Chem-Dry

What Chem-Dry does

Chem-Dry is a carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise system founded in 1977 and currently owned by BELFOR Franchise Group. The company operates a pure franchising model with more than 1,000 franchise locations across 25 countries, serving residential homeowners as the primary customer segment, with a secondary commercial offering. Corporate headquarters are in Nashville, Tennessee, and the central staff functions on a corporate team of 51–100 employees.

The company's competitive differentiation is built on a proprietary technical stack rather than a software platform. The flagship process is Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE), which uses carbonated water and The Natural® cleaning solution — an EPA Safer Choice-certified product — to lift dirt without the heavy chemicals or high-volume steam typical of legacy carpet cleaning. Chem-Dry also markets P.U.R.T.® (Pet Urine Removal Treatment), and franchisees operate using branded equipment including the PowerHead and CTS-450 truck-mounted units. The service portfolio extends beyond carpet and upholstery into tile and grout, hardwood floor cleaning, leather restoration, mattress cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, granite countertop renewal, specialty stain removal, and a dedicated commercial cleaning line.

The business model is a classic franchisor construct: Chem-Dry earns revenue from upfront franchise fees, ongoing royalties, and the sale of proprietary consumables (The Natural®) and equipment (PowerHead, CTS-450). Pricing follows a per-room or per-service structure for residential customers, with local franchisees setting market-level rates. Customer acquisition is supported by national brand marketing and franchisee-level SEO/local search optimization, with online booking infrastructure deployed at the franchisee level. The system was recognized on the Franchise Times Top 400 and Entrepreneur's Top Franchises for Veterans in 2025.

Name

Chem-Dry

Legal name

Belfor Franchise Group, LLC

Website

https://chemdry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chem-Dry is a 1977-founded carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise operating 1,000+ locations across 25 countries. Owned by BELFOR Franchise Group, it serves residential and commercial customers using proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction technology and The Natural® EPA-certified cleaning solution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services

NAICS

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services (56174), Janitorial Services (561720)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Carpet, Upholstery & Floor Care (Strip/Wax/Polish) (IMAIADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deep Floor Care (Hardwood/Stone/Marble/Tile Restoration & Sealing) (HSAEABAE), Carpet Cleaning Powders & Dry Compounds (CRAJALAC)

Keywords

• Carpet cleaning services
• Upholstery cleaning services
• Pet odor removal
• Tile grout cleaning
• Cleaning franchise network

Headquarters

HQ city

Logan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Services Revenue: Chem-Dry generates revenue through its franchise business model. Individual franchise owners pay franchise fees and royalties for the right to operate under the Chem-Dry brand and use its proprietary cleaning processes, equipment, and cleaning solutions. Franchisees generate revenue from end customers (residential and commercial) for cleaning services including carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, pet urine removal, tile and grout cleaning, and other specialized cleaning services.
2. Cleaning Products and Equipment: Franchise owners purchase proprietary cleaning solutions (The Natural®), specialized equipment (truck-mounted units, PowerHead machines), and cleaning products from Chem-Dry for use in their franchise operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chem-Dry provides residential and commercial cleaning services delivered through its global network of independently owned franchise locations. Its core offering is built around the proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) cleaning process, which uses carbonated bubbles and The Natural® cleaning solution to deliver a deep carpet and upholstery clean that dries in hours rather than days, with significantly less water than steam cleaning. The service portfolio spans carpet, upholstery, area rug, tile/grout, hardwood, leather, mattress, dryer vent, granite, commercial, and pet urine/odor (P.U.R.T.®) cleaning.

Product overview

Chem-Dry is a carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise company offering a comprehensive portfolio of cleaning services built around its proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) technology. The core platform uses carbonation-based cleaning with The Natural® solution (EPA Safer Choice certified) to provide deep cleaning with less water and faster drying times. The service portfolio includes carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, pet urine and odor removal (P.U.R.T.®), area rug cleaning, tile/stone/grout cleaning, hardwood floor cleaning, specialty stain removal, leather cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, granite countertop renewal, commercial cleaning, and mattress cleaning. The company operates over 1,000 franchise locations across 25 countries as part of the BELFOR Franchise Group, founded in 1977, with services delivered through certified technicians using proprietary equipment including PowerHead machines and truck-mounted CTS-450 units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Natural®: Core cleaning solution made from natural ingredients that serves as the foundation of Chem-Dry's Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process.
• P.U.R.T.® (Pet Urine Removal Treatment)
• Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE)

