The Cleaning Authority
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise founded in 1977, operating 225+ independently owned locations across the US and Canada under Authority Brands ownership, delivering recurring and one-time house cleaning via the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System® to homeowners and select commercial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Cleaning Authority does
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise brand founded in 1977 and operated today as a subsidiary of Authority Brands following a 2017 acquisition. The company's core offering is recurring and one-time house cleaning delivered through a proprietary service methodology called the Detail-Clean Rotation System®, which systematically deep-cleans different areas of the home on a rotating basis rather than superficially cleaning the entire home at each visit. The product portfolio spans 16 service lines across core residential cleaning (house cleaning, apartment/condo cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, housekeeping, green cleaning) and add-on modules (one-time cleans, home disinfection, post-construction cleaning, basement, oven, refrigerator, and short-term rental cleaning), plus a secondary commercial/office cleaning line. The franchise operates across 225+ independently owned and operated locations in the United States and Canada, with corporate functions centralized under The Cleaning Authority Franchising SPE LLC, headquartered at 7120 Samuel Morse Dr., Suite 300, Columbia, Maryland.
The business model is a classic franchise structure with two revenue layers: franchisee-level revenue generated by 225+ local operators serving individual households at quote-based prices (FY2024 average gross revenue of $1,457,906 per Enterprise Market territory), and corporate-level revenue at the franchisor consisting of initial franchise fees ($92,850–$147,100 per unit) plus ongoing royalties and marketing/technology fund contributions from franchisees. Customer engagement is direct-to-consumer, acquired through the corporate website (thecleaningauthority.com), phone (888-658-0659), local franchise websites, blog/SEO content, email newsletters, and community programs like The Cleaning Authority CARES. Supporting technology includes the MyTCA mobile app for scheduling and account management, and a centralized franchise operations platform; no AI/ML capabilities, public APIs, or developer integrations are disclosed.
The company is privately held under Authority Brands ownership, a multi-brand in-home services platform whose portfolio includes Junkluggers, Homewatch CareGivers, Mosquito Squad, Lawn Squad, DoodyCalls, Woofie's, Monster Tree Service, Screenmobile, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, DRYMedic, and STOP Restoration. The Cleaning Authority is CCPA-compliant across California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia. No public listing, institutional investors, or venture capital backing were disclosed in the source material; the corporate legal entity is The Cleaning Authority Franchising SPE LLC in Maryland.
The Cleaning Authority firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cleaning Authority
- Legal name
- The Cleaning Authority Franchising SPE LLC
- Website
- https://thecleaningauthority.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise founded in 1977, operating 225+ independently owned locations across the US and Canada under Authority Brands ownership, delivering recurring and one-time house cleaning via the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System® to homeowners and select commercial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cleaning Authority industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Cleaning Services
- NAICS
- Janitorial Services (56172)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Recurring House Cleaning (Whole-Home) (HSAEAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Whole-Home One-Time Cleaning (HSAEAFAA), Empty Property Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning (Vacant Units) (HSAEACAA), Single-Family Home Turnover Cleaning (HSAEACAD), Residential Green Recurring Cleaning (HSAEAGAA), Move-In/Move-Out & Turnover Cleaning (Commercial) (BPABABAO)
Keywords
Where The Cleaning Authority is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Cleaning Authority business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Residential Cleaning Services: The Cleaning Authority generates revenue through recurring and one-time residential cleaning services provided by its network of 225+ independently owned and operated franchise locations across North America. Services include house cleaning, apartment/condo cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, commercial/office cleaning, and specialized cleaning services. Revenue flows from customer payments at individual franchise locations.
- Franchise Fees and Royalties: The company operates as a franchisor under Authority Brands, generating revenue through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments from franchise owners. The franchise opportunity requires an initial investment of $92,850 to $147,100.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Franchise Investment Range |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Cleaning Authority product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cleaning Authority provides professional residential cleaning services through a franchise network of 225+ independently owned and operated locations across the United States and Canada. Its core offering is recurring and one-time house cleaning using the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System®, complemented by move-in/move-out, apartment/condo, commercial/office, post-construction, short-term rental, and disinfection services delivered by locally hired, professionally trained cleaning crews.
Product overview
The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning franchise brand offering a comprehensive suite of professional cleaning services across North America. The core offering centers on recurring house cleaning using the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System®, complemented by specialized services including move-in/move-out cleaning, commercial and office cleaning, apartment/condo cleaning, and housekeeping. Add-on services include one-time deep cleans, home disinfection, post-construction cleaning, basement cleaning, oven cleaning, refrigerator cleaning, and short-term rental cleaning. The company also differentiates through its Green Cleaning program using environmentally responsible products. Services are delivered through a franchise network of 225+ locations under Authority Brands ownership, with the MyTCA customer app providing account management capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- House Cleaning & Sanitizing Primary residential cleaning and sanitizing service using the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System® to ensure thorough, systematic cleaning of all rooms, targeting homeowners and renters.
- Move In / Move Out Cleaning Deep cleaning service designed for homes, apartments, and offices during property transitions to ensure spotless conditions for new occupants.
- Commercial Cleaning Professional office and commercial space cleaning services with customizable schedules including regular or one-time options for businesses.
- Office Cleaning Dedicated commercial office cleaning service covering bathrooms, trash removal, kitchen areas, and high-traffic common spaces with disinfection capabilities.
