Carpet Cleaning Business Valuation
Carpet Cleaning Business Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for Owners
We built one platform that tracks your carpet cleaning business's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most Carpet Cleaning Owners Have No Idea What Their Business is Actually Worth
Current Carpet Cleaning Valuation Multiples (2026)
Carpet cleaning valuations depend on commercial accounts, recurring revenue, and equipment condition. Here's the market:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives Carpet Cleaning Business Value
Your cleaning quality matters, but sophisticated buyers evaluate these factors that determine premium pricing:
Commercial Accounts
40%+ Commercial Revenue
Residential cleaning is one job at a time. Commercial accounts—property managers, office buildings, restaurants, apartment complexes—provide regular scheduled work with larger square footage per stop. Commercial accounts often come with recurring schedules (monthly, quarterly) that residential rarely provides. Building commercial relationships takes time but dramatically increases value.
Residential-only = seasonal volatility
Recurring Revenue
60%+ Repeat Customers
The best carpet cleaning businesses have customers who call every 6-12 months without being reminded. Track your repeat customer percentage; it demonstrates customer satisfaction and reduces marketing costs. Building reminder systems, maintenance programs, and customer databases creates recurring revenue dynamics that buyers love.
All new customers = constant marketing
Service Diversification
Carpet + Upholstery + Tile + Water
Pure carpet cleaning limits your revenue per customer. Adding upholstery cleaning, tile and grout, hardwood floor care, and water damage restoration creates multiple services to offer each customer. Water damage especially—it's emergency work with premium pricing. Diversified services demonstrate full-service capability.
Carpet-only = limited offering
Equipment Quality
Professional Truck-Mount Systems
Professional truck-mounted equipment produces better results and higher efficiency than portable units. Well-maintained truck mounts are valuable assets that support your pricing and capacity. Worn equipment facing replacement gets deducted from valuations. Know your equipment condition and maintenance history.
Portable-only = capacity limits
Customer Database
Complete Records + History
Your customer list is your primary asset—but only if it's documented. Complete records with contact information, service history, and cleaning notes enable marketing and demonstrate the customer base exists. If customer info is scattered across old invoices and your memory, you're leaving value on the table.
Poor records = unverifiable claims
Technician Team
Trained Techs Beyond Owner
If you're the only one running the truck, you have a job, not a business. Having trained technicians who deliver quality cleaning independently demonstrates scalable capacity. Building a team takes time—certification, equipment training, customer service skills—but it's essential for a valuable exit.
Owner-only cleaning = key person risk
How to Value a Carpet Cleaning Business
The U.S. carpet cleaning industry includes tens of thousands of operators generating approximately $6 billion in annual revenue. Carpet cleaning businesses range from solo van operators to multi-truck companies serving residential and commercial clients.
Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is the primary valuation method. Carpet cleaning businesses typically sell for 1.0x to 2.5x SDE. Companies at the higher end have commercial accounts, multiple service trucks, trained technicians, and diversified services beyond basic carpet cleaning.
Revenue multiples generally range from 0.15x to 0.35x annual revenue. Companies with recurring commercial contracts command the upper end.
The unique valuation factor for carpet cleaning is the commercial contract base and service diversification. Residential carpet cleaning is largely transactional and seasonal, but commercial accounts — office buildings, hotels, property management companies — provide recurring revenue through scheduled maintenance programs. Companies that have expanded into upholstery cleaning, tile and grout, hardwood floor care, and water damage restoration capture higher margins and reduce seasonal dependence. Equipment condition (truck-mounted vs. portable units) and brand reputation through online reviews significantly impact value.
The carpet cleaning industry has seen consolidation through franchise systems like Stanley Steemer, Chem-Dry, and Oxi Fresh. Independent operators with strong commercial accounts remain attractive acquisition targets. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do carpet cleaning businesses sell for?
Most carpet cleaning businesses sell for 2.0x – 3.5x SDE. Companies with commercial accounts, strong repeat customers, and trained technicians command the higher end.
How important is commercial business for carpet cleaning value?
Very important. Commercial accounts provide recurring scheduled work that residential rarely offers. Building a commercial base significantly increases value and stability.
Who buys carpet cleaning businesses?
Larger cleaning companies adding services, restoration companies expanding, property maintenance firms, and individual buyers seeking service businesses with recurring revenue potential.
Should I add water damage before selling?
If training and equipment allow, yes. Water damage restoration is emergency work with premium pricing. It leverages your extraction equipment and creates a high-margin revenue stream.
How does equipment affect carpet cleaning value?
Significantly. Professional truck-mount systems are valuable assets. Well-maintained equipment supports your pricing. Worn equipment gets deducted from valuations.
What's the fastest way to increase my carpet cleaning value?
Three high-impact moves: 1) Build commercial accounts for recurring scheduled work, 2) Train technicians so you're not running every job, 3) Document your customer database completely.