Kitchen Hood Cleaning
NFPA 96 says every restaurant must do this — so they all call you
Commercial kitchen exhaust systems accumulate grease that becomes a serious fire hazard. NFPA 96 and local fire codes mandate professional cleaning every 1–12 months depending on cooking volume — it is not optional. Every restaurant, hotel, hospital, school cafeteria, and corporate kitchen needs this service on a recurring schedule. You show up at 2am when the kitchen is closed, clean the full system in 3–4 hours, issue a compliance certificate, and leave. Customers cannot decline — the fire marshal will shut them down if they do.
Avg Revenue
$280K
Profit Margin
40%
Acquisition Multiple
1.75x - 3x
Startup Cost
$10K - $50K
Difficulty
2/5
How It Works
You build a recurring route of restaurant clients on mandated cleaning schedules (quarterly, semi-annual, or monthly for high-volume kitchens). One crew of two completes 2–3 kitchens per night working 10pm–4am. After each cleaning you issue a compliance certificate the restaurant keeps for fire inspectors. Upsells include fire suppression system testing, duct repair, and exhaust fan maintenance.
Revenue Range
Pros
- +NFPA 96 fire code mandate means clients legally cannot opt out of this service
- +Night schedule means zero disruption to customer operations — easy sell
- +Material cost is $20–$60 per job; jobs bill $300–$1,500 — extraordinary margins
- +Near-zero churn — restaurants stay with the same hood cleaning company for years
Cons
- -Late-night and weekend schedule (10pm–4am) is a hard lifestyle requirement for operators
- -Physically demanding and genuinely messy — grease-covered systems, confined spaces
- -Building a route takes 6–12 months of outreach to restaurants and property managers
Best For
Operators who can handle the night schedule and want a compliance-driven B2B route business with near-zero churn
Operating Costs
Startup requires a van ($15K–$30K), commercial pressure washer, scrapers, and cleaning chemicals — under $50K total. Labor (1–2 workers per crew) is the main ongoing cost. Gross margins of 40–50% are standard at scale.
Where to Buy
Find kitchen hood and commercial cleaning businesses for sale
International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association — certifications and industry standards
Browse commercial cleaning and exhaust cleaning acquisitions
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Acquisition Price
- $490K - $840K
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Kitchen Hood Cleaning
$280K/yr • 40% margins • 1.75x–3x multiple
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