Chem-Dry Ireland

Chem-Dry has been operating since 1977 and has grown to become the world's largest carpet cleaning franchise, with over 3,000 franchises across more than 55 countries, serving approximately 11,000 homes and businesses every day. For more than 40 consecutive years, Entrepreneur magazine has ranked it the No.1 carpet cleaning franchise in its annual franchise rankings.

The business operates across a broad range of cleaning services — carpet, area rugs, upholstery, tile and stone, VCT flooring, granite countertops, leather, and now full sanitising and disinfecting — all delivered using patented cleaning products developed through an in-house R&D department.

The Chem-Dry cleaning method

Chem-Dry's core process is Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE), which uses significantly less water than traditional steam cleaning. The practical result for clients is faster drying times, a deeper clean, and a lower environmental footprint — factors that matter to both residential and commercial customers.

The market in Ireland

67% of all new floor coverings installed in Ireland are carpet. Irish homeowners and businesses lay approximately 87 million square feet of new carpet every year — every square foot of which will require professional cleaning for decades. The carpet cleaning industry remains highly fragmented, meaning no dominant national competitor has established itself.

MicroPro Shield — added revenue stream since 2025

In the past year, Chem-Dry franchisees have added MicroPro Shield to their service offering. It's a multi-stage process that works as follows:

• • Hard surfaces are disinfected and soft surfaces are sanitised using a hospital-grade disinfectant approved by the EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2
• • An antimicrobial protective coating is then applied, which continues killing bacteria and algae on contact for up to 90 days after application
• • Products are applied using electrostatic spray technology, which allows coverage of surfaces that are difficult to reach by hand — door pull undersides, handrail undersides, and similar contact points

Chem-Dry technicians are trained and certified specifically for this service. According to Pat Green, Chem-Dry's Director of Training, the electrostatic application method reduces human error and improves both coverage and the speed at which the products take effect — a meaningful difference compared to manual surface wiping with standard disinfectants.

From a business standpoint, MicroPro Shield also functions as a door-opener for new client relationships. A sanitising estimate appointment creates a natural opportunity to present the full range of cleaning services, which now spans carpet, upholstery, tile, granite, leather, and VCT — a whole-home or whole-premises offering that few competitors can match.

How the franchise is structured

The total initial investment starts at €49,995. This covers the initial licence fee, a full equipment package, a turn-key new business starter set, and working capital — so most of the early operational costs are accounted for within that figure.

Ongoing costs are a flat monthly royalty of €454.00 + VAT, regardless of revenue. There is no national advertising fund contribution and no tiered royalty structure — the more a franchisee earns, the more they retain.

In-house financing is available at no additional cost. Franchisees can acquire single or multiple territories, and many owners have expanded to multi-unit operations over time.

Learn more about the Chem-Dry cleaning franchise opportunity.

Start the process now by requesting more information below.