Franchise of the Week: Stratus Building Solutions & a $555k Resale**

Hey Empire Builders, Welcome to this week’s Franchise Empire Newsletter, where we share specific franchise opportunities that we think are interesting and examples of everyday folks building their empires.

Today, in 5 minutes or less:

✔ A Home Service Resale for $555K**

✔ How Much Do Commercial Cleaning Businesses Make? (Costs, Sales, & Fees)

✔ From Military Service to Business Ownership: Basilio’s Next Mission

✔ The #1 Mistake Buyers Make with “Passive” Franchises

**Sales are non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the source; they should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

Attention Franchise Buyers:

For those of you who are struggling to find the right franchise, or maybe you’ve worked with a broker or consultant and haven’t had success…

We now offer complimentary access to our proprietary Zero to Profitable Franchise™ system to help you get access to the most proven franchises and reduce your risk, so that you can buy a money-making franchise with confidence and PROTECT YOUR ASSETS. 

This is exclusively available for franchise buyers that want to work with our team in a brokerage capacity to find, vet, and launch a money-making franchise.

You can schedule a free consultation with our team to see if you qualify and if we are the right fit to work with each other.

You can do that here https://www.franchiseempire.com/ztpf

Franchise resales possess many benefits for aspiring business owners – established cash flow, experienced employees, systems in place, and brand awareness, to name a few. 

• Home Services
• Asking Price: $555,000
• Prior year Gross Sales: $644,210**
  

**Revenue, or any financial numbers, is non-verified information provided by the franchise Owner. The data provided has NOT been verified by the franchisor. You should treat the values as approximated values. Buyer is encouraged to independently verify the financial information and asking price supplied by the Seller.

• This Franchisor has over 200 franchisees with proven systems, a long track record of franchisee success
• Potential to scale by acquiring neighboring franchisees
• Prior leadership and/or management experience is a real plus
  
  

Curious to learn more about this particular franchise resale, or other resales available in your area?

We have a list of over 100+ resales with various brands spanning the United States and Canada. Click the link below to find out what specific opportunities are available in your area.

Stratus Building Solutions launched in 2006 in Los Angeles with a simple mission: disrupt a $100 billion commercial cleaning industry by giving franchise owners a way to scale without expensive storefronts, heavy overhead, or a huge staff. Instead of the traditional model where every franchisee works directly with the franchisor, Stratus introduced a different approach, the master franchise system, where a territory owner effectively becomes a “mini-franchisor” for their region.

By 2009, just three years after launching, Stratus had already sold 40+ master franchises, a pace of growth rarely seen in the cleaning sector. Their model stood out for two reasons: the ability for master franchisees to recruit other franchisees in their territory and earn a portion of their franchise fees and royalties, and Stratus’s early decision to become the first commercial cleaning franchise to go fully green, offering Green Seal-certified products that reduce harsh chemicals and environmental impact.

Today, Stratus operates 4,000+ unit franchises and master offices across 57 major cities. Their customers range from office buildings and schools to medical facilities and homebuilders, many of whom sign long-term recurring contracts. While the cleaning industry requires constant staffing and hands-on oversight, it also offers one of the most coveted business advantages in franchising: predictable, recurring revenue that compounds year after year. So, let's see what it takes to own a cleaning franchise of your own.👇

*You should treat the values as approximated values. These values were found online through research.

• Initial Investment: $109,000 - $345,000

• Net Worth Requirement: $250,000+

• Liquid Capital Requirement: $125,000 - $150,000

• Master Franchise Fee: $75,000 - $200,000

• ​​Royalty Structure:
  • Unit Franchisee Royalty: 20% under $300K revenue → drops to 10% over $500K
  • Master Franchisee Royalty to Franchisor: 3-4%

• Empire Builder: Someone who wants to control a whole territory and grow a network of franchisees beneath them.
  
  
• Sales & Marketing Driven: Comfortable generating contracts, building relationships, and driving B2B recurring revenue.
  
  
• Operational Leader: Strong at managing teams and overseeing quality in a high-turnover service industry.
  
  
• Financially Capable: Meets the required $250K net worth and $125K-$150K liquid capital to launch.
  
  
• Hands-On Operator: Willing to stay involved, develop franchisees, and run a lean but high-performing regional operation.
  
  

*Information below taken from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document – Item 19 

Benefits for the Franchisee:

• Recurring Revenue Model: Contracts with offices, schools, and medical facilities provide stable, predictable monthly income.
• Scalable Master Franchise System: Owners can grow far beyond a single location by recruiting franchisees and earning ongoing royalties.
• Low Overhead Structure: No retail space required, operations can be run with modest staff and flexible office needs.
• Green Cleaning Advantage: Differentiates the business with certified eco-friendly products in a crowded marketplace.
• Corporate & Regional Support: Master franchisees receive franchisor support while unit franchisees receive localized support from their master, a dual layer that strengthens the entire system. 
  

To see if this franchise is available in your territory OR Check the availability of ALL franchises in your area

Episode #154: The #1 Mistake Buyers Make with “Passive” Franchises

Most people think they can buy a franchise, hire a GM, and the business will just run itself, but that’s rarely how it works. In this episode, we break down the truth about passive and semi-absentee franchise ownership, when it actually works, and why most brands don’t allow it out of the gate. You’ll learn what franchisors expect from new owners and the mindset shift required if you want real freedom down the line. If you're thinking about investing in a franchise with minimal involvement, this conversation will save you time, money, and frustration.

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Podcast Platform

That’s a wrap for this week’s Franchise Empire newsletter. 

Feel free to reply with any questions, or feedback. I appreciate and value your time and attention.

I’ll see you at the same time next week!

-Tariq and The Franchise Empire Team