The commercial cleaning industry offers entrepreneurs several ways to enter the market, from building an independent operation to purchasing a franchise or adopting specialized equipment through a supported business model.
Franchising can provide a recognizable brand and established operating processes, but entrepreneurs also need to consider royalties, marketing requirements, technology fees, territory restrictions and who ultimately owns the customer relationship.
The rise of robotics is adding another option. The International Federation of Robotics reported that sales of professional cleaning robots grew 34% in 2024, with more than 25,000 units sold. The organization also noted that robot as a service models are gaining traction as businesses look for ways to adopt automation without making the entire investment upfront.
That same logic is beginning to appear in exterior cleaning. Instead of purchasing all the specialized equipment independently or joining a franchise system, operators can use a supported model that combines equipment, training and business support while allowing them to retain their own identity and customer relationships.
Top commercial cleaning franchise alternative
SkyPSI’s Operator program is designed around that middle ground. The company describes its model as an alternative between buying equipment outright, joining an OEM subscription and purchasing a traditional cleaning franchise. Operators keep their own brand and customer accounts while receiving access to commercial cleaning equipment, training and support from SkyPSI.
The program starts at $3,000 per month and includes the Apellix Power Wash B2 flight kit, manufacturer flight instruction, hands on commercial cleaning training, front line support and a Marketing Flight Plan. SkyPSI also provides one paid commercial cleaning job after an operator qualifies, while the operator remains responsible for building its own customer base.
That structure gives entrepreneurs a different way to enter commercial cleaning without starting entirely from scratch or taking on the structure of a conventional franchise. For existing exterior cleaners, it can also provide a way to add drone based capabilities while retaining the crews, accounts and operating infrastructure they have already built.
