About Us

For less than the cost of getting your entire home's carpet cleaned today, entrepreneurs in the 1930s could purchase a license to operate one of America's first and oldest patented carpet cleaning franchise systems for as little as $8.50. Going into business back then seemed simple -- all one needed was the ambition, a twenty dollar bill and some singles, and a "foamovator" machine with a few accessories.

More than six decades later, the past is prologue for the new Duraclean International, an innovator in the cleaning industry. With more than 400 franchises operating throughout North America and 15 countries, Duraclean is still cleaning up in the multi-billion dollar market it helped create because it pioneered much of what still exceeds the standard in today's cleaning industry.

Although the cost of getting into a Duraclean franchise is more than it used to be 67 years ago, it is still reasonable --at about $32,000 initially -- than other franchises available in the industry. Other distinctive benefits include:

• In-house, fully-staffed research and development lab that develops and manufactures Duraclean's patented chemical products and equipment.
• Special national account and referral program that assists franchisees in servicing the rapidly-growing restoration market.
• Personal franchisee advisors who specialize in real business needs in technical, business development and marketing.

Duraclean is that rare breed of franchise that offers the support of a mature, established company while still providing the opportunities that exist in a ground-floor opportunity. To meet this challenge, Duraclean developed a two-pronged strategy:

ProfitTier Franchising
In the late 1970's, Duraclean created a feasible approach to meet its franchisees' needs of today and their ambitions for tomorrow. Duraclean's structure, known as 'ProfitTier' franchising, allows franchisees to invest and get into the Duraclean system with substantially less initial capital. They then set goals for growing their business and increasing profit margins by diversifying their services and offering customers 'one-call' cleaning.

"Carpet cleaning was the backbone of the Duraclean system for nearly 50 years," said Vincent Caffarello, president and CEO. "Instead of offering one service to one customer, Duraclean today can offer that same customer a multiple of services that allows franchisees to take more dollars out of each household or office. They also save because they don't have to invest more advertising to get a new customer."

In addition to Duraclean's traditional, patented carpet and upholstery cleaning services, the company broadened its market scope to include virtually every surface for the home and office: drapery, ceiling, wall, hard surface floor, duct and ultrasonic cleaning, janitorial services, high pressure washing and restoration services for water, fire and smoke. Franchisees can tap into these lucrative markets at cost for equipment and training. No additional franchise fees are required.

Unlike most competitors, Duraclean's unique system enables franchisees to achieve significant sales volume and market diversification without having to purchase and operate multiple units.

The New Duraclean
At the same time, Duraclean's size has grown beyond its entrepreneurial roots and blossomed into a professionally managed company. In the early 1990s, the company reduced its emphasis on new franchise recruiting to focus on promoting sales and growth internally through additional service markets, technology and better training and support programs.

As a result, the company has enjoyed little turnover and double-digit growth since 1992. Half of Duraclean's franchisee network has been established for more than ten years.

A large but fragmented industry, franchises in the cleaning and maintenance segments only make up a quarter of the total industry with significant room for expansion, according to a 1996 report on service franchising from Marketdata, of Spring Valley, NY. Such fragmentation has provided an opportunity for a sophisticated and seasoned franchise chain like Duraclean to claim a growing share of the national market by employing advanced marketing and development techniques.

Why the Duraclean structured system works -- "Duraclean believes franchisee recruitment and selection is a process, not an event," said Caffarello. "We've tailored the Duraclean program to fit each franchisee's needs and aspirations, instead of making franchisees for the program."

Click here to find out how to own a Duraclean Franchise today »