- Housekeeping (Maid Services) Maid and housekeeping services providing recurring cleaning solutions for homeowners to maintain clean homes without personal effort.
- Apartment & Condo Cleaning Cleaning and sanitization services specifically designed for apartments and condos of any size, including routine and deep cleaning options.
- One-Time Cleans Single-visit deep cleaning services customizable to customer needs with no recurring commitment required.
- Home Disinfection Professional residential disinfection service using EPA-reviewed environmentally responsible products to eliminate bacteria and viruses, including high-touch surfaces.
- Post Construction Cleaning Specialized cleaning service for newly constructed or renovated properties to remove construction debris, dust, and residue.
- Basement Cleaning Specialized cleaning service for basement areas including dusting, vacuuming, and sanitization of all surfaces.
- Oven Cleaning Deep cleaning service for residential ovens including degreasing, sanitizing, and removal of baked-on food residue.
- Refrigerator Cleaning Deep cleaning service for refrigerator interiors and exteriors, removing expired items, sanitizing shelves, and eliminating odors.
- Short Term Rental Cleaning Cleaning service for vacation homes and short-term rental properties to prepare spaces for incoming guests between stays.
- Green Cleaning Eco-friendly cleaning service using environmentally responsible and sustainable cleaning products that are safe for families, pets, and the environment.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 20 million cleans completed since 1977
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Cleaning Authority
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Cleaning Authority technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Cleaning Authority partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Authority BrandscoreThe Cleaning Authority was acquired by Authority Brands in 2017. Authority Brands is the leading provider of in-home services, building brands that support franchisee success and better the lives of homeowners and employees. The Cleaning Authority operates as part of the Authority Brands family alongside other service brands including Junkluggers, Homewatch CareGivers, Mosquito Squad, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, and others.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Cleaning Authority competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Molly Maid: A direct residential cleaning franchise owned by Neighborly (formerly Dwyer Group), offering recurring and one-time home cleaning with a national footprint. Closest direct competitor to TCA with a similar franchise-based, recurring-service model.
- Merry Maids: A national residential cleaning franchise also under Neighborly, offering recurring, one-time, and move-in/move-out cleaning services. Highly comparable to TCA in service mix, target customer, and franchise delivery model.
- The Maids: A US residential cleaning franchise known for its team-based cleaning approach and 22-step Healthy Touch deep-clean system. Competes head-to-head with TCA in the recurring residential segment.
- MaidPro: A residential cleaning franchise operating across the US and Canada with recurring, one-time, and move-in/move-out services. Closely comparable customer base and franchise-driven GTM to TCA.
- Maid Brigade: A residential cleaning franchise offering recurring and one-time home cleaning with an eco-friendly product positioning. Competes directly with TCA on green cleaning and recurring whole-home service.
Emerging players
- Handy: An online marketplace connecting consumers to independent cleaning professionals for one-time and recurring home cleaning. Represents the digital/on-demand alternative to TCA's traditional franchise model.
- TaskRabbit: A gig-economy platform offering home cleaning among other tasks, providing on-demand access to independent cleaners. Competes for the same residential cleaning wallet share via a fundamentally different operating model.
Broad incumbents
- Neighborly (formerly Dwyer Group): Multi-brand home services franchisor owning Molly Maid, Merry Maids, and other service brands. Comparable as a portfolio-level peer to Authority Brands, given TCA sits inside an analogous multi-brand home services holding structure.
- ServiceMaster Clean: A broad commercial and residential cleaning franchise network under the ServiceMaster brand, with a larger commercial tilt. Comparable as a wide-incumbent cleaning franchise system spanning janitorial and residential categories.
Others
- Authority Brands: TCA's parent company and the multi-brand home services platform (Junkluggers, Mosquito Squad, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, etc.). Relevant as the immediate ecosystem in which TCA operates and through which strategic decisions flow.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Cleaning Authority social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cleaning Authority compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Cleaning Authority financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cleaning Authority leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Cleaning Authority funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cleaning Authority M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Cleaning Authority
What does The Cleaning Authority do?
The Cleaning Authority provides professional residential cleaning services through a franchise network of 225+ independently owned and operated locations across the United States and Canada. Its core offering is recurring and one-time house cleaning using the proprietary Detail-Clean Rotation System®, complemented by move-in/move-out, apartment/condo, commercial/office, post-construction, short-term rental, and disinfection services delivered by locally hired, professionally trained cleaning crews.
Is The Cleaning Authority a public or private company?
The Cleaning Authority is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Cleaning Authority founded?
The Cleaning Authority was founded in 1977. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The Cleaning Authority based?
The Cleaning Authority is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Cleaning Authority make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Residential Cleaning Services are the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees and Royalties.
Who are The Cleaning Authority's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Molly Maid, Merry Maids, The Maids, MaidPro and Maid Brigade. Emerging players are Handy and TaskRabbit. Broad incumbents are Neighborly (formerly Dwyer Group) and ServiceMaster Clean. Authority Brands is listed as an others.
Does The Cleaning Authority have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cleaning Authority.
What industry is The Cleaning Authority in?
The Cleaning Authority's product category is Residential Cleaning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAEAAAA, General Recurring House Cleaning (Whole-Home), with a secondary code of HSAEAFAA, Whole-Home One-Time Cleaning. Its NAICS code is 56172 and its SIC code is 7340.