Under the 2026 FDD, both Aerus franchise programs operate from an Approved Location and rely on local prospecting, in-person demonstrations, controlled Consigned Products, delivery or installation, and continuing repair or maintenance. The franchisee executes sales and service; Aerus Franchising sets the System, supply, pricing, data and compliance rules.
Data basis. The legal franchisor is Aerus Franchising, LLC; Aerus LLC is its parent and principal product supplier. The FDD was issued May 18, 2026 and covers the Standard Program, Associate Program and optional Beyond Addendum. This analysis uses Items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20, the attached agreements, and Item 20 data through December 31, 2025. Official pages were checked July 26, 2026.
Official context: Aerus business opportunity, Beyond by Aerus product categories, and Aerus Water whole-home systems. No franchise-controlled public copy of the 2026 FDD was verified.
What does an Aerus franchisee sell, and who buys it?
The Franchised Business sells specified indoor-environment Products and performs related demonstrations, delivery, installation, testing, treatment, repair and maintenance for defined Approved Customers.
Products plus service work
The offering includes air purification, water purification, water conditioning, floor-care products, accessories, parts and supplies. It also includes indoor-contaminant testing and treatments, maintenance, and repair of Aerus products and designated competitor products.
Users, not resellers
Approved Customers are residential buyers and certain non-national-account commercial buyers purchasing for use, not resale. Commercial product resellers and defined competitors are excluded. Beyond Products require eligibility, a Beyond Addendum and added training.
Sales can occur at the Approved Location, but a substantial portion must come through in-person marketing and demonstrations. The official floor-care page routes buyers toward in-home demonstrations, while the dealer locator directs product and service inquiries to local locations.
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Item 1, pp. 2-5; Item 16, pp. 46-47; Beyond Addendum; official consumer pages.
How does work move from a lead to delivery and follow-up?
The disclosed cycle connects local lead generation to qualification, demonstration or assessment, approved contracting, fulfillment, service and immediate customer-data reporting. The FDD does not prescribe one universal staffing sequence.
Generate and record demand
- Actor
- Operating Principal, managers or Sales Representatives.
- Action
- Use approved local advertising, referrals and Customer Data inside the Area of Responsibility.
- System or asset
- FOAS lead-management modules.
- Output
- A recorded prospect.
Qualify and schedule
- Actor
- Authorized local franchisee sales personnel.
- Action
- Confirm Approved Customer status and arrange an in-home, in-person or store demonstration.
- System or asset
- Customer Data and approved procedures.
- Output
- A compliant appointment.
Demonstrate or assess
- Actor
- Trained sales or service personnel.
- Action
- Demonstrate Products and, when applicable, perform water or indoor-environment testing.
- System or asset
- Demo inventory, testing equipment and permitted location or vehicle.
- Output
- A proposed solution.
Contract and record the sale
- Actor
- Franchisee and Approved Customer.
- Action
- Use approved sales, warranty and service forms at designated Consigned Product prices.
- System or asset
- FOAS and approved payment or financing services.
- Output
- A sale and Standard Allocation obligation.
Deliver, install and service
- Actor
- Sales, installation or service personnel.
- Action
- Deliver or install, honor commitments and provide warranty, repair or maintenance work.
- System or asset
- Vehicle, parts, repair equipment and service center.
- Output
- Fulfillment and continuing service duties.
Report and follow up
- Actor
- Franchisee management or administration.
- Action
- Update Customer Data after each contact, register warranties, track inventory and resolve complaints.
- System or asset
- FOAS, FAST and retained contracts.
- Output
- Auditable records and follow-up opportunities.
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Items 1, 8, 11 and 16; Standard Franchise Agreement Sections 4, 5, 8, 10 and 13.
Who performs each operating function?
The franchisee builds and supervises the local team. Aerus specifies required functions and qualifications, may set minimum staffing and hours, and requires an active Operating Principal.
Franchisee organization
- Operating Principal: participates in day-to-day operation.
- General Manager: manages each Approved Location.
- Sales Manager and Representatives: recruit, prospect, demonstrate, sell and deliver.
- Service Manager and personnel: repair, maintain and administer warranty work.
Franchisor and dependencies
- Aerus Franchising, LLC: licenses, approves, supports and audits the System.
- Aerus LLC and affiliates: manufacture or supply Products and support consumer warranties.
- Approved suppliers: provide specified technology, payment, financing, signs or equipment.
- Outlet Licensee: may manage a Standard Program Licensed Outlet under the franchisee's control.
This is not a disclosed absentee model. An entity franchisee must designate a principal who personally participates in daily operation. Principals owning at least 10% guarantee the obligations. With approval, one person may combine General Manager, Sales Manager and Service Manager duties.
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Item 11, pp. 32-34; Item 15, pp. 45-46; Standard Franchise Agreement Sections 1.E and 8.D.
Which suppliers, technology and operating decisions are controlled?
