Zips Cleaners Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

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.

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

Here's what you would need to invest 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

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

Competitors

Below are some of

Zips Cleaners

key competitors in the

Laundry / Dry Cleaning

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
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EBITDA
Upgrade

70

New
+
11%
11%

$30,000

$205,000

$1,198,000

n.a.

$1,006,000

$xxx,xxx

89.8%

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

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Training

Zips Cleaners provides a comprehensive training program to its franchisees to ensure successful business operations:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

Competitors

Zips Cleaners

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.

Franchisees

?

70
+
11%
11%
Investment

?

$205,000 - $1,198,000

SPEED QUEEN

SPEED QUEEN is a laundromat franchise offering self-service and full-service laundry options. Franchisees benefit from brand recognition, training, and business support, with access to advanced laundry technology and an efficient operating system.

Franchisees

?

12
+
140%
140%
Investment

?

$1,164,000 - $1,940,000

WaveMax Laundry

WaveMax Laundry offers professional and efficient self-service and full-service laundry solutions, providing a convenient and reliable option for individuals and businesses to handle their laundry needs.

Franchisees

?

50
+
79%
79%
Investment

?

$351,000 - $1,515,000

Tide Cleaners

Tide Cleaners offers professional dry cleaning and laundry services, providing customers with convenient and high-quality garment care solutions to keep their clothes looking fresh and clean.

Franchisees

?

223
+
11%
11%
Investment

?

$698,000 - $2,517,000

Mulberrys Garment Care

Mulberrys Garment Care provides eco-friendly dry cleaning and laundry services, helping customers maintain clean and fresh clothing.

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$725,000 - $1,175,000

Martinizing Dry Cleaning

Martinizing Dry Cleaning is a dry cleaning franchise offering professional dry cleaning and laundry services, known for its quality, convenience, and customer care.

Franchisees

?

163
+
16%
16%
Investment

?

$38,000 - $744,000