Zips Cleaners is a dry-cleaning franchise known for its fast, eco-friendly, and affordable one-price dry-cleaning services for garments and household items.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
70
+
11%
11%
Franchise fee
?
$30,000
Investment
?
$205,000 - $1,198,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$1,006,000
+
18.4%
18.4%
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ZIPS Cleaners has earned its place as a leading franchise in the garment care industry, celebrated for delivering quick, high-quality services at an affordable price.
Founded in 1996, the brand was born from the collaboration of eight top dry cleaners from the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area, who united under one banner to reshape the dry cleaning experience. The company’s corporate headquarters remains based in Maryland, USA.
ZIPS launched its franchise program in 2006, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to become part of its growing brand.
ZIPS Cleaners offers a full suite of services, including same-day dry cleaning backed by a "in by 9, out by 5" guarantee, professional laundering and pressing, Wash N Fold laundry service, alterations, and the cleaning of household items such as linens and comforters.
What distinguishes ZIPS from traditional dry cleaners is its simple, flat-rate pricing model, offering one low price for any dry-cleaned item.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Zips Cleaners franchise is
$205,000 - $1,198,000.
That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise.
These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Zips Cleaners offers 2 types of franchises:
ZIPS Cleaners Business Type
Initial Investment Range
ZIPS Cleaners Business (with own on-site processing plant facility)
$761,700 to $1,198,000
ZIPS Cleaners Business (drop-off facility)
$205,250 to $382,000
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a ZIPS Cleaners Business (with own on-site processing plant facility). For more information on costs required to start a Zips Cleaners franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Fees – Initial Franchise Fee
$15,000 – $30,000
New Store Marketing
$15,000 – $25,000
Real Property/Rent
$10,000 – $20,000
Utility Deposits
$2,000 – $6,000
Leasehold Improvements
$195,000 – $290,000
Architectural and Engineering Fees
$10,000 – $35,000
Furnishings, Fixtures, Marketing Materials, Supplies, and Other Branded Items
$28,000 – $35,000
Insurance
$3,000 – $7,000
Signage
$8,000 – $15,000
Point of Sale System/Technical Equipment
$16,000 – $25,000
Software
$7,500
Office Equipment & Supplies
$1,200 – $4,000
Dry Cleaning / Laundry Production Equipment and Installation
$325,000 – $425,000
Initial Production Supplies
$24,000 – $30,000
Training
$500 – $30,000
Licenses and Permits and Professional Fees
$1,500 – $13,500
Additional Operating Funds – 6 months
$100,000 – $200,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$761,700 – $1,198,000
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Zips Cleaners offers 2 types of franchises:
ZIPS Cleaners Business Type
Initial Investment Range
ZIPS Cleaners Business (with own on-site processing plant facility)
$761,700 to $1,198,000
ZIPS Cleaners Business (drop-off facility)
$205,250 to $382,000
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a ZIPS Cleaners Business (with own on-site processing plant facility). For more information on costs required to start a Zips Cleaners franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Fees – Initial Franchise Fee
$15,000 – $30,000
New Store Marketing
$15,000 – $25,000
Real Property/Rent
$10,000 – $20,000
Utility Deposits
$2,000 – $6,000
Leasehold Improvements
$195,000 – $290,000
Architectural and Engineering Fees
$10,000 – $35,000
Furnishings, Fixtures, Marketing Materials, Supplies, and Other Branded Items
$28,000 – $35,000
Insurance
$3,000 – $7,000
Signage
$8,000 – $15,000
Point of Sale System/Technical Equipment
$16,000 – $25,000
Software
$7,500
Office Equipment & Supplies
$1,200 – $4,000
Dry Cleaning / Laundry Production Equipment and Installation
$325,000 – $425,000
Initial Production Supplies
$24,000 – $30,000
Training
$500 – $30,000
Licenses and Permits and Professional Fees
$1,500 – $13,500
Additional Operating Funds – 6 months
$100,000 – $200,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$761,700 – $1,198,000
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Zips Cleaners's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Zips Cleaners had 72 total units in 2025, of which 70 were franchised-owned and 2 company-owned.
Zips Cleaners provides a comprehensive training program to its franchisees to ensure successful business operations:
Initial Training Program Franchisees, their Operating Principals, Store Managers, or designated 10% Owners must complete a 160-hour initial training program, which includes classroom and on-the-job training over a minimum of four weeks. Zips does not charge for up to two attendees but requires the franchisee to cover travel, living, and incidental expenses.
Certification Requirement Franchisees must ensure that at least one trained and certified individual is always on-site at the Franchised Business. Certification through the initial training program is mandatory before the store can open.
Ongoing Training Zips may require franchisees, Store Managers, and other key personnel to attend up to four days of ongoing training per year, designed to keep them updated on operations, systems, and improvements.
Territory Protection
Zips Cleaners provides a form of limited territory protection to its franchisees through what they call a "Protected Area." After the franchised location is accepted, the franchisee is granted the exclusive right to operate a Zips Cleaners business at that location, and Zips agrees not to open another franchised unit within the Protected Area during the agreement term.
The Protected Area can be defined by a radius (typically around two miles), metes and bounds, or a group of zip codes. However, Zips Cleaners retains significant rights even within the Protected Area.
They can license others to operate in captive market locations such as hotels, award licenses to third parties for different brands, and use various channels of distribution like online sales.
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