How Much Does it Cost to Open a Dryer Vent Superheroes Franchise?
Look to the Item 7 for detailed information
Starting a dryer vent cleaning franchise is one of the most exciting—and important—decisions you’ll ever make. For prospective Dryer Vent Superheroes (DVSH) franchise owners, understanding the Estimated Initial Investment is critical. Item 7 of our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) outlines exactly what you should expect to invest to get your business up and running.
Whether you’re considering a Single Territory, Double Territory, or even a Triple Territory, this guide will walk you through each category of expenditure, explain why it matters, and help you plan effectively.
Like almost all franchises, the initial investment is broken up into 3 sections:
- What it takes to acquire the franchise – typically the franchisee fee itself and any initial marketing fees.
- What it costs to get through training and get your new business open; this includes tools, training, business setup and other pre-opening items.
- What you will need to get your new business through the ramp up from day one of opening to the level you want – this is called working capital.
Why Item 7 Matters and What You Need to Know
When evaluating any franchise, you want to know two things:
- What it will cost to open the business
- What kind of support and value you get for that investment so you can project out and plan your launch
The Dryer Vent Superheroes Item 7 provides a transparent, detailed look at those costs. Instead of broad guesses, you’ll see a line-by-line breakdown of what goes into your launch—from training and equipment to insurance and marketing.
This helps you:
- Budget realistically for your business.
- Avoid unexpected surprises when you’re getting started.
- Compare the Dryer Vent Superheroes opportunity to other franchise options in the home services space.
- Have more informed conversations with actual franchisees, llenders, advisors, and family members.
Breakdown of the Estimated Initial Investment to Open a Dryer Vent Cleaning Business
Below, we’ll go through the major categories you’ll see in Item 7 and explain why they’re required.
1. Initial Franchise Fee for a Dryer Vent Superheroes location:
- Single Territory: $39,000
- Double Territory: $78,000
- Triple Territory: $117,000
This is your entry point into the Dryer Vent Superheroes franchise system. It covers the right to operate under our brand, access to our proven systems, and full support from our corporate team. Think of it as your membership fee into a national brand with growing recognition and a tested business model. This gives you the right to operate your dryer vent cleaning business in a specific area for the duration of your franchise term. As long as you are in good standing and have an active, operating business, you can sell your business to another qualified owner during the term.
This fee is paid at the signing of your Franchise Agreement and is non-refundable. All franchisees pay the same amount and have similar sized territories based on demographic data. Territories are defined by zip codes.
2. Training Expenses
- Range: $1,500 – $4,000
Our training is broken into four sections:
- Onboarding begins when you sign your franchise agreement. We use a project management system and you’ll work with an onboarding team to get your business setup and complete your required tasks so you are ready to open in as little as 60 days.
- Virtual training also starts when you sign and covers the period from signing to your in person training in Franklin, TN. We cover a variety of virtual topics throughout this period to get you and your team up to speed over a period of time so you don’t have to learn it all at the same time
- In person training – we conduct a full week of training in Franklin at our HQ. This training focuses on hands-on training, working with tools, SOPs, owner training and roleplaying. We break our tracks into owners and techs; most people bring technicians with them.
In person training is held at our headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee (or another designated location). It lasts one week and covers everything from technical service delivery to marketing and customer management.
You’ll need to budget for travel, lodging, and meals for up to four people. The exact cost depends on where you’re traveling from and how many team members you bring.
3. Equipment and Tools
- Range: $8,,000 – $12,000
This covers everything you need to actually perform dryer vent and duct services, including:
- Commercial vacuums
- Vent and duct cleaning tools
- Appliance-moving tools
- Testing equipment
- Hand tools
You’ll purchase equipment from approved vendors, ensuring it meets our system standards.
4. Dryer Vent Superheroes Service Vehicle (Van)
- Range: $2,500 – $8,000
Your vehicle is your mobile office and billboard. It must meet DVSH’s standards for make, model, age, and condition. You can use a vehicle you already own (if approved) or lease/purchase one.
Customization (wrapping, outfitting, and branding) is required, so budget accordingly.
Most of our owners opt to get a vehicle from our no-hassle fleet finance program which allows you to put $1,000 down (depending on the specific vehicle) and pay a monthly note for 60 months. These vans come wrapped, with ladder racks and shelving and get delivered to you by our vendor. This is a good way to avoid tying up working capital – we don’t recommend purchasing a van and doing the outfitting yourself and it is often cost-prohibitive.
We only allow cargo vans – it is not possible to operate this business with a truck.
5. Initial Inventory
- Range: $1,500 – $5,000
You’ll need a stock of basic parts, replacement hardware, and supplies to start jobs immediately. These can be sourced through approved vendors or reputable suppliers. This supply includes Inovate wall vents, transition hoses for dryers, washer hoses, repair materials and other necessary items you’ll need.
6. Business Licenses and Permits
- Range: $150 – $1,500
Licenses and permits vary widely depending on your state and local requirements. These may include:
- Business operation licenses
- Depending on your state, you may need to hire a licensed HVAC tech to do some commercial or higher end Duct Cleaning. Dryer work and repair does not require this.
- Bonds or minimum capital requirements in some states
7. Computer Systems & Software Setup
- Range: $100 – $1,300
You’ll use our designated Business Management System, which includes customer relationship management, scheduling, billing, and reporting. This estimate covers:
- A laptop computer and a tablet
- Business management software licenses
- Connectivity tools (e.g., Wi-Fi hotspots if needed)
Our systems are cloud-based, meaning you can manage the business from laptops and smartphones.
