Revised and updated June 3, 2020.
Decluttering and home organization has always been around, but nowadays it is a true boom industry worth more than $10.3 billion. Entrepreneurs who want to make money by helping others get organized at home will want to look into the five proven business models on this list of the top 5 organization/storage system franchises of 2020.
The home organization market got a big boost when the queen of decluttering, Marie Kondo, came out with her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Her KonMari method has swept across the world and prompted many to begin viewing their possessions through a lens that says you should only keep the things you need and the things that spark joy in your life.
There are plenty of people who might know on a kind of subconscious level that their home isn’t very well organized. But between work, activities, and sleeping, it’s relatively easy to just ignore what could be greatly improved. But now millions of people forced to stay at home 24/7 because of the COVID-19 pandemic are seeing first-hand the need to get their homes in order. And this is the industry that can help.
Besides the act of paring down the overall number of possessions, what people need are organizing systems to bring more order to the where and how of storage. A survey conducted back in 2018 revealed that more than 65% of US adults admitted they needed more home organization products. Here are the 5 best organization/storage system franchises of 2020:
1. Tailored Living
Tailored Living starts the process of helping people get organized with a free on-site consultation culminating in a full design, complete with measurements and what would be installed to meet the customer’s specific, unique needs in every space of their home or business. This company is the industry leader, in part because it has benefited from great media coverage over the years, most recently by being involved in two different episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that aired in March and April of 2020. Its commitment to thorough training is so strong that it will pay airfare and lodging to bring new franchisees to the company’s headquarters for its 11-day program.
Founded in 2006 and franchising since then, the number of locations currently stands at 185 (down by eight from the previous year’s total), none of which are company-owned and 25 of which are located outside the US.
2. ShelfGenie
ShelfGenie doesn’t go for the whole-home approach as other companies do, although its products can be installed in multiple locations. Its exclusive focus is custom pull-out shelves that work well in kitchen cabinets, pantries, bathrooms, garages, and elsewhere. All its glide-out shelves are custom-made by hand in the USA at a plant located in Alabama and are based on careful measurements taken on-site. The process begins with an in-home free consultation where the designer produces a full project design on the spot with no obligation on the part of the potential customer. Many management tasks are handled by headquarters, which frees up franchisee time to do more prospecting.
Founded in 2000 and franchising since 2008, the number of locations declined slightly for a couple years but just shot up and more than made up for those losses for a current total of 185 (up by 27 from the previous year’s total), of which 46 are company-owned and seven are located outside the US.
3. GarageExperts
GarageExperts focuses exclusively on a space many homeowners often ignore – the garage. They turn garages into places people actually want to spend time in. The company offers 140 different styles of visually striking epoxy flooring that’s durable and easy to clean. Custom cabinetry handles much of the needed organizing, as does the company’s aesthetic slatwall, which stores and displays all at the same time.
Founded in 2008 and franchising since then, the number of locations has grown steadily to the current total of 90, none of which are company-owned and all of which are located in the US.
4. Closet Factory
Closet Factory, as the name suggests, is all about maximizing the storage capacity and efficient use of closet space, pantries, garages, and other areas with storage systems created in a collaborative process between designer and customer to ensure the end result fits the client’s needs and personality. A free consultation lets customers see the possibilities in the company’s vast selection of materials, finishes, enhancements, and accessories. It also backs up its work with a transferable, lifetime warranty against defects in quality and materials. New franchisees receive six weeks of training, two of which take place in Los Angeles and the other four weeks at the franchisee’s location.
Founded by John LaBarbera in Los Angeles, California in 1983 and franchising since 1985, the number of locations has not changed a lot in recent years and currently totals 77, of which 10 are company-owned and all are located in the US.
5. Closets By Design
Closets By Design presents a wide menu of ways for clients to organize their homes, including systems and products for walk-in closets, home offices, laundry rooms, wall beds, garage cabinets, reach-in closets, media centers, pantries, hobby rooms, and more. As with other companies, the process begins with a free on-site design consultation to show off potential solutions using a giant selection of features and finishes. Systems are then custom-built and professionally installed. New franchisee onboarding includes two weeks of training in California and another two weeks of training at the franchisee’s location.
Founded in 1982 and franchising since 1998, the number of locations has expanded in recent years to the current total of 68 (up by nine from the previous year’s total), of which six are company-owned and seven are located outside the US (in Canada).
An Important Note About Our Methodology
The franchises on this list were ranked according to the number of units in the franchise system. If you are a prospective franchisee searching for franchise opportunities that meet or exceed certain performance benchmarks for sales, profits, and return on investment, please check out this list of America’s Most Lucrative Franchises.
Leave a Reply