Products and services

• Carpet Cleaning Professional carpet cleaning using the proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction process to provide a deep, long-lasting clean with faster drying times compared to traditional steam cleaning, for residential households.
• Upholstery Cleaning Cleaning service for upholstered furniture using Chem-Dry's low-water Hot Carbonating Extraction method, proven to remove common non-living allergens from upholstery, for residential customers.
• Pet Urine Removal Treatment (P.U.R.T.®) Specialty treatment that attacks pet urine odors at the source deep in carpet fibers through a chemical reaction that destroys odors, rather than masking them with perfumes, for pet-owning households.
• Area Rug Cleaning Professional cleaning for area rugs and oriental rugs, including specialty care for wool, silk, and shag rugs, for residential customers.
• Tile, Stone, & Grout Cleaning Cleaning and sealing services for tile, stone, and grout surfaces in residential homes.
• Hardwood Floor Cleaning Professional cleaning service for hardwood floors to maintain their appearance and longevity in residential homes.
• Specialty Stain Removal Professional stain removal service for stubborn residential stains including permanent marker, lipstick, and other difficult-to-remove substances, with optional protectant to increase future stain-fighting power.
• Leather Cleaning & Restoration Professional cleaning and restoration services for leather furniture in residential homes.
• Dryer Vent Cleaning Professional dryer vent cleaning service using specialized equipment including cameras and HEPA filter vacuums to reduce fire risk, improve dryer efficiency, and prevent carbon monoxide buildup, for residential customers.
• Granite Countertop Renewal Cleaning, sealing, and polishing service for granite countertops in residential homes.
• Commercial Cleaning Professional cleaning services for commercial spaces including offices, retail establishments, and other businesses, delivered by Chem-Dry franchisees.
• Mattress Cleaning Professional cleaning service for mattresses to remove allergens, dust mites, and accumulated dirt in residential homes.
• The Natural® Cleaning Solution Chem-Dry's primary branded cleaning solution made from natural ingredients with no soaps, detergents, solvents, enzymes, or harsh chemicals, EPA Safer Choice certified for human health and environmental safety, sold to franchisees and used in all cleaning services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Removes allergens including dog and cat dander and dust mite matter from carpets and upholstery (based on independent laboratory studies)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BELFOR Franchise GroupcoreOthersChem-Dry is a brand owned and franchised by BELFOR Franchise Group, a global residential and commercial services franchisor. BELFOR Franchise Group provides franchise support, training, and brand management for Chem-Dry and its other service brands.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Rainbow International: Rainbow International is a Neighborly-branded carpet cleaning and restoration franchise network with a smaller footprint than Chem-Dry, competing in residential and commercial carpet cleaning with similar truck-mounted extraction methods.
• Homeaglow: Homeaglow is a digital-first marketplace for residential cleaning services, including deep cleaning and specialty tasks, increasingly competing with established franchise networks like Chem-Dry for online home-services demand.

Direct peers

• Stanley Steemer: Stanley Steemer is the largest direct competitor to Chem-Dry in the U.S. carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise market, offering a similar truck-mounted hot water extraction service model with a national franchise network. Highly comparable in service mix, customer base, and franchise structure.
• Zerorez: Zerorez operates a national carpet cleaning franchise with a proprietary water-free cleaning technology (Zerorez®) targeting eco-conscious residential customers. Directly competitive with Chem-Dry on method differentiation, eco-credentials, and franchise-based distribution.
• Oxi Fresh: Oxi Fresh is a national carpet cleaning franchise built around a low-moisture, oxygen-powered cleaning process, directly competing with Chem-Dry's HCE in the residential and light commercial segments. Closely comparable franchise model and target customer.
• COIT Cleaning & Restoration: COIT provides carpet, upholstery, drapery, and tile cleaning services through company-owned and franchised locations across the U.S. and internationally, directly overlapping with Chem-Dry's core service offering and customer profile.

Others

• Molly Maid: Molly Maid is a residential housekeeping franchise brand under the Neighborly umbrella, serving the same homeowner customer base as Chem-Dry but focused on recurring maid service rather than specialty deep cleaning. Useful as a sister-brand benchmark within the home services franchise space.

Regional players

• Maid Brigade: Maid Brigade is a smaller U.S. residential cleaning franchise focused on recurring maid services, adjacent to Chem-Dry in target customer (residential homeowners) but not directly competitive on specialty carpet/upholstery cleaning.

Broad incumbents

• ServiceMaster Clean: ServiceMaster Clean is a national commercial and residential cleaning franchise brand with broad janitorial, carpet, and disaster restoration services. Overlaps with Chem-Dry on commercial carpet cleaning but serves a much wider facility services portfolio.
• SERVPRO: SERVPRO is a large U.S. franchise network focused on property damage restoration and cleanup, including carpet and upholstery cleaning as part of its service menu. Comparable as a franchise-based cleaning/restoration brand under the BELFOR-adjacent competitive set, though primarily restoration-driven.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chemdryusa
• YouTubevimeo.com/chemdryusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/chemdryUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harris-research-inc-

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chem-Dry