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IRIS Environmental Laboratories®

Health & Wellness Year: 2024
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What Is IRIS Environmental Laboratories?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories offers inspection and laboratory testing services for asbestos, mold and lead, providing a comprehensive solution for identifying these hazards. The operational model is mobile and typically home-based year‑round, with the option to operate from an approved small office. It serves a mix of business and consumer clients (B2B and B2C), including abatement companies, construction firms, real estate professionals, insurance adjusters, third‑party administrators, and residential and commercial property owners. The core service bundle is on‑site inspection and sampling by certified professionals combined with centralized laboratory analysis and related consulting, clearance certification, and referral services.

IRIS Environmental Laboratories Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise shows unusually strong operator retention and compliance, with zero outlet terminations or non-renewals, zero disclosed lawsuits or government penalties, and a maximum total investment of $103,510, but it also has five reacquired outlets—well above typical—which suggests higher-than-expected franchisee turnover risk.

Pros

Zero outlet terminations and zero non-renewals — both figures are unusually low for Health & Wellness, signaling stronger-than-typical operator retention.
A clean legal and regulatory record: zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisee-initiated judgments or settlements, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor enforcement — all well below typical for the sector.
Item 7 maximum total investment of $103,510 — well below typical for Health & Wellness, which caps your maximum startup cash requirement and reduces upfront financial exposure.

Cons

Five reacquired outlets — well above typical for Health & Wellness; this generally reflects franchisees exiting the system and indicates operator turnover that could affect local stability.

Territory Protection

48/100
NORMAL

Grants a protected area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to sell via e-commerce and alternative channels, operate under different trademarks, and acquire/convert or develop additional units affecting market density; protection is contingent on performance quotas and the franchisee retains site-specific relocation rights.

Training & Support

44/100
NORMAL

The brand provides a targeted 50-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses, and there is an additional fee for on-site support.

Unit Growth Analysis

Unit Growth Chart

This franchise held 10 units in 2022 and 2023 and fell to 9 units in 2024, meaning a flat 0% change year-over-year from 2022→2023 followed by a -10.0% decline in 2024 (loss of one unit). For investors this signals a move from stability to contraction—no expansion and emerging franchisee attrition or operational/market issues—which increases risk to scale and future returns.

How Much Does It Cost to Open an IRIS Environmental Laboratories Franchise?

Opening an IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise requires a total initial investment of $72,300 to $103,510, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$72,300
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$103,510
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$36,000
Real Estate$0
Equipment & Assets$4,740
Reserves$3,000
Training$1,400
Other$27,160

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$36,000
Real Estate$1,900
Equipment & Assets$14,730
Reserves$6,500
Training$4,450
Other$39,930

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do IRIS Environmental Laboratories Franchise Owners Make?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise locations reported average gross sales of $67,109 and median gross sales of $67,109 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:
$67,109
Median Gross Sales:
$67,109
High Gross Sales:
$103,740
Low Gross Sales:
$30,478
Sample Size:
5
Percent Attaining Average:
50.0%
Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Franchised markets reported materially lower sample sizes and different average sales compared with company-owned markets, with the franchised average at 67108.75 in 2022 versus company-owned averages that were higher in 2022 and 2023.
Performance Variability Analysis: Franchised results show substantial spread (high 103740 and low 30477.5 in 2022) and only half of franchised units exceeded the average, indicating meaningful variability across franchised locations.
Data Scope and Limitations: Franchised data cover only 2021–2022 with a sample of five markets and are explicitly not audited, and no full-year franchised results were reported for 2023, limiting forward-looking reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open an IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise?

The total initial investment for an IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise ranges from $72,300 to $103,510, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the IRIS Environmental Laboratories initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for IRIS Environmental Laboratories is $36,000, as stated in the 2024 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise owners make?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise locations reported average gross sales of $67,109 and median gross sales of $67,109 in 2024, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does IRIS Environmental Laboratories have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2024 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does IRIS Environmental Laboratories offer exclusive franchise territories?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories received a territory protection score of 48 out of 100. Grants a protected area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does IRIS Environmental Laboratories provide to new franchisees?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories received a training and support score of 44 out of 100. The brand provides a targeted 50-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three staff members for launch.

How many IRIS Environmental Laboratories franchise locations are there?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories had 9 total locations as of the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is IRIS Environmental Laboratories?

IRIS Environmental Laboratories offers inspection and laboratory testing services for asbestos, mold and lead, providing a comprehensive solution for identifying these hazards.

Interested in IRIS Environmental Laboratories?

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