Item 7 separately assumes that a startup truck may be financed with approximately 10% down, plus the first payment and vehicle graphics; this is an estimate, not a financing commitment. External options may include programs described by the U.S. Small Business Administration, subject to lender underwriting and program eligibility.
Which fees arise only after a specific event or problem?
Renewal, transfer, noncompliance and default events can create substantial charges outside the opening range. These amounts should not be added to Item 7 as if they are all paid at startup; they apply only when the stated trigger occurs.
What should a prospect verify before treating the range as a funding plan?
The 2026 FDD provides the cost contract, but it does not resolve every local or applicant-specific amount. The most important verification points are the Item 7 arithmetic difference, local premises and insurance costs, equipment reuse for a conversion, and the capital standard applied during approval.
What is the practical cost takeaway?
The current official starting point is $287,800 to $474,340 for a new U.S. Disaster Restoration License under the 2026 FDD. Equipment and Supplies, Additional Funds, insurance and real estate create most of the disclosed variability. The $72,500 Initial Franchise Fee is due at signing, while the remaining capital is deployed across pre-opening purchases and the first three months of operation.
That total is not a disclosed Liquid Capital or Net Worth requirement, and it does not absorb every post-opening obligation. A prospect must also account for Royalties, advertising commitments, Technology Fees, the 12-month Initial Local Advertising Fee and transaction-triggered charges. The unresolved Item 7 arithmetic difference is the first cost question that should be answered in writing before the FDD range is converted into a financing plan.
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