Core inputs are not open-market choices. Aerus and designated suppliers control most Products, parts, software and specified services; the franchisee funds, protects, maintains and uses them while retaining ordinary employment and local execution decisions.
- Aerus controlsApproved Locations, authorized Products, Consigned Product prices, forms, warranties, discounts, advertising, internet activity, suppliers, System standards and audits.
- Franchisee controlsHiring, firing, discipline, compensation, benefits and scheduling, subject to required roles, qualifications, staffing levels, hours and Manuals.
- Franchisee remains liableLocal demand generation, demonstrations, delivery, installation, service quality, complaints, legal compliance, Customer Data and financial records.
Consigned inventory, retail pricing, approved forms, Customer Data and FOAS are linked controls. A default or inadequate Security Deposit can interrupt replenishment and therefore the ability to fulfill new Product sales.
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Items 8 and 11; Standard Franchise Agreement Sections 4, 5, 8, 10 and 13; official product manuals.
How do the Standard Program and Associate Program differ?
Both require a fixed Approved Location and direct demonstrations. Expansion rights, service-center responsibility, sales standards and Consigned Product treatment differ.
| Operating issue | Standard Program | Associate Program |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | May add Approved Locations, Satellites or Licensed Outlets with required approval or notice. | One Approved Location; no Satellites or Licensed Outlets. |
| Service | Full Approved Locations maintain a service and repair center. | May maintain a center or obtain approval to contract with another Aerus Business. |
| Management | Satellite Managers or Outlet Licensees may run limited locations; the franchisee remains responsible. | No limited-location management path. |
| Sales standard | Higher quarterly Core Unit threshold plus an aftermarket, labor and parts component. | Lower Core Unit threshold; service component can differ when no center is required. |
| Beyond Products | Require eligibility, the Beyond Addendum and additional training. | |
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Items 1, 8 and 12; Standard and Associate Franchise Agreements.
What protection applies to customers, locations and internet sales?
The Area of Responsibility is nonexclusive. The one-mile Protected Area restricts competing physical Aerus Business locations, not customers, corporate channels or internet activity.
Franchisee operating rights
The franchisee sells to Approved Customers and conducts most marketing inside its Area of Responsibility. Up to 10% of quarterly Gross Sales may come from outside. Standard Program limited locations cannot enter another franchisee's Protected Area.
Reserved Aerus channels
Aerus and affiliates may use distributors, call centers, internet sales, alternative brands and other channels in the Area. The franchisee receives no payment for orders Aerus accepts there.
Websites, online sales, social-media use of the Marks and internet advertising require prior written approval and an authorized program. Corporate e-commerce therefore is not a franchisee-controlled channel.
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Item 11, p. 34; Item 12, pp. 35-38; Standard Franchise Agreement Sections 1 and 11; official Aerus privacy policy.
What does Item 20 show about the U.S. outlet base?
At December 31, 2025, Item 20 reports 115 U.S. franchised Aerus Businesses and three affiliate-owned Aerus Businesses, for 118 U.S. outlets. Canada had 33 franchised outlets.
U.S. Aerus outlet composition
Exact Item 20 population at December 31, 2025
Interpretation: The U.S. population is predominantly franchised, but contracted from 154 franchised outlets in 2023 to 124 in 2024 and 115 in 2025. Affiliate-owned outlets declined from 9 to 8 to 3. Item 20 does not state why.
Source: 2026 Aerus FDD, Item 20, Tables 3 and 4, pp. 57-61. Reconciliation: 115 + 3 = 118; rounded shares total 100.0%.
Item 20 projects two new franchised outlets, one in North Carolina and one in New York, and reports no signed-but-not-open agreements at year-end. Item 19 provides no financial performance representation.
Which operating details remain undisclosed or changeable?
The FDD defines the architecture, but current Manuals, written directives and the proposed Schedule 1 determine much of the weekly operating burden.
- Area: How is the proposed Area of Responsibility defined and the 10% outside-area limit measured?
- Sales standard: Which Products are Core Units, and what quarterly baseline applies?
- Staffing: What minimum staffing, service coverage and operating hours are current?
- Technology: Which FOAS, FAST, payment, financing, security and hardware requirements apply?
- Associate service: Will outsourced repair be approved, and which Aerus Business will perform it?
- Inventory: What current Standard Allocation, Security Deposit and aging rules apply?
Sources: 2026 Aerus FDD, Items 6, 8, 11 and 12; Franchise Agreement Schedules 1, 3 and 4; Exhibit 8.
What is the practical operating conclusion?
Aerus converts local prospecting and direct demonstrations into Product sales, installation and continuing service. The franchisee's core responsibility is the local sales-and-service organization and accurate customer records. The strongest dependency is Aerus control over Consigned Products, prices, forms, Customer Data and FOAS. The main format distinction is Standard Program expansion and service-center requirements versus the Associate Program's single-location path. The largest unresolved issue is the current Manuals' location-specific staffing, hours,Core Unit and technology rules.