Home Services Industry Trends for 2026

Consumer Shift from DIY to Do-It-For-Me Continues to Drive Sector Growth, Says Industry Leader Home Franchise Concepts

A significant advantage of home services franchises is their resiliency. Demand remains strong, especially for needs-based services, regardless of changes in the market. Leaders of the Home Franchise Concepts family of brands forecast even grater consumer demand in 2026 based on home services industry trends they’ve identified.

Below, Corey Benish, president and CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, and Paul Ebert, group president of four of 10 Home Franchise Concepts brands including AdvantaClean, Aussie Pet Mobile, Lightspeed Restoration and Two Maids, share their insights.

Factors Driving Home Services Industry Trends in 2026

• Lifestyle Shifts

“We expect the consumer shift from do-it-yourself, or DIY, to do-it‑for‑me to continue accelerating as people trade money for time and expertise. That favors many brands in our portfolio, especially needs‑based services that don’t get deferred even during choppy market conditions,” Benish says. In regard to the Home Franchise Concepts flagship brand, Budget Blinds, he goes on to say, “We also see sustained demand tied to an aging housing stock and the continued blending of indoor and outdoor comfort, where solutions like shading and privacy are expanding rapidly.” 

Ebert says recurring services brands such as Two Maids and Aussie Pet Mobile particularly benefit from lifestyle shifts favoring convenience and timesaving. “Younger generations increasingly outsource chores, while older customers seek help as tasks become harder physically,” he says.

• Technology and Innovation

“AI‑enabled experiences, from visualization to smarter and more predictive marketing, will continue raising expectations and results for both consumers and franchisees,” Benish says. “Home Franchise Concepts has always embraced innovation. For Budget Blinds, we have expanded our outdoor and whole-home solutions within window coverings, including deeper integration of motorization and automation, which are areas where consumer expectations are rising quickly. For our Kitchen Tune-Up and Bath Tune-Up brands, we also advanced several AI-driven initiatives that support franchisees, from richer visualization tools and more dynamic quoting to improved marketing content and real-time sales coaching.

“Additionally, we continue exploring ways to make the customer journey more seamless, including evaluating consumer-friendly financing options where appropriate and permissible. Collectively, these efforts help franchisees present more compelling solutions, operate with greater efficiency and convert interest into revenue.”

• Demand

“Needs‑based services such as restoration, professional house cleaning and pet care typically see steadier demand because many of these purchases are essential rather than discretionary,” Benish says. 

The affordability and flexibility in scheduling, which includes scaling back in frequency of services if needed, contribute to the ongoing demand for services such as professional home cleaning and pet care, Ebert adds. 

Demand for restoration services remains event-driven. “Water damage and mold don’t wait for economic stability. When homeowners face emergencies, they need immediate help, which creates confidence in the stability of these businesses. For example, a franchisee recently generated significant invoicing within a 120-day period, demonstrating how quickly restoration work can scale when conditions drive demand,” Ebert says.

• Growth in Home Services Brands

Home Franchise Concepts leaders see strong interest across categories in which their brands operate. “In illustrating the performance of Home Franchise Concepts brands, two data points stand out: strong double‑digit year‑over‑year growth in non‑branded category interest across nearly every brand, and multiple ‘best-month-ever’ performances inside the portfolio,” Benish says. “While we continue to read headlines that highlight softening consumer sentiment, these metrics underscore the durability of home services and the strength of our brands’ execution. Our priority is to equip every brand and franchisee with the training, platforms and playbooks that help convert demand into sustainable results.”

Ebert cites specific examples of growth, including Two Maids exceeding its 2025 territory goals and Aussie Pet Mobile adding 130 territories in less than two years with same-store sales up double digits. “We expect restoration brands to grow, especially as severe weather events and aging infrastructure drive urgent needs. A recent Lightspeed Restoration franchisee secured a large-scale project by collaborating with an AdvantaClean owner – demonstrating the significant scale possible in this segment,” he says.

Home Franchise Concepts also anticipates continued strength among its design‑consult brands, including, Kitchen Tune-Up,  Bath Tune-Up, PremierGarage, The Tailored Closet and Budget Blinds. In the case of Budget Blinds, “this is especially so as home automation and motorization enhance the window covering experience, and outdoor living upgrades extend the home’s footprint,” Benish says. “These areas have exhibited healthy category interest and are well supported by our system’s training and supplier partnerships.”

Forecasting and Planning

The Home Franchise Concepts team monitors category interest, meaning non‑branded search trends, to understand demand independent of any single brand. “We combine those insights with franchisee feedback, pilot programs and data‑driven insights from our platforms to refine offerings before scaling them systemwide,” Benish says. “Our process is continuous: Observe, test, train, deploy, monitor and adjust. Everything is grounded in a consumer-first mindset and a values-based leadership approach.”

Ebert explains that business intelligence tools track performance across locations, while proprietary software and dashboards help identify trends early. “For restoration, we use tech like 360-degree cameras to speed estimates and insurance processing, reducing payment windows from 90-plus days to 30–45 days. For our recurring revenue brands, AI pilot programs aim to cut booking time to six minutes or less. These investments help us anticipate demand and scale efficiently,” he says.

Takeaways for Prospective Franchisees

“Prospective franchisees can take confidence in the fact that our future-focused planning is built on three core beliefs,” Benish says. “First, franchising offers a proven model with defined systems and support, an advantage over starting from scratch or inheriting unknown risks through acquisition.

“Second, home services represent a massive and highly fragmented market where consumer experiences vary widely; brands with national scale and a consistent, high-quality customer journey are well positioned to win share.

“And third, Home Franchise Concepts brings together deep franchising experience, strong and resilient brands, a highly engaged owner community and the long-term stability of JM Family Enterprises as our parent company. That combination ensures that the home services industry trends we plan for translate into real, practical advantages for owners entering or expanding within our system.”

About Home Franchise Concepts

Home Franchise Concepts brands include AdvantaClean, Aussie Pet Mobile, Bath Tune-Up, Budget Blinds, Concrete Craft, Kitchen Tune-Up, Lightspeed Restoration, PremierGarage, The Tailored Closet and Two Maids. Since starting with a single brand in 1992, Home Franchise Concepts has become one of the largest home services franchisors, with over 2,600 franchised territories in North America. Many Home Franchise Concepts brands consistently are named among the top franchises in the industry by Franchise Business Review, Entrepreneur and Franchise Times, receiving recognition as top franchises for veterans, top low-cost franchises, top new and emerging franchises, top home-based franchises and fastest-growing franchises.

For more information about franchising opportunities, visit Home Franchise Concepts’ website.