Jani-King vs The Maids
Jani-King vs The Maids: Jani-King costs $170K to $2.9M to open; The Maids costs $84K to $502K. Jani-King has 59 units, The Maids has 51. SBA loan history: Jani-King = 66 loans (13.6% default); The Maids = 57 loans (3.5% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Jani-King vs The Maids: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
The Maids requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($84K vs $170K for Jani-King), a 101% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $100K for Jani-King versus $60K for The Maids, The Maids has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Jani-King and 6.9% for The Maids, giving Jani-King the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Jani-King operates 59 units to The Maids's 51.
SBA Lending Profile
Jani-King has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 66 7(a) approvals compared with 57 for The Maids. Jani-King's peak SBA year was 1996 (18 loans); The Maids's peak was 2022 (10 loans). The Maids's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Jani-King has the most SBA funded units in CO, with 9. The Maids leads in TX, with 9. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Jani-King deals is $179K vs $303K for The Maids, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.6% for Jani-King and 3.5% for The Maids, The Maids has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 32 (Fair) for Jani-King and 65 (Strong) for The Maids, giving The Maids the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 32/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 66 | 57 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.6% | 3.5% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $170K to $2.9M | $84K to $502K |
Franchise Fee | $100K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6.9% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 59 | 51 |
Franchised Units | 59 | 51 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 20 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1979 |
Franchising Since | 1974 | 2006 |
Years Franchising | 52 yrs | 20 yrs |
Headquarters | NC | CA |
Category | Janitorial Services | Janitorial Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Jani-King or The Maids?
Lower upfront capital required
The Maids
Jani-King: $170K starting · The Maids: $84K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Jani-King
Jani-King: 66 SBA loans · The Maids: 57 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
The Maids
Jani-King: 13.6% · The Maids: 3.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Jani-King
Jani-King: 59 units · The Maids: 51 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Jani-King
Jani-King: 6% · The Maids: 6.9%
More lender financing options
Jani-King
Jani-King: 32 unique lenders · The Maids: 29 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Jani-King vs The Maids: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Jani-King and The Maids is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $84K to $2.9M.
Jani-King has 66 SBA loans on record and The Maids has 57. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Jani-King vs The Maids, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Jani-King or The Maids?
How much does a Jani-King franchise cost compared to The Maids?
Can I finance Jani-King or The Maids with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Jani-King or The Maids?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman