Home Improvement Franchises Report Strong Sales Growth

Home improvement franchises posted strong sales figures in 2025, driven largely by older homeowners choosing to modify their current residences rather than move.

The National Association of Home Builders reports that Americans aged 65 and older own 34 percent of the nation's homes, a figure that totals 29.6 million properties. Many of these owners are spending money on renovations to remain in their current living spaces.

Andy Bell, founder and CEO of Ace Handyman Services, attributes this trend to a stay put economy fueled by high interest rates and housing affordability issues. He notes that Baby Boomers are frequently installing walk-in bathrooms and other modifications because they are unlikely to purchase new homes. Bell stated that this demographic is doing upgrades in the existing house.

This shift in consumer behavior contributed to an 11.6 billion dollar market for home services franchises in 2025. That figure represents an increase of more than 7 percent from 10.8 billion dollars in 2024, according to the Franchise Times Top 400 ranking, which lists the largest franchise brands by systemwide sales.

Ace Handyman Services climbed from rank 318 to 312 in the Top 400 list. The brand saw sales growth of nearly 13 percent, reaching 118 million dollars. Window World held the top spot among home service franchises at rank 71 with 1.2 billion dollars in sales, a 7 percent increase despite its unit count remaining at 211.

The largest percentage growth in the category belonged to Five Star Bath Solutions, which moved to rank 276. Sales for that brand rose nearly 50 percent to 160 million dollars. Floor Coverings International also saw a sharp increase, with sales jumping 46.3 percent to 300 million dollars.

Bell credits the Ace Hardware brand name for helping the company gain trust in a fragmented handyman industry. Ace Hardware acquired and rebranded Handyman Matters in 2019. Bell said the acquisition gave the company the brand awareness and trust customers need when seeking support for home repairs.

The electric, plumbing, and HVAC segment also saw growth, with franchises reporting nearly 2 billion dollars in sales, a 12.2 percent increase. Mr. Rooter, a plumbing business, reached 540 million dollars in sales, up 16 percent. Chris Porcelli, brand president, said the company's position within the Neighborly portfolio allowed for cross-marketing that drove multi-business consumer engagement.

Mister Sparky was the largest percentage grower in that segment, with electrical repair sales rising 23.1 percent to 231 million dollars. In contrast, painting companies experienced a decline. The category saw 883 million dollars in sales, down 2.7 percent. CertaPro Painters, ranked 121, reported a 2.9 percent drop to 665 million dollars.

Mike Stone, CEO of CertaPro Painters, attributed the decline to a market correction following a post-pandemic surge. He noted that sales peaked at 770 million dollars in 2023 before inflation and high interest rates reduced disposable income. Stone said the company is now focusing on commercial work and new technology to stabilize growth. Lawn care brands, however, grew 4.6 percent to 872 million dollars, led by Weed Man, which increased its unit count by 25.8 percent to 278 locations.