Culligan
Home Services · HVAC & Plumbing
- Active units
- 438
- Royalty
- 2.0%
Franchised, year-end 2025
of weekly Net Sales
About Culligan
Culligan is a renowned water treatment company based in the United States. The company was founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan and has since become a leading provider of water filtration and treatment solutions. Culligan's headquarters are located in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. From this central location, the company manages its operations and oversees its global network of dealers and subsidiaries. The primary products and services offered by Culligan include water softeners, filtration systems, drinking water systems, and commercial water treatment solutions. These products are designed to address a wide range of water quality issues and provide clean, safe, and great-tasting water for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. On a global scale, Culligan operates in more than 90 countries through a network of over 800 dealers and subsidiaries. Notable subsidiaries and joint ventures include Culligan International Company, Culligan Water Technologies, and Culligan UK Ltd. Culligan holds a strong market position within the water treatment industry. Its global sales exceed $500 million annually, making it one of the largest players in the market. The company faces competition from other prominent brands such as Pentair, EcoWater Systems, and Kinetico. Over the years, Culligan has achieved several significant milestones. In 1965, it introduced its iconic Hey Culligan Man! advertising campaign, which helped establish the brand's recognizable image. The company has also expanded its product lineup to include innovative technological solutions that cater to changing consumer preferences and environmental concerns. As of the latest available information, Culligan continues to thrive in the water treatment industry. The company remains committed to providing high-quality water solutions to its customers worldwide. It continues to explore new partnerships and expand its portfolio to reinforce its position as a global leader in water treatment. Note: This information is accurate as of the time of writing and may be subject to change.
Key terms
- Franchise fee
$41k
- Brand fund
1.0% of Net Sales
- Local advertising
1.0% of Net Sales
- Footprint
3,500+ sq ft
Brand Percentile Rankings
Rankings compare brands in the same operating year. Fee and investment figures come from the FDD (2026 filing); filings on file: 2024, 2025, 2026.
Growth
- Total locations438
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings1
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate-4.4%
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR-4.0%
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio0.0×
Cumulative opens / closures through year-end
Unit economics
- Annual unit volume (Median)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (25th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (75th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- 1-year Median AUV growth rate—
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$473k
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open—
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
- Royalty rate2.0%
Percent of net sales paid to the franchisor
↓ Lower is better - Sales-to-investment ratio—
Median AUV / estimated initial investment midpoint
- Cash-on-cash returns—
Median unit-level EBITDA / estimated initial investment midpoint. Steady-state estimate; year 1 returns will be lower as the unit ramps to median volumes.
Franchisee healthLocked
- Unit closure ratio
- Transfer vs. closure ratio
- Percent multi-unit franchisees
- Litigation rate
- EBITDA multiple on sales & transfers
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Sources
Financial and operating figures are sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Documents. Brand percentile rankings are based on comparisons to other brands that include the same metrics in their Franchise Disclosure Documents.