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SUBJECT DOSSIER · FDD 2026

Aire Serv Franchise

Cost, fees, owner earnings, closure rate and litigation for a Aire Serv franchise — pulled from the franchisor's own public FDD (2026), not its sales material.

Home & Trade Services · disclosure-honesty grade · from public state filings

Disclosure honesty

B
Transparency 4 / 5

Aire Serv discloses earnings (Item 19) — but the grade is how honestly. We graded it B.

Outlets229
Disclosed lawsuits2
Closure signals4 ceased
Investment
$113,809–$271,709
Total fees
8% of sales
Outlets
229
Closure signals
4 ceased, 15 terminated
Lawsuits
2
◢ FINDINGS
ITEM 20
4 outlets ceased operations
4 ceased operations 2025; 24 total closures in reporting period. 15 terminations, 18 transfers suggest moderate franchisee turnover.
ITEM 03
2 legal matters disclosed
Litigation in Item 3 signals how the franchisor treats its franchisees.

What their own earnings claim actually says

2025 data from 172 operating franchises (Jan-Dec). Top 10% averaged $6.5M gross sales; median all franchises $944K. 24 closures during period, none under 12 months. Average initial fee paid $68,685.

What a Aire Serv franchise actually costs to run

FeeDisclosedWhere it comes from
Initial franchise fee$45,000Item 5 — paid up front, before you open
Royalty6% of gross salesItem 6 — charged on revenue, not profit
Advertising fund2% of gross salesItem 6 — brand marketing, spent at the franchisor's discretion
Total recurring fees8% of gross salesBefore rent, labor, food or debt service
Total initial investment$113,809 – $271,709Item 7 — franchisor's own low/high estimate

License fee 5-7% weekly gross sales; MAP 2%; software $189.95/month; call center $349-449/month. Multiple discounts available (multi-territory, HVAC license, roll-in, VetFran 20%).

Royalty and ad-fund percentages are charged on gross sales — an owner pays them whether or not the location is profitable.

Aire Serv system size and owner turnover

Total outlets229
Ceased operations4
Terminated by franchisor15
Transferred to new owners18
Closure rate1.7% of outlets

4 ceased operations 2025; 24 total closures in reporting period. 15 terminations, 18 transfers suggest moderate franchisee turnover.

From Item 20 of the FDD 2026. Terminations and ceased operations are the franchisor's own count of owners who stopped — the number the sales pitch leaves out.

Is Aire Serv worth it? — how it compares to 85 similar franchises

Ongoing fees8% of saleslower than most (median 8%)
Startup costfrom $113,809about average (median $119,850)
Disclosure honestyGrade Bmore honest than 79% of home & trade services franchises
Closure rate1.7% of outletsabout average
Disclosed lawsuits2more litigious than 69% of peers

Benchmarked against every home & trade services franchise we've graded from public FDDs — the context the franchisor's pitch never gives you.

◤ CLASSIFIED · ITEM 19 RECONSTRUCTED

Owner take-home for a Aire Serv

The franchisor's framing: 2025 data from 172 operating franchises (Jan-Dec). Top 10% averaged $6.5M gross sales; med… We reconstruct what an owner actually keeps, from their own FDD.

LOW
MEDIAN
HIGH

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Aire Serv franchise — frequently asked

How much does a Aire Serv franchise cost?
The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $113,809–$271,709, including a $45,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do Aire Serv franchise owners make?
2025 data from 172 operating franchises (Jan-Dec). Top 10% averaged $6.5M gross sales; median all franchises $944K. 24 closures during period, none under 12 months. Average initial fee paid $68,685. We grade this disclosure B for honesty.
What are the Aire Serv franchise fees?
Aire Serv's FDD discloses a $45,000 initial franchise fee, a 6% royalty on gross sales, a 2% advertising-fund contribution, for roughly 8% of gross sales in recurring fees before rent, labor, or debt service. License fee 5-7% weekly gross sales; MAP 2%; software $189.95/month; call center $349-449/month. Multiple discounts available (multi-territory, HVAC license, roll-in, VetFran 20%).
What is the Aire Serv franchise profit margin?
Aire Serv does not publish a franchisee net-profit margin — almost no franchisor does. What Item 19 actually shows: 2025 data from 172 operating franchises (Jan-Dec). Top 10% averaged $6.5M gross sales; median all franchises $944K. 24 closures during period, none under 12 months. Average initial fee paid $68,685. Recurring fees alone take about 8% of gross sales, before rent, labor, food or debt service. Margin has to be reconstructed from the disclosure, not read off it.
What is the Aire Serv franchise failure rate?
4 ceased operations 2025; 24 total closures in reporting period. 15 terminations, 18 transfers suggest moderate franchisee turnover.
How many Aire Serv locations are there?
Aire Serv's FDD reports 229 total outlets, with 4 that ceased operations in the most recent reporting year and 18 transferred to new owners. Item 20 is where system health shows up before the marketing does.
Does Aire Serv have complaints or lawsuits?
Aire Serv discloses 2 legal matters in Item 3 of its FDD. Item 3 covers the franchisor's litigation history, which is the closest thing to a public record of how it treats franchisees — read the case descriptions, not just the count.
Is a Aire Serv franchise worth it?
It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. Aire Serv scores B on disclosure honesty, carries about 8% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 2 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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Source: MN CARDS 36177-202604-02 (Clean FDD 2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with Aire Serv or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.