Century 21 vs ServiceMaster Restore: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Real Estate Home Services Real Data Not Investment Advice
C2

Century 21

Real Estate
$25K – $525K
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VS
SR

ServiceMaster Restore

Home Services
$250K – $800K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Century 21 wins on investment range ($275K less) vs ServiceMaster Restore.
Fee Burden
Century 21 wins on royalty rate (4.0% lower) vs ServiceMaster Restore.
Unit Count
Century 21 wins on total units (12,100 more) vs ServiceMaster Restore.
Satisfaction
Century 21 wins on franchisee satisfaction vs ServiceMaster Restore.

Detailed Analysis: Century 21 vs ServiceMaster Restore

Choosing between Century 21 and ServiceMaster Restore comes down to your investment capacity, risk tolerance, and operational preferences. Century 21 operates in Real Estate while ServiceMaster Restore is in Home Services. Cross-industry comparisons are valuable when you're evaluating which business model best fits your skills and lifestyle.

From a capital perspective, Century 21 has a lower entry point. However, initial investment alone doesn't determine ROI — ongoing royalties, revenue potential, and failure rates all factor into long-term returns. Century 21 charges a lower royalty rate, which means more of your gross revenue stays in your pocket.

Franchisee satisfaction is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. Century 21 leads with a 73/100 satisfaction score, indicating that existing owners are more positive about their decision. Before committing to either franchise, we recommend running both through our Financial Model tool to project personalized 5-year P&L scenarios. You should also review each franchise's complete Franchise Disclosure Document using our FDD Checker to understand litigation history, termination rates, and territory restrictions.

Investment & Fees

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Min Investment $25K $250K
Max Investment $525K $800K
Franchise Fee $25K $47K
Royalty Rate 6.0% 10.0%
Ad Fund Rate N/A N/A

Unit Economics

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Avg Unit Revenue N/A $1.5M
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Total Units 14,000 1,900
Annual Growth 200.0% N/A
Failure Rate N/A N/A

Franchisee Performance

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Franchisee Satisfaction 73/100 68/100

Track Record

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Years in Business N/A N/A
Years Franchising N/A N/A

Financial Requirements

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Min Net Worth Required N/A N/A
Liquid Capital Required N/A N/A

Operations

Metric Century 21 ServiceMaster Restore
Avg Employees N/A N/A
Training Weeks N/A N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Century 21 or ServiceMaster Restore a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Century 21 has 14,000 total units and a 73/100 franchisee satisfaction score. ServiceMaster Restore has 1,900 total units and a 68/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Century 21 franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Century 21 franchise requires an initial investment of $25K – $525K. The franchise fee is $25K, with ongoing royalties of 6.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a ServiceMaster Restore franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a ServiceMaster Restore franchise requires an initial investment of $250K – $800K. The franchise fee is $47K, with ongoing royalties of 10.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Century 21 vs ServiceMaster Restore?

Century 21's royalty rate is 6.0%. ServiceMaster Restore's royalty rate is 10.0%. That means ServiceMaster Restore has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Century 21 or ServiceMaster Restore?

Century 21 has 14,000 total units. ServiceMaster Restore has 1,900 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Century 21 or ServiceMaster Restore semi-absentee friendly?

Century 21 is typically run as a owner-operator model. ServiceMaster Restore is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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