I spent over a dozen years and invested well into six figures while operating a chem dry franchise. I walked away completely empty handed, as did many other franchisees I encountered. Many of those who stayed on, have little value in their franchises (even after 20 years), while Chem Dry regularly sold new franchises or repossed ones at low prices with seemingly attractive terms to keep their revenues flowing uninterupted, but made it hard for franchisees to compete when trying to sell theirs.
Franchise areas were often oversold and saturated. There were price wars among franchises. They changed the terms of the franchise agreement at their will, usually to enrich themselves. They used heavy handed legal tactics to intimidate franchisees.
The bottom line is they are basically an unregulated entity who used that 'self regulated' environment for their own benefit, much like the financial industry did. A legalized sort of 'ponzi' where the deck is stacked against against the franchisee. It was basically like renting a job with no benefits, and where the financial obligation is substantial and I found the returns to be minimal. Unless you like a situation comparable to a dictatorship where you have No Rights, except for the right to breathe (if you can) under the conditions that they dictate, run as far away as you can.
The President and CEO, Craig Donaldson who was responsible for most of the changes that ruined the Chem Dry dream for many good, hard working people, and the founder, Robert Harris, who the Greedy man who professed to care for the franchisees (but ultimately mot as much as money), both have their hands on, still own considerale positions, and influence the direction of this company. Bernie Madoff doesn't have much on these guys, believe me.
Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from them as possible. If you want to go into this business, there are plently of good industry bulletin boards where a wealth of information is available, so you can do it on your own.
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