8. Apparel & Printed Materials
- Range: $1,500 – $2,500
Professional branding matters. This investment includes uniforms, promotional brochures, and other materials that help you present your business with credibility from Day One.
We have a variety of sources for apparel and as long as you comply with the brand standards and use the correct logos, you can source locally too. Typically, techs wear blue Dryer Vent Superheroes polos with our logo and blue work pants. We often use baseball caps and logo hoodies and jackets.
9. Professional Fees
- Range: $500 – $1,500
It’s smart to involve legal and accounting professionals when setting up your franchise. These fees may include:
- Forming a legal entity (e.g., LLC or corporation) – you can have a local attorney set this up or you can use a service such as Legal Zoom. Your LLC name can not have the trademarked Dryer Vent Superheroes in it and you’ll need to get a DBA form on record in your state.
- Reviewing franchise documents – you may opt to have an experienced franchise attorney review our FDD and Agreement for you. Keep in mind, we can’t edit or redline agreements as everyone signs the same agreement.
- Setting up bookkeeping systems – we use KTA Bookkeeping as our required bookkeeping partner, this is an affordable service at only $349 a month.
10. Start-Up Marketing Fee
- Fixed: $10,000
This fee is paid directly to Dryer Vent Superheroes at the time you sign your Franchise Agreement. Unlike many home service franchises, DVSH uses this fee in a highly structured way to accelerate your growth from the very beginning.
Here’s how it works:
- Covers Onboarding Period (2 months): While you’re training, setting up your business, and preparing for launch, this fee funds the preparation of your initial digital marketing campaigns.
- First 30 Days of Advertising: As soon as your ads go live, the fee funds your first month of active advertising to drive leads and customer calls.
- Platform Strategy: We split ad spend across Facebook and Google Ads, which are tested, proven channels for reaching homeowners in need of dryer vent services.
- Jumpstart Coaching Term: The program is preset for the first four months of operations, beginning when your ads launch. During this time, our Jumpstart coaches work with you to convert leads, refine your sales process, and establish consistent revenue. Your initial marketing fee only covers the first 30 days of actual operations, you are responsible for the ongoing cost.
This $10,000 investment is more than just “marketing spend.” It’s an integrated, hands-on growth program designed to get you to profitability faster and establish a reliable pipeline of new customers.
11. Insurance
- Range: $500 – $2,500
You’ll need liability insurance to protect your business. The estimate covers the first three months, though some carriers require annual premiums up front. We typically require 3 types of coverage: commercial liability for you, workers comp insurance for your techs and commercial auto for your vehicle.
12. Community Marketing Dues – BNI
- Range: $250 – $1,000
Joining local networking organizations like BNI (Business Network International) helps you build valuable referral relationships early on.
13. Software & Recruitment Ads
- Range: $600 – $1,250
This includes job postings to recruit technicians and licenses for design software tools used in daily operations. We use a software platform called Careerplug and most owners pay $595 a year for unlimited ad posting on 15 job boards. This service comes with preset job descriptions, making recruiting easier and we typically keep ads running throughout the year so you receive resumes all year.
Most of our target techs are 1-3 year HVAC helpers or technicians and we have a unique value and compensation package that allows us to recruit great talent.
14. Additional Funds (3 months)
- Range: $10,000 – $50,000
This is working capital to cover payroll, taxes, supplies, recruiting, and other operating expenses during your first three months. No business starts out profitable on day one and even though this business has a strong track record, we
Total Investment Range
- Single Territory: $71,100 – $134,750
- Double Territory: $108,600 – $174,550
- Triple Territory: $149,100 – $212,750
How to Interpret the Range of Startup Costs for A Dryer Vent Superheroes Franchise
Why such a wide range? Because factors like location, vehicle choice, travel distance for training, and local permitting vary greatly. A franchisee in a small Midwestern town may start at the lower end, while one in a major metro area might see costs closer to the higher end.
Also, your individual business experience matters – if this is your first business and you’ve never recruited or managed techs, you might take longer to ramp up than someone who has operated similar businesses before.
For planning purposes, estimate conservatively and make sure you have access to enough capital to make common mistakes in your first year of business!
Dryer Vent Superheroes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Key Takeaways
- The Initial Franchise Fee gives you entry into a proven system with brand recognition.
- Training, equipment, and vehicles are foundational investments to deliver high-quality services.
- Marketing and community networking ensure you build awareness from Day One.
- Insurance, licenses, and professional fees safeguard your business legally and financially.
- Working capital is essential for keeping operations smooth during your early months.
Why Dryer Vent Superheroes is a Potentially Strong Investment
Compared to many other home services franchises and any competing Dryer Vent Cleaning Franchises, Dryer Vent Superheroes offers:
- Low overhead (no retail space required).
- Scalable growth (territories can expand as your business grows).
- Essential service demand (dryer vent cleaning and repair is a recurring, safety-driven need).
- Community impact (helping prevent fires and improve energy efficiency).
Final Thoughts
The Dryer Vent Superheroes Item 7 provides more than just numbers—it paints a picture of what it takes to start and sustain a successful Dryer Vent Superheroes franchise. By understanding these costs up front, you can plan confidently, secure funding, and hit the ground running with a strong foundation.
Be sure to review these numbers carefully with your financial advisor and speak with existing franchisees about their experiences. That way, you’ll have a clear, realistic view of what your first year in business will